When A Witness Recants looks at the case of a young boy who was murdered in his Baltimore middle school back in the 1980s. When author Ta-Nehisi Coates revisited the case, he uncovered the truth - that three innocent teenagers were wrongfully convicted and spent 36 years in prison. The decision created a lasting impact on the accused, the witnesses and their community.
Documentarian/director Dawn Porter collaborated with Coates to examine the case surrounding the first student murdered inside a Baltimore public school. The project was shot by cinematographer Bryan Gentry and edited by Jessica Congdon.
Gentry recalls meeting Porter at the Sundance premiere of her previous documentary about musician Luther Vandross, titled Luther Never Too Much.
"She shared with me her vision for When A Witness Recants, and at the time, some of the obstacles,” Gentry shares. “From the initial interview, our concepts and planned approach shifted drastically. It became clear that the story was king, so we set aside stylistic ambitions and focused on capturing the current realities of our talents.”
The team used a variety of tools to help convey the feeling of internal conflict - a mix of digital, 16mm film, Canon spherical and Laowa anamorphic lenses.
“We made creative choices to convey the decades lost,” says Gentry. “I remember a moment with the key witness. He was working on a painting while attempting to clarify some sensitive topics discussed during his interview. Instead of following his face, I intentionally left the camera on a paint swatch or a specific part of the painting, allowing parts of his body to enter and exit the frame. This technique effectively conveyed his struggle to unearth previously internalized details. I wanted to ensure that the camera’s presence did not interrupt his creative process. I believe this is one of the most powerful cinematic moments, as his internal conflict is vividly translated through his interaction with the frame. I continued to employ this approach throughout the film."