A short film produced and directed by Shuja Moore
See trailer below
Criminal records keep many hardworking adults and the communities they live in trapped inside second-class status. They are a direct cause of inter-generational poverty. But there is an underutilized tool that can help in all states: a pardon. A pardon is the simple act of forgiving someone for the crime they committed, and that forgiveness (at least in Pennsylvania) will result in the crime being erased from the books. When that happens, the individual never again has to “check the box” in any application asking about prior convictions. They are finally free to pursue their potential.
About the Film
Pardon Me is a documentary short film that presents the case for how pardons can not just give individuals the opportunity to live as full citizens and contribute to their best ability, but help uplift the lower income communities in which they live. The film features two people going through the pardon process, one of whom did receive a pardon, and interviews with key civic leaders.
Pardon Me will receive its first private screening, with a community discussion to follow, in Reading, PA, on April 19, 2023, at the invitation of Berks Connects/Pretrial Services, the Hub of the Pardon Project of Berks County. If you are interested in hosting a private screening, please click here and provide your contact information. Public release of the film is expected in fall 2023.
About the Producer/Director
Pardon Me is produced and directed by Shuja Moore, the exciting new filmmaker and community advocate based in West Philadelphia. Most known for his webseries Walkies (a docuseries that highlights the transformation stories of the formerly incarcerated), Shuja works to provide narrative justice in media and to inspire and rebuild his community through his work in film and his nonprofit “Do Moore Good.”
At 22 years old, Shuja was arrested and ultimately convicted for an accidental murder following a scuffle over possession of a firearm. He served 12 years in prison and was released in 2016. Since his return, Shuja has built a career working for and with many nonprofit organizations local to the Philadelphia area. In 2020, Shuja was named the Mike Lee Fellow at Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity. He has been recognized as a “Remodeled Citizen,” by the Mayor’s Office of Black Male Engagement. In 2021, Shuja became a Community Contributor for WHYY, Inc., a Philadelphia-based affiliate of the Public Broadcasting Service.
Shuja Moore
Do Moore Films
shuja@domoorefilms.com
