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The Haight Street Kids




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  4. christopherpedregal
    • Shira Shane
    • Co-Director
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This captivating 6 minute documentary reveals a glimpse into a subculture which has not been explored before - the Haight Street life.

Every year hundreds of teenagers and young adults from around the country run away from home and flock to Haight Asbury in San Francisco. A modern counterpart to the hippie movement of the sixties, these "kids" have created their own homeless culture which mixes panhandling, drug use, musical performance, anarchist values, pet dogs and illegal travel on freight trains. The community of traveling kids around Haight Street actively defy all constructs of traditional modern society.

This short documentary interviews several street kids and musicians in an attempt to understand their motives for leaving home, their daily lives on the Haight, and their hopes for the future.
christopherpedregal

28 responses // The Haight Street Kids

  • Hey Chris and Shira,
    good job with this documentary. I saw some beautiful shots of San Francisco in all types of weather -- boy do I miss living there. One thing I don't miss are those street kids in the Haight! Man, they used to annoy the bejeezus out of me, when I was getting up at 7 in the morning every day, riding my bike 6 miles across town to go to work, and all they do is sit on the corner and smoke pot and ask people for money. I have no sympathy for these kids -- especially not when you compare them to all the other "street kids" all over the world living in absolute poverty, who are trying just to survive. Or undocumented immigrant kids who are working 3 jobs just to pay for school because the government denies them financial aid. So many other groups of people out there who deserve my sympathy and my money, but not these kids. That's not to say you didn't do a good job of profiling a few of these characters -- I especially was struck by the weirdo with the nose ring and stripey goatee -- very nice shot of him in the sunlight. But his attitude really sucks -- why should I "kick down a $20" for him? What is he doing in the world that is doing anyone any good?

    I notice you guys are from Stanford - pretty decent school (sorry, couldn't resist, as I'm a Cal grad) but do you really think that these kids actively defy traditional modern society? They seem extremely modern to me -- just effin lazy! Anyway, I think you guys did a good job of giving a nice snapshot of some of these characters, but I don't really feel closer to understanding them.

    On the plus side, I really liked the musician couple, and the way you worked the music into the rest of the piece. And I loved the reaction of the guitar player when you asked him what did he see in his future. After a pregnant pause: "a hot dog". Priceless!
    Julie_Soller
  • I don't think these kids want your sympathy? Why would they want it? They have chosen to live like this and I think that what they are doing is really cool.

    Great pod on a great topic!
    phillyharper
  • Awesome pod. Inspiring in a different way. I've been there before and seen those kids chilling on the streets and didn't think twice about them...it's nice to see where they're coming from.
    lapedro
  • i'm going to have to agree with Julie, after watching the doc i still didn't understand many of their motives.. i kinda lost respect for them in actuality, but i did enjoy this. the musicians were pretty amazing characters and kudos on the cinematography.. its pretty awesome. the catman kid was pretty nice as well.. he seemed like an amazing person to actually meet and have conversation with.. the others were pretty out of it in my opinion and just lazy bums. they reminded me of some of my friends who've dropped out of highschool just hanging around not really doing much never having money unless its for drugs. me being straightedge.. i have no sympathy.

    people are dying.. and they're wasting their lives away.

    but its their lives to waste.. so i respect their decisions i guess.
    afiabcd
  • Hey Phillyharper, you made a good point. I didn't mean that the kids "want my sympathy" because, I agree with you, "why would they want it?" But from a filmmaking point of view, the stated intent of the filmmakers is to bring viewers closer to understanding their (the street kids') "motives" and their "hopes." In other words, that we enter their world and see things from their point of view and understand them. This is what I mean by sympathize. The *style* of the piece also indicates that the filmmakers aim to make us feel sympathy with the street kids: many interviews, no commentary or outside judgment, and the telltale use of slow motion.

    My critique is not of the street kids themselves; they have chosen this way of life. But if the filmmakers wanted to have me to understand them and feel them, then I don't think they have achieved this goal. It's a start, but it's not enough.
    Julie_Soller
  • This was very inspiring; I felt a real attachment to all of the characters at the end of the pod, a great achievement for how short the piece was. Excellent underscoring of the street music, it certainly set the mood for the second half of the piece. Altogether a very interesting and unique pod, great job!
    lib
    • lib
    • 8 months ago
  • "This short documentary interviews several street kids and musicians in an attempt to understand their motives for leaving home, their daily lives on the Haight, and their hopes for the future."

    I don't most of this information came across in the documentary. If it did, I must of missed it. I got that they want to live life now. I got that they just want to get by. I also understand that some of them do it for the inspiration for their music and writing.

    Why did they leave home? Other than a "hot dog", what do they want for their future? All I really saw were a bunch of kids wasting away. Yes, some were writing and performing. But most were just, there. Kind of a background for the cityscape.

