About the Film

California Story examines the story of gang documentation and surveillance in the state of California. Voters passed into law penal law 182.5, which in effect criminalizes anyone who may have any connection to a gang, including living on the same block or merely singing lyrics about their neighborhood! The law allows for the arrest and prosecution of anyone suspected of having ”gang affiliation” without much guidance or oversight on how such ties should be measured – documentation has become widespread - and abuses of the policy has increased too.

This type of discrimination is occurring all across the state of California, from San Diego to Los Angeles to San Francisco. Our film examines how gang surveillance and documentation has impacted communities of color, and including gang members, passionate community advocates, district attorneys, politicians, journalists, cops, sheriffs and other prominent voices. The goal of the film is to increase understanding between the subjects and their communities, to erase these discriminatory laws from the books, and to bring all of California closer together in the process.

Title

California Story

Release

2025

Runtime

91 min

Rating

NR

Genre

Documentary

Directors

David Kuhn

Origin

United States

Language

English

United States

English

Pay It Forward Ticketing

California Story Pay-It-Forward Fund. Donate to this fund and pay-it-forward to the next person waiting to see California Story. Thank you for supporting the film in this way.

How does Pay It Forward Ticketing work?

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Pay It Forward

How does Pay It Forward Ticketing work?

Build community and expand viewership by gifting a Pay It Forward ticket directly to a Film's Pay It Forward fund. Your donation brings this Film, free of charge, to anyone who may not otherwise have the means to watch it.

1. Select Tickets to Donate

2. Confirm your Donation

3. Witness your Impact

Creative Team

Director David Kuhn

Writer David Kuhn

Cast Cornel West

Cast Jamal Trulove

Cast Tim Kornegay

Producer David Kuhn

Cinematographer Tom Bergmann

Editor Daniel Fetherston

Subject Matter Expert Khalid Alexander

Offer Streaming as a Video on Demand Partner

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Receive your unique customizable Video On Demand page that tracks all viewings generated through your efforts.

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Offer Streaming

Non-Theatrical

Purchase a community screening license to show the film anywhere, anytime -- or use Gathr’s Virtual Event Cinema. Add a charity from our database of all 2 million official US charities to create a fundraiser. Book Talent associated with the movie to program your post screening panel discussion. Search our platform for a venue, or add your own.

1. Request the Film Provide your screening details on a straightforward request form. Utilize standard ticketing or host an Events on Demand™ film screening. Learn more

2. Confirm the Film Once your film responds, review the booking terms, then confirm your booking - some films confirm instantly.

3. Screen your Film Leverage Gathr's complete event management suite to handle ticketing, event reminders, product sales, film playback and more.

Non-Theatrical

Purchase a community screening license to show the film anywhere, anytime -- or use Gathr’s Virtual Event Cinema. Add a charity from our database of all 2 million official US charities to create a fundraiser. Book Talent associated with the movie to program your post screening panel discussion. Search our platform for a venue, or add your own. Request Screening

1. Request the Film Provide your screening details on a straightforward request form. Utilize standard ticketing or host an Events on Demand™ film screening. Learn more

2. Confirm the Film Once your film responds, review the booking terms, then confirm your booking - some films confirm instantly.

3. Screen your Film Leverage Gathr's complete event management suite to handle ticketing, event reminders, product sales, film playback and more.

Are we able to screen the Film at a non-theatrical Venue such as a community center or church?

Absolutely! We can send you the correct format to screen the Film wherever the Screening happens to be.

Are we able to screen the Film in school for educational purposes?

Yes! Please email [email protected] to inquire about special educational licenses and pricing.

What formats are you able to provide?

We generally have the films available in DVD, Blu-Ray, and digital format. Please email [email protected] if you have questions about a specific format.

How much do the licenses cost?

Prices may vary depending on size of the audience, whether or not tickets are sold, etc. Please email [email protected] with any specific pricing questions.

Are we able to view the Film before we commit to the license?

Some Films are available for a preview before the license is purchased. However it is up to the filmmaker to decide if a preview is available. Please email [email protected] if you are interested in a preview link.

Request Screening

Bring this film to a theatre near you

Independent films don’t have the support of big production companies to get their films in all of the movie theaters. But, using Theatrical On Demand®, you can bring their film to a theater near you. All you have to do is find a theater, request the film, and if enough people commit to buying tickets, the movie will be screened at your theater.
Learn more about Theatrical on Demand®

Host a Screening Buy Out a Screening

1. Find a Theater Near You Take advantage of Gathr's vast theatrical network and choose your preferred theatre.

2. Request the Film Create and send your inquiry in minutes.

3. Tell Your Friends Leverage your community to generate reservations and cover (and exceed) your minimum threshold.

1. Find a Theater Near You Take advantage of Gathr's vast theatrical network and choose your preferred theatre.

2. Request the Film Create and send your inquiry in minutes.

3. Tell Your Friends Leverage your community to generate reservations and cover (and exceed) your minimum threshold.

I'd like to Host my Screening at my local cinema, but I'm not seeing it on the Screening request form. Can I still screen there?

We are generally able to screen at most Venues, and add Venues to our network. Please email [email protected] with the info on the cinema, and we will reach out to them.

I'm not going to reach the minimum tickets by the expiration date. Can I move the expiration date out?

We generally are not able to move the expiration date because we need to give the theater time to book the screening, assign an auditorium, receive the content, etc. That being said, we can certainly move out the Event date which will automatically move the expiration date as well.

My tipping point is so high, can I lower it?

The tipping point is based on the amount it costs to rent out the theater for a screening. These rates are set by the theater, so we are generally not able to lower this number.

I found a different theater where I would rather Host my Event, can I move it?

Yes, please email [email protected] and we can assist you with moving your screening to a new location.

My Event is almost sold out, can we book a second auditorium for the same date, Venue, and time?

Theaters generally do not like booking 2 screens for Gathr events on the same evening. If your Event is close to selling out, please email [email protected], and we will reach out to the theater in order to move to a larger auditorium to accommodate all of your guests.