New Orleans Filmmakers Tell Their Own Stories

Jared Arsement of Lafayette, Louisiana took his camera along as he joined a citizen rescue fleet that plied the sodden streets of New Orleans. Jared speaks directly into the camera as he looks around the flooded streets that surround him. He realizes that both his hometown and his life will never be the same.

Jared sent his raw footage to producers at Al Gore's new, independent cable and satellite TV network, Current TV. They edited the material into the piece, Citizen Rescue that aired on their network and now streams online. Seeing someone from New Orleans telling their own story in their own way has a lot of power. Because Current TV's content is 30% viewer-produced and created, Jared was able to make a short piece and have it broadcast almost immediately.