True/False and the Jonathan B. Murray Center for Documentary Journalism at the University of Missouri co-presented a special screening of the documentary, “Killing Them Safely,” Friday, Nov. 13 at 7:30.
The event was hosted at the Missouri Theatre and the film’s director and local filmmaker, Nick Berardini, was present to answer audience questions at the end.
“It was really cool to be able to talk to the director afterwards and listen to his struggles as a filmmaker,” junior RonTayza Hill said. “It really gives a new light to the film that I hadn’t even thought about.”
This local screening, Berardini said, was perhaps the third in the entire world. “Killing Them Safely,” premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year and according to deadline.com,  was secured by distributor Sundance Selects for the North American film rights.
The documentary itself was a look at Taser International, the developer and distributor of electronic weapons (“tasers”). The film focuses on the company facing charges about the alleged deadly affects of their claimed non lethal defense weapon, employed by police across the country.
“I think this film was really significant especially in Columbia because of what’s happening with race and police profiling on a national level,” Sophomore Layla Kheiralla said. “It really brought back the idea that police work is in need of serious reform in this country.
Kheiralla said she was able to attend the screening was because she went with the RBHS Rock Bridge Reaches Out true/false film core. The club’s student leader, junior Sarah Bai, has worked closely with the festival to expose more Rock Bridge students to the festival and the benefits of documentary film.
“I really love this core because of the energy all the student’s bring,” Bai said. “The members of this core are so passionate about film and the social aspect of what film can offer so it really makes for a great environment.”