Workhouse

Documentary & Campaign
A documentary built to capture the human cost of incarceration and the movement that led to the closure of the Workhouse in St. Louis.

The Idea

The Workhouse was more than a facility. It became a symbol of a broken system.

The film centers the voices of those directly impacted, grounding the story in lived experience. It balances personal testimony with the broader effort that led to its closure.

The goal was not just to document what happened, but to show how change was made.

Execution

The film is structured around three threads. Personal testimony, historical context, and the strategy behind the movement.

Interviews with formerly incarcerated individuals are paired with archival footage, legal context, and campaign moments. Together, they build a narrative that moves from harm to action.

The work extends beyond the film into a broader campaign system. Digital, social, and print materials were developed to carry the story across platforms, reinforcing the message and expanding its reach.

The Workhouse itself remains a central visual element. First as a symbol of harm, and ultimately as a space left behind.