Ken documentary spotlights Detroit organizer after decade of work

Brandon McClure, credited in the Q&A as the film’s producer, said he has worked on the Ken project for about a decade and described major editorial shifts after finding archival 16mm footage that allowed the film to center Ken’s personality. "I've been working on this film for 10 years," S4 told the audience, explaining that newly digitized material reshaped the cut and increased Ken’s on-screen presence.

McClure described Ken as a larger‑than‑life local figure whose mix of humor and anger made him compelling on camera and influential in community organizing. He said the film aims to show how activism, courts and leadership can affect change and argued the story is particularly resonant now. He also noted collaborators and family involvement: Ken's daughter Katie attended many interviews and has been learning about her father through the film.

McClure emphasized editorial choices that prioritized representation of Ken over more sensationalist policing footage, saying that maintaining Ken's voice and humor guided many cut decisions. The team discussed plans for festival screenings and broader distribution, including conversations about public-broadcast partners.