Cast of Pardon Me
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Evan Figueroa-Vargas
CERTIFIED RECOVER SPECIALIST, NATIONAL CERTIFIED PEER SPECIALIST
Evan is a former Employment Systems Program Analyst with the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health & Intellectual disability Services. Having been prescribed an opioid painkiller after he was injured in a motorcycle accident, which led to addiction, crime, four convictions, and several years in prison, Evan went on to serve as a former Employment Systems Program Analyst with the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health & Intellectual disability Services.
Evan applied for a pardon in 2019.
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Antoinette Griffin
EDUCATOR, MOTHER
Mother, an educator of mathematics for 18 years and someone who personally experienced the effects of contact with the criminal justice system when she was racially profiled and excessively charged in a traffic incident.
Tonie applied for a pardon in 2019.
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Brandon Flood
FORMER SECRETARY, PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF PARDONS
Brandon has years of expertise in developing and moving public policy forward to improve the lives of Pennsylvanians and is currently leveraging this experience as Deputy Director of Government Affairs for CeaseFirePA. Prior to this role, he served as the Secretary of the Board of Pardons from 2019-2022. During his tenure, he helped make the executive clemency process as accessible as it has ever been since its inception in 1872 – increasing executive clemency requests by 400 percent.
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Jeff Hornstein
THE ECONOMY LEAGUE OF GREATER PHILADELHPIA
Jeff has been at the helm of the Economy League since February 2018 and has helped the organization position itself as a leader in the inclusive and equitable growth space. Under his leadership, the organization has more than tripled Black participation on its board and has built one of the most racially diverse staffs in the region.
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Taylor Pacheco, Esq.
DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PHILADELPHIA LAWYERS FOR SOCIAL EQUITY
Since 2011, PLSE has been providing free legal advice and representation to low-income Philadelphia residents whose criminal records are holding them back from achieving their potentials. It serves over 3000 clients each year, and files more expungement petitions than any other non-profit in the country.
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Caitlin Taylor
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE, LA SALLE UNIVERSITY
Caitlin’s research interests include the unintended consequences of mass incarceration, abolition, program evaluation, the experiences of prison and jail reentrants, and transformative / restorative justice.
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Christian Stephens
DEPUTY SECRETARY PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, PAROLE FIELD SERVICES
Christian has worked for state parole in various roles for over eighteen years starting as a Field Agent. Prior to working for Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole he was employed by Philadelphia County Probation Department as a specialized agent in the Youth Violence Reduction Program.
Meet the team behind the film
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Shuja Moore
PRODUCER / DIRECTOR
Shuja Moore is a passionate filmmaker and dedicated community advocate based in West Philadelphia. Shuja's commitment to narrative justice in media and empowering his community shines through his work in film and advocacy.
At 22, Shuja faced a life-altering experience after being arrested and ultimately convicted for an accidental murder following a struggle to gain possession of a firearm. After serving 12 years in prison, he was released in 2016, determined to create positive change. Since his return, Shuja has been instrumental in facilitating over $1,000,000 in business and resident support for his community.
His outstanding contributions have earned him recognition, including being honored as a "Remodeled Citizen" by the Philadelphia Mayor's Office of Black Male Engagement and receiving the Community Service Award from the Division on People of Color and Crime at the American Society of Criminology.
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Sean Grasso
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Sean Grasso is a documentary cinematographer and director based in the Pacific Northwest. His work has been shared widely online, including being featured on Vimeo Staff Picks, The Atlantic, and Fast Company. Since 2012, Sean has made documentaries on a variety of topics in both the US and abroad. He has a passion for making films about current and formerly incarcerated individuals, shedding light on the often overlooked stories of our criminal justice system.
An avid outdoorsman, Sean has hiked over 5,000 miles on America's long-trails. Recent experiences witnessing the effects of climate change have widened his lens towards the stories of our wild spaces and adjacent rural communities, documenting the challenges that they face in our changing world.
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Hunter Bartlett
CINEMATOGRAPHER / EDITOR
Hunter is a cinematographer and editor with a passion for projects which serve a larger purpose. His work is primarily focused on documentary filmmaking. Since moving to Philadelphia in 2017, he has developed a particular awareness of and interest in the stories of under-served communities. In the editing room, his compass is guided by the emotional responses he feels to the stories he has the privilege of sharing.
Hunter's mission is to evoke those same emotions in the viewers of any piece he contributes to, with the purpose of affecting change and inspiring a shift of perspective.
Interviewing Jeff Hornstein of the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia
Bobby Bonds Foundation film support
Sean, Hunter, and Shuja on location in Harrisburg, PA
Filming with Tonie Griffin
Interview day
Pardon Me @ Philly Film Society
Berks County Screening
Screening Pardon me @ Mass Incarceration Symposium for Phila high school students
Behind the scenes