SYNOPSIS

Originally the birthplace of the middle class, Detroit is now on the brink of complete collapse. Loosing over 25% of it’s population and 50% of its manufacturing jobs over the past decade, Detroit is now in a state of emergency. Racial tension, globalization, lack of innovation, and corporate greed has led to a moment of truth for Detroit.

DETROPIA is a cinematic tapestry featuring the lives of several citizens trying to survive the D and make sense of what is happening to their city.

CRYSTAL STARR

The activist, video blogger, and poet

A 28 year old video blogger and aspiring poet, Crystal is the barista at Café 1515 where she holds a new monthly salon called Culturenomics. She and her family are from Southwest Detroit.

DETROIT’S POPULATION SHRANK BY MORE THAN 25% IN THE LAST DECADE FALLING FROM OVER 1.85 MILLION IN 1950 to 713,777 in 2010

Source: The New York Times

TOMMY STEPHENS

The Entrepreneur and Former Educator

Retired School Teacher and owner of the Raven Lounge, Stephens has lived in Detroit over 40 years. Open just two nights a week, the Raven Lounge is in the shadow of the Detroit Hamtramck assembly plant.

OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, U.S. MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS SLASHED 2.9 MILLION AMERICAN JOBS WHILE CREATING 2.4 MILLION JOBS OVERSEAS

Source: The Wall Street Journal

GEORGE MCGREGOR

The Union Leader of Local 22

George first came to Detroit in 1967 during the riots as part of the Army unit dispatched to restore calm to the city. After his service ended a year later, he began working up the ranks of the UAW eventually becoming the President of Local 22.

CHINA’S 113 MILLION INDUSTRIAL WORKFORCE EARNS AN AVERAGE OF $0.81 PER-HOUR. THE AVERAGE FOR MEXICO’S 10.7 MILLION INDUSTRIAL WORKERS IS $2.92 PER HOUR

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

STEVE & DOROTA COY

The Visual and Performance Artists

Both in their late 20’s, Steve and Dorota Coy are visual and performance artists who have lived in Detroit for a few years. Together they make up The Hygienic Dress League, an art project meant to send up capitalism and corporate America.