Jo Hines is a local artist who painted the mural at Triple S Food Store where Alton Sterling was killed by police officers in 2016. Jo grew up on that block in North Baton Rouge and has deep family roots in the neighborhood. He shows us that art is healing for both the artist and the viewer and can bring positivity to communities in crisis.

I Just Draw Pictures is a short documentary included in “BetteR,” a documentary series produced by NOVAC with support from the Foundation for Louisiana and the Office of Community Development of Baton Rouge. The project focuses on the aftermath of the violence and flooding of the summer of 2016. NOVAC awarded five microgrants to Baton Rouge independent filmmakers to create responses to the events of 2016, combining their work with NOVAC’s in-house productions. The films from the series premiered in Baton Rouge at the Manship Theatre, and have screened at the New Orleans Film Festival, the Patois Film Festival and more. To see the films in the series, visit the collection here.

Directed by Jillian Godshall / Produced by Stevee Warren & Jillian Godshall / Executive Producer Darcy McKinnon / Director of Photography Abraham Felix / Additional Camera Brandon Singleton & Jillian Godshall / Production Assistant Edwin Johnson / Edited by Jillian Godshall & Abraham Felix / Colorist Abraham Felix / Post-production Finishing Matt Hathcox

Supported by NOVAC, Foundation for Louisiana, Office of Community Development of Baton Rouge