The Price of Popularity: Local Doc '9500 Liberty' Takes on Immigration Policy

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LOCAL FILMMAKERS Eric Byler and Annabel Park set out to make a documentary about Prince William County's strict laws against illegal immigration, but they ended up getting more involved than they expected.

While shooting "9500 Liberty" the co-directors uploaded clips from the film to YouTube. Then, it exploded.

"The channel allowed people who were dismayed and afraid in the social climate we're facing to meet with one another and consider measures the county was taking were taking," Byler said. Soon, the two realized they were making news, not just reporting it. "The videos ended up influencing the direction the policy took."

The filmmakers spoke before the county's Human Rights Commission, and policymakers began contacting them, urging them to not post certain controversial videos online.

"There were some things too sensitive to share on YouTube. We were advised that these things could lead to violence if we shared them while things were too hot," he said. "Maybe two years later, it's much safer to share."

Byler, a resident of Prince William County, said he hopes the film will serve as a cautionary tale.

"It's like we're sharing a family secret with the rest of the world. There are lessons to be learned, and we want them to be learned in the context of a film," he said. "We don't want the rest of the country learning the hard way like Prince William County has had to."

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Written by Express contributor Jason Koebler
Photo courtesy APAFilm.org