    BTW, I'm not going to "kick down" a quarter, if all you do is ask for it.

    I will say that I enjoyed the way the film was shot and the editing. Overall, I thought it was very well put together, just lacking in it's overall attempt.
    YoungKREW
  • This pod was interesting, but I don't think it had the correct tone. This pod inadvertently made a very sad statement. I don't know if this was intentional or not, but these kids seem lost and somewhat hopeless. One of them misquotes Ghandi (Be the change you wish to SEE in the world) and another one cannot answer the question when asked about his future.
    I think that technically, this pod was very well done. The sound was very good, as was the image. The shots of the weather of San Francisco are great.
    Good job, hope it gets on TV!
    ajankowski1
  • They said they don't worry about the future. SO, WHY ASK? If we've never thought about something or are unsure then we too are gonna hesitate and take our time.
    jade_azul16
  • Very interesting. I've always wanted to visit San Francisco...
    nayrmak
  • I'm sure there are many more reasons and points of views to these guys. But damn, love this pod!
    Social_Fuzz
  • Really interesting, nicely done. As a San Francisco resident, I've seen "these" kids on Haight St tons of times and have always been as fascinated by their story as I am annoyed with them at times.
    jsaraco
  • Great pod!
    mel145
  • The reason this network is effective, in contrast to classic journalism, is that it approaches topics that often fall on fatigued audiences. Fatigued consciences. It offers a new look, gives us all the chance to open a dialogue with those that we would "never throw change to."

    I think this pod achieves in that regard, because we're able to see the human condition in an awkward, socially unacceptable, light. the pod made no claims (beyond the introduction from the producer), simply listened and i respect it for that. it really was about that final question, "so where do you see yourself in the future." and all that needed to be said to sum up that awkward condition was delivered in silence, in the pause before an escapist "hot dog" reply.

    i lived a few blocks from haight street for 3 years at the beginning of my career as a photojournalist, and shooting these kids taught me to acknowledge the striation and learn from our differences. so many people seem offended by these kids, they're simply trying to do what so many did 40 years ago. they're trying to drop out of society. i cant help but contrast the hippies with the street kids.

    would love to hear more of that duet as well!
    prspctv
  • Great job. You really captured the essence of the haight. These kids are very interesting but can be very annoying. I am surprised i didn't hear the phrases "green buds?" "Shrooms?" "Acid?" "need weed?" etc.
    jroussell
  • so awesome and interesting!!!!
    sprinkles
  • Haight St is SO over. There is no 'movement.' Please.
    khsing
  • This is really interesting, as are the comments. I think this pod reveals a lot about the street that many people don't know, it's wonderfully shot and edited as well. LOVE the song at the end, so beautiful.
    sarahbelle
  • While I liked this piece, I too found it somewhat superficial. There is certainly something many very interesting questions to explore from an anthropological perspective. I also think that other points of view would be of interest.

    With that said, I was a nice little character piece.

    Oh, and while I have no problem with the various street musicians (and artists) on Haight, I find those arrogant, belligerent, wastoid panhandlers very annoying will never "kick down" to support their lifestyles. They may not have any expectations for their futures, but I do, and it isn't pretty.
    ac
    • ac
    • 8 months ago
  • that song is fantastic and beautiful and so perfectly compliments and complements the images and subject matter. i live in SF, I know these "types," and this was a nice portrait, pastiche. the piece wasn't THAT compelling, however, and didn't seem to say anything about the subjects or their histories that was of real interest.
    olenholm
  • yo, who are those musicians, their amazing

    oh and great pod

    always nice to see new perspective on life
    vardy1690
  • I spent some time on the streets of the usa.San fran was probably the kindest.There was a reason i was there so before you pass judgement THINK!!!!! They are each remnants of family gone to pieces!!
    sickinjersey
  • this was really great, i live in san francisco and have spent some time on haight st. this really captures the culture. its really great to hear it first hand rather than just walking by them and ignoring their stories and incentives. they all have a story to tell and its interesting to see them live their lives and interact.
    katevalentine
  • dude, I love it, the best sf pod I have seen on here. going to watch it again right now...greenlight
    matt_fisher
  • that song they played - ohhh it touches me so. beautiful.
    samonster34
  • Hey, im glad to see yall getting such great responses to your film :) it was tight watching it come alive in class!! yeeeee ~India (not so big steam tunneler)
    ialston
  • Alright representation. I don't think it could have done any better at all though! Wonderfully done. green light for sure!
    ILiveonaClock
  • I recently watched a documentary about the "summer of love," when over 100,000 young people from all over the country swarmed the haight; It's fascinating to see how, 40 years later, some of this still lingers...

    Really great subject, really well documented. I especially appreciate the audio quality.

    Some of the shots could have held for a hair longer, but you were probably trying to get it as short as possible... GL
    willrogers

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