CRYSTAL: HELLO EVERYBODY I AM CRYSTAL, TONIGHT ON GREATER BOSTON WE ARE LOOKING AT THE INUNDATION OF SPORTS GAMBLING ADS AROUND THE STATE AND THE OFFERS OF FREE BETS.

WE DID INTO HOW FREE THEY ARE ACTUALLY ART WITH A LOCAL LAWMAKER HELPING TO PROTECT CONSUMERS FROM THE SPORTS BOOKS.

A LOOK AT THE LOCAL DOCUMENTARY GIRL TALK, AND THE 25TH ANNUAL ROXBURY FILM FESTIVAL.

CRYSTAL: IF YOU ARE A LIVING BREATHING RESIDENT OF MASSACHUSETTS YOU HAVE SURELY BEEN SUBJECT TO THE BARRAGE OF SPORTS BETTING ADS COMING AT US FROM ALL DIRECTIONS THESE DAYS.

FROM SOCIAL MEDIA AND TV TO BILLBOARDS ALONG YOUR COMMUTE TO WORK.

THE DELUGE STARTED A COUPLE WEEKS BACK WHEN SPORTS BETTING OFFICIALLY BECAME LEGAL IN THE STATE.

EVER SINCE APPS LIKE FAN DUAL, AND DRAFT KINGS HAVE BEEN USING FAMILIAR BOSTON SPACES LIKE DAVID ORTIZ, KEVIN GARNETT AND OTHERS TO GET YOU TO PLACE YOUR BETS.

NOT TO MENTION SOME AGGRESSIVE PROMOTIONAL OFFERS WITH THE ADS GIVING USERS QUOTE UNQUOTE FREE MONEY WITH DEPLATFORMS.

CLAIMING YOU CANNOT LOSE BECAUSE THEY ARE FUNDING YOUR INITIAL BETS.

SOUND TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE?

IT'’S JUST LIKE BE.

A BILL PROPOSED IN THE STATE SENATE TAKES AIM AT THAT LANGUAGE, AIMING TO AMEND A LONG-STANDING CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW TO PREVENT CERTAIN LANGUAGE AND PROMOTIONS IN SPORTS BETTING ADS.

IT WAS PRESENTED BY STATE SENATOR JOHN KEENAN WHO JOINS ME NOW AS WELL AS VICTOR ORTIZ, THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF PROBLEM GAMBLING SERVICES.

WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU.

CRYSTAL: SENATOR, TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR BILL.

JOHN: IT ADDRESSES UNFAIR, DECEPTIVE, MISLEADING ADVERTISING.

WE HAVE CHAPTER 93A, THE MASSACHUSETTS CONSUMER PROTECTION STATUTE.

WHAT THIS PROPOSAL JULY -- PROPOSED LEGISLATION WOULD MAKE PHRASES AND PRACTICES SUCH AS ODDS BOOST OR THAT FREE, OR THAT FIVE DOLLARS AND GET $200.

IT WOULD MAKE THOSE THINGS AS A MATTER OF LAW UNFAIR AND DECEPTIVE.

IT WOULD PROHIBIT THEM.

CRYSTAL: WE HAVE BEEN SEEING THESE ADS, I AM THOUGHTFUL AROUND THE CONVERSATION AROUND ADDICTION AND GAMBLING ADDICTION.

VICTOR, FOR FOLKS THAT MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF ADDICTION, HAD RECLASSIFIED GAMBLING ADDICTION -- HOW DO WE CLASSIFY GAMBLING ADDICTION?

VICTOR: IT WAS CLASSIFIED AS AN ADDICTION, IF YEARS AGO IT WAS INTEGRATED WITH SUBSTANCE ADDICTION AS AN ADDICTION UNDER THE DSM FIVE.

WHEN YOU EXAMINE GAMBLING ADDICTION AND SUBSTANCE ADDICTION THERE IS PROFOUND OVERLAP.

THE DATA AND THE RESEARCH TELL US OVERNIGHT 7% OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE A GAMBLING -- 97% OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE A GAMBLING DISORDER HAVE A PRE-EXISTING MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER PRIOR TO GAMBLING.

SUBSTANCE ADDICTION AND CABLING ADDICTION ARE JOINED TOGETHER IN AN INTEGRATED WAY -- GAMBLING ADDICTION ARE JOINED TOGETHER IN AN INTEGRATED WAY.

CRYSTAL: YOU WORK IN THE SPACE, WHEN WE SEE THIS DELUGE OF ADS, IT SEEMS LIKE, FORGIVE ME IF THIS IS NOT A GOOD ANALOGY.

LIKE SOMEONE TRYING TO HAND YOU LIQUOR ON THE STREET IF YOU HAVE AN ALCOHOL ADDICTION.

VICTOR: IT IS INTERESTING YOU SAY THAT.

OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS I HAVE ENGAGED IN MORE CONVERSATIONS THAN EVER BEFORE AND PEOPLE WHO ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED.

WHETHER IT IS COMMUNITY NUMBERS, CLINICAL -- MEMBERS, CLINICAL PROVIDERS, PARENTS, PEOPLE IN RECOVERY.

THAT ANALOGY CAME UP FROM A FEW FOLKS WHO ARE VERY IN TUNE TO THOSE REALITIES OF ADDICTION AND HAVE EXPRESSED THEY ARE BEING OVERWHELMED WITH ADS AS WELL AS THE NATURE OF THE ADS.

CRYSTAL: SENATOR I KNOW YOU POSTED TO SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT HOW THESE ADS CAN BE DISRUPTIVE AND DISTRACTING.

AS WE HEARD FROM VICTOR, DANGEROUS.

JOHN: YOU CANNOT ESCAPE THEM.

I WAS SITTING IN TRAFFIC AND ON THE MUNICIPAL BARREL WAS AN AD FOR SPORTS BETTING.

EVERYWHERE YOU GO COME ON YOUR PHONE, SOCIAL MEDIA, NEWSPRINT, AND RETURN ON THE TELEVISION IT IS THERE.

THE GOAL IS TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE INTRODUCED TO SPORTS BETTING.

WE KNOW THE GREATER NUMBER OF PEOPLE INTRODUCED, THEN THAT PERCENTAGE, WHEREVER IT MAY BE, THAT IS PRONE TO ADDICTION IS THERE.

THE BROADER THE BASE, THAT PERCENTAGE RESULTS IN A GREATER NUMBER OF PEOPLE GOING DOWN THE PATH TO ADDICTION.

FOR THOSE THAT HAVE STRUGGLED WITH ADDICTION RELATIVE TO GAMBLING, CAN YOU IMAGINE THE SITUATION THEY ARE IN RIGHT NOW?

EVERYWHERE THEY TURN THEIR HIT WITH THIS ADVERTISING.

THE ADVERTISING SUGGEST YOU CANNOT LOSE AS YOU SAID IN THE OPENING.

THEY YOU CAN BET FIVE DOLLARS AND YOU WILL GET $200 WORTH OF CREDIT.

YOU ARE BETTING IF THE CELTICS SCORE A BASKET YOU WIN.

OF COURSE THEY WILL.

LONG-TERM WING OF THE HOUSE ALWAYS WINS.

IN THE WAKE OF THE HOUSE WINNING THERE IS LIVES RUINED AND SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES THAT REMAIN TO BE ADDRESSED.

THE BETTER THE HOUSE DOES, SOMETIMES A BIT OF THE PROS -- BIGGER THOSE PROBLEMS ARE.

>> SPEAKING OF A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE, OTHER ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCES, DRUGS, ALCOHOL, OR TOBACCO SPECIFICALLY, THERE ARE TOUGH REGULATIONS THAT LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF ADS THAT CAN BE PLACED AND WHERE THEY CAN BE PLACED.

IT DOES NOT SEEM IN PLACE FOR ONLINE BETTING.

JOHN: THEY ARE NOT.

WHEN THE ONLINE BETTING DEBATE IS GOING ON I LOOK TO IMPOSE AT LEAST THE SURGEONS WE PUT IN PLACE OR CANDIDATE -- RESTRICTIONS WE PUT IN PLACE FOR CANNABIS FOR SPORTS BETTING.

WE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.

FOR ALCOHOL-RELATED YOU CANNOT HAVE A SOUND TRUCK GOING AROUND PROMOTING ALCOHOL.

UNDER CANNABIS REGULATIONS YOU CANNOT HAVE A SOUND TRUCK PROMOTING CANNABIS.

WHILE THERE WAS AN EFFORT TO AMEND THE SPORTS VETTING -- BETTING BILL TO INCLUDE THAT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL.

YOU CAN DRIVE AROUND IN A SOUND TRUCK TO PROMOTE SPORTS BETTING.

THE MOST BASIC THINGS WE DID WHEN IT COMES TO AREAS WHERE WE KNOW THERE ARE ADDICTION ISSUES WE HAVE NOT DONE HERE.

WE KNOW IN THIS AREA, IT IS PRONE TO ADDICTION AS WELL.

WE HAVE SEEN THE CONSEQUENCES AS IT HAS BEEN FREE GAME.

CRYSTAL: HOW IMPORTANT IS IT LIMITING THE ADS, REGULATING THE ADS, TO THE CONDITIONS AND OF COURSE THE FOLKS THAT ARE SUFFERING FROM ADDICTION -- CLINICIANS AND THE FOLKS SUFFERING FROM ADDICTION?

VICTOR: IT IS IMPORTANT WE WORK ON ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE.

IT IS IMPORTANT WE BRING ALL FOLKS TOGETHER TO CONTINUE TO EAGER THIS OUT -- FIGURE THIS OUT.

IS IS AT THE STAGE WHERE IT IS OVERWHELMING AND THERE ARE A LOT OF CