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Passing It Down
Two impactful, real life stories illustrate the harsh truth of racism, oppression and prejudice that is still relevant in Canada.
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Canada as a nation, is known for is vast nature, peacekeeping and overall, being a vibrant cultural mosaic. However, it is only now that Canadians are looking back at its dark history of racism. Minority groups, such as the Black and Latino communities often face heavy racial discrimination, especially in the GTA.
Victor "Henry" Ramirez (46) and Rohan Godfrey (53) now live two very different lives respectively but experienced similar hardships growing up. The stories they have told reflect the problems they had to face while living in an intolerant society. A society that hasn't changed much even today. Now their son/stepson, Noah Godfrey (21), is experiencing similar types of racial discrimination that his parents faced previously. Passing It Down depicts how visible minorities are victims of those in authority. Through heartbreaking stories of being choked out and the teachers doing nothing about it or being accused of dealing drugs by the principal and police. Their stories of racial discrimination and prejudice are unfortunately being passed down to the younger generations of Canada. |
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Behind the Scenes
The Team
Noah Godfrey is director, writer, and co-Editor for Passing It Down. He majors in directing as well as editing at Sheridan College. After graduating Sheridan He intends to establish a production company with his partners to shoot music videos, commercials, and eventually, full-length feature films.
 hello! Ivan is the artist on Passing It Down. He has been doodling as long as he can remember, in the margins of his notebooks, test papers and the occasional textbook, to the chagrin of all the teachers who've had him. He stumbled across film and television by chance, after a Sheridan art counsellor visited his high school and said that his comics looked very cinematic. It was then that he realized he could use my art powers for good; sharing his visions onto the big screen. As last minute decisions go, film school is definitely his best, he's got to make many films and meet likeminded people. He just can't wait to do more!
 Genevieve Stanley-Barit is the post-sound designer and mixer. They are majoring in sound and cinematography. In the future they want to be working in post sound production, in hopes to tell more stories about people of colour, people in the LGBTQIA+ community, and to spread awareness on more taboo topics that should be talked about more. (Toxic masculinity, anxiety, social constructs, struggles within the LGBTQIA+ community etc.)
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 Hello! Matthew Neves is the producer for Passing It Down documentary. He is very happy and excited to be working on this documentary. Matthew is currently in Directing at Sheridan college, this being his third year at the program. His main goal after graduation is to work on films and to have a career in something he enjoys doing everyday.
 Taylor King was the cinematographer on Passing It Down. He is in school for cinematography. In the future he wants to push to create more stories that will diversify the film industry and give more opportunities to black and other minorities. What he will make in the future is meant to have impact on all audiences but to also start a much needed change. Working on passing it down was a great opportunity for this because it introduces the experiences not just Noah and his family but many black and Latino North Americans face in a day. It shows to people that may not have been aware and now may want to stand and make a change. Also because working with Noah not only because he is one of Taylor’s good friends but is a well skilled director that had a great message in his documentary.
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Jacob Bland is editor for Passing It Down. He is currently a 3rd year film student at Sheridan College. He has at least 5 years of experience behind the scenes. He plans to graduate mastering the fields of camera and post-production.
Christian Caniete, a second year BFTV student, was the film’s composer, writing, performing and mixing all of the music heard in the film. He majors in sound, as well as directing. He hopes to continue making music and grow as a musician alongside learning more about sound for film.
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