We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cheryl Jacobs Crim, nicknamed CJ a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

CJ, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I have been advocating for peace since the age of eight when my dad left to fight in Vietnam. I didn’t understand why he had to leave and frankly, I still don’t. This foundational experience was the beginning of my quest to amplify stories of peace and connection. I am a filmmaker and the documentary I am currently working on is the culmination of this lifelong mission.

The film is called Rebranding Peace, follows a world-renowned peacebuilder and an unconventional marketing genius as they mastermind an ad campaign so audacious it will fire people up to fight against hate by creating a literal “force” for peace.

So why a Peace Force? The idea is to make the forces of peace as loud and powerful as the forces of disruption. Our country is on the brink of a dangerous divide. Recent polls reveal that 43% of Americans believe a civil war is likely within the next 10 years. With Americans more divided than ever, finding a path to peace is critical. But according to a 3-year social science study, Americans do not perceive peace as something active and attainable. We see it as passive and powerless; merely the absence of conflict.

The way forward? Change the way Americans think about peace. Today many corporations, and creative entities are entering the space of “cause marketing” to promote tolerance and inclusion. Rebranding Peace will spotlight peacebuilders and creatives as they partner with brands to “sell” a powerful new version of peace that everyone can be a part of.

I am making this film because I believe we are at a point of reckoning. Rebranding Peace documents an extraordinary experiment to help heal our country. Its subjects project an infectious optimism that gives me great hope and I want to share that feeling with the viewers. The film and the campaign it documents aim to combat intolerance, and spark meaningful action so we can address the real issues facing humanity. If this sounds good, I encourage you to follow the film at www.peace.film and join The Peace Force at www.peaceforce.org.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

As a filmmaker, I have always wanted to use the power of storytelling to show different perspectives to open minds. I studied broadcast journalism at Miami University with the hope of becoming a news reporter. It took only a few months of working in the newsroom to realize mine was a different calling. I was not suited to shoot at 9 am and have a story ready for the 6:00 news. I needed more time to create a story. Fortunately, I was able to hone this craft at WCPO, a television station In Cincinnati where I ultimately produced, directed, and edited 21 award-winning television specials.

After a move to Princeton, I worked for New Jersey Public Television. Then on to NYTV, where I produced and directed ESPN’s LPGA Magazine, the first national television series dedicated to women’s sports. Living in Liverpool, England gave me the opportunity to work in Europe. I now live outside of Washington DC.

A breakthrough moment came for me when I realized I could use my skills as a photographer to become a cinematographer. Being able to direct, shoot and edit my own work allowed me to create affordable content for nonprofits and schools.

And then the 2016 presidential election shocked the world. There was a tension in the air that I had never felt before. So five days after the election, I took my camera to the streets in an effort to answer this question ’As a candidate he mocked and denigrated them, so how would women and minority groups react now that Donald Trump was the most powerful man in the world?’ The answer became Resisterhood, a feature-length documentary about the power of women, hope, and resistance. It follows six diverse Americans as they rise up to defend our democracy during the first two years of the Trump administration.

Sharing powerful stories of everyday people has defined my career. At a time when things feel increasingly dark, my films aim to uplift and inspire. And I am most proud of the reactions I hear from people who are inspired into action after watching my work.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Even with the best resources, creating an independent feature film is a long and difficult journey. When I started shooting Resisterhood, I had no intention of making a feature film. I was so shocked by the election of Donald Trump, I needed to use my skills to resist. I was like a dog with a bone. My mission was to give voice to a diverse group of everyday Americans who were protesting the cruelty of the administration. From the first Women’s March to the 2018 Midterm elections, I carried 14 pounds of camera gear filming protest after protest. I was arrested twice. I sacrificed time with my family and worked without pay for over 2 years.

I survived 30 stressful days working on a Kickstarter campaign to raise money to edit 200 hours of footage. When the film was finally finished I learned I was only halfway done. To get it out in the world ahead of the 2020 elections, I had to hire a publicist, an impact producer, and a company to handle social media. I needed to get it into newspapers and film festivals. I am not sure if this story shows resilience or stubbornness, but finally, Resisterhood’s world premiere was scheduled for April 4, 2020. And then Covid shut down the world.

A virtual world premiere finally happened in August which left a very tight timeline. But after all the work and sacrifice, I am honored to say that Resisterhood won 14 film festival awards and has a 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. But I am most honored by the fact that several people told me they voted for the first time because of the film. It doesn’t get much better than that.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

A recent study discovered that stories are so powerful the heartbeat of the listener synchronizes with that of the storyteller. The most rewarding part of being a visual storyteller for me is amplifying the voices of extraordinary, ordinary people. There are so many awe-inspiring stories out there that need to be heard. It is a privilege to have the platform to share them.

For example, I am particularly thrilled to have had the chance to champion Margaret Morrison, one of the protagonists in my film, Resisterhood. Her great-grandparents were enslaved. Margaret grew up in Memphis during segregation. In 1965, she marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from Selma to Montgomery. After the Voting Rights Act was passed later that year, her aging parents were able to vote for the first time. Standing up for civil rights for all Americans is Margaret’s mission and her determination never faltered. Now at the age of 87, she is still marching. As she says “Being an activist is in my DNA”.

Contact Info:

• Website: my film websites are: resisterhooddoc.com www.peace.film
• Instagram: @cjcrim @resisterhooddoc.com @rebrandingpeace
• Facebook: facebook.com/cheryl.j.crim facebook.com/resisterhood
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/cheryl-jacobs-crim
• Twitter: @cjcrim @resisterhooddoc.com @rebrandingpeace

Image Credits
CJ Crim personal photo, Doug Burnett introducing PF, Peacebuilder photo credit: Jaydin Hill Director and Cameron Reeve photo credit: Julia Roig Peace Force mock up design credit: Doug Burnett Resisterhood Painting credit: Normon Greene Resisterhood poster design credit: Fever Content