Filmmakers Ray Telles and Rick Tejada-Flores talk about their approach on presenting the issue of race and knowing that audiences would embrace the concept.

What led you to make RACE IS THE PLACE?

We both realized that racism was alive and well, and we wanted to do something about it. We wanted to do a piece about race and racism that would reach audiences in a different way, and decided that we would use the power of spoken word and performance.

Why did you choose the specific artists profiled in the film?

The artists in RACE IS THE PLACE have all created works that deal with this subject in a provocative manner. We chose some artists because they addressed the concerns of younger audiences, and others because their pieces would work for a general audience.

What impact do you hope this film will have?

We hope that RACE IS THE PLACE will help restart the national dialogue about race and equality.

What has the audience response been so far?

Overall, the response so far has been excellent, particularly among audiences in their teens and 20s.

What were some of the challenges you faced in making RACE IS THE PLACE?

The principal challenge was raising the money, and convincing funders that this approach would work for audiences.

What period of time did filming take place and when did it conclude? Any updates on the people in the film and what they have been doing since then?

We shot over a year in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Hawaii. Since we finished, Lalo Guerrero has passed away. Everyone else is doing very well.

The independent film business is a difficult one. What keeps you motivated?

Certainly not money. The way audiences have responded is validating our approach.