If life in Watts isn’t lived—it’s survived, a paradox of resilience woven into the very fabric of its streets, where the promise of a sunny California future constantly collides with the shadow of historical neglect and gang conflict. For decades, this narrative has been fixed: a cycle of violence where the only voices heard were sirens and gunshots.
But now, in a radical and perhaps reckless act of turning the camera on themselves, the residents—from rival gang members to the police walking their beats—are doing something utterly unpredictable: they’re not just demanding peace, they’re filming it into existence, creating a documentary that forces the world to confront the uncomfortable truth of who is capable of change when the usual gatekeepers of power look away.
The truth hits the big screen on Oct. 10, 2025 at The Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE is the setting for a one-night-only event surrounding Nothing to See Here: Watts, a documentary that some are calling a stunning success story and others are whispering is a carefully constructed façade.
The film itself is an unprecedented act of self-surveillance. It was created by the very people at the heart of the conflict: rival gang members, law enforcement officers, and the survivors of violence in Watts, California. By turning the camera on themselves, the filmmakers claim to have unexpectedly ignited a historic peace movement, an astonishing feat that purportedly led to a dramatic reduction in homicides. But the question remains: is this a genuine revolution or a media spectacle designed to sanitize a deeply fractured community?
The benefit screening is less a premiere and more an immersive, perhaps manipulative, theatrical experience. It begins with a chilling “silent march,” orchestrated by filmmaker Lawanda Hawkins—a stark and provocative display featuring over 200 pairs of shoes, each one representing a child lost to violence. Following this emotionally charged prelude, the 90-minute documentary will be shown, complete with a live orchestral score—a dramatic, Hollywood-level embellishment for a raw, street-level narrative. Capping the evening are performances from Grammy-winning musical artists who have contributed original work, turning the issue of community violence into a high-profile, red-carpet cause.
The true agenda of the event centers on funding the Nothing to See Here: Foundation. This community-led nonprofit aims to support over 40 other non-profits involved in violence prevention, youth programs, and neighborhood revitalization across Watts and Los Angeles. Critics, however, are asking if a single night of celebrity performances and controlled narrative can truly address generations of systemic neglect, or if this foundation is just a polished container for corporate goodwill.
The Uncomfortable Gaze
What truly happens when Bloods, Crips, police officers, and students are forced to collaborate on a film? Nothing to See Here: Watts is described as a searing, self-made cinematic work born from the “blood, sweat, and heartbreak” of a community many Angelenos would prefer to ignore.
Over three years, more than 300 community members filmed themselves, culminating in a movement that the producers claim dramatically reduced homicides. This raw vérité style documentary is unapologetically real and socially impactful, yet its very existence challenges the power structure. By empowering the most marginalized to rewrite the script on their own storytelling, it raises uncomfortable questions about who holds the power to define peace and who profits from its documentation.
Will this “groundbreaking impact” truly last beyond the final credit roll, or is this just another temporary truce financed by the cameras?
Doors will swing open at 6:00 PM, with the screening set to shatter the silence at 7:00 PM. Access to this pivotal cultural moment is currently complimentary upon request at nothingtoseeheremovie.com.
