Doors at 7:00 | Show at 7:30
TIPPING POINT
WHAT THE PORTLAND PROTESTS TELL US ABOUT THE STATE OF AMERICA
MUSICAL GUEST CHANCE JUSTICE
Nonprofits, Alberta Abbey and TOC partner again to share TOC’s award winning, locally made feature documentary “Tipping Point”. The previous theatrical screening at The Abbey in June 2023 drew a large and enthusiastic audience and was a healing and cathartic experience.
TIPPING POINT is a documentary film that captures the first 90 days of the Portland protests. Told through the individual stories of Portlanders on the ground, Tipping Point humanizes the struggle while allowing Portland’s story to serve as a mirror to the rest of the country—the past that brought us here and the future we must choose.
Most of the footage for Tipping Point was captured by the director, Jon Meyer, as he showed up night after night to witness the Portland protests, and the film’s perspective comes from the streets. Along the way, people volunteered their time to be interviewed to record this vital document. As word spread about the project, live-streamers and photographers offered their work to be used in the film. The documentary was shaped by feedback from a diverse national council of activists, filmmakers, producers, sociologists, historians, artists, writers and educators.
The documentary was made possible through TOC’s efforts to continue producing local community programming even while shuttered due to Covid-19. Julianne Johnson, the moderator of TOC’s social justice program We Can Listen, collaborated with Meyer to develop a program about the Portland protests for the We Can Listen series.
An early work-in-progress of the film was streamed in November 2020 to an international audience of over 10,000. Then a few generous donors offered funds to help cover the start-up costs of making the film. In 2021 the documentary grew into a feature film and in 2022 made its way onto the film festival circuit. Tipping Point had its worldwide premiere at the Social Justice Film Festival in Seattle, WA where it won the GOLD prize for Best Documentary and Best in Fest.
Willamette Week wrote that Tipping Point reaches for a “deeper, depoliticized look at the city’s spotlight-grabbing reckoning” through compelling interviews by Julianne R. Johnson and stunning footage captured by director Jon Meyer. It creates a window to examine the recent protests through the perspectives of local protesters, police, activists, live-streamers, historians, and civil rights advocates, that goes beyond the mass-media representation of tear gas, flash-bangs and people screaming.
Executive Director of the Alberta Abbey, Leah Mocsy shared, "The Portland premiere of this film was incredible. I was particularly struck by the quality of the conversations after the screening. This is such an important story that we still need to be telling and working to understand. I'm thankful for TOC's partnership and support of the Abbey, through sending us magical shows when they were booked or bringing events like this to the Abbey. I hope everyone in Portland can come out to watch this critical documentary.”
TOC and Alberta Abbey share more than the historical fact that their organizations are housed in old church buildings. They are both committed to presenting diverse programming and to creating profound experiences for our community. They share the goal of contributing to a vibrant Portland, filled with the arts, advocacy, and opportunities for local artists.
Funds raised at the Portland premiere this September 9th will bolster ongoing efforts to make Tipping Point widely available online. No one involved in producing this documentary will receive profits or royalties. Any profits will be distributed to benefit BIPOC-owned and operated businesses and organizations in the Portland community.
Directed by Jon Meyer. Co-produced by Julianne R. Johnson. A WE CAN LISTEN Production. Executive Producer TOC. Co-Executive Producer Some Serious Business
CONTENT ADVISORY: This documentary film includes footage obtained during the protests on the streets of Portland and contains swearing, street violence, and strong political rhetoric. It may not be suitable for all viewers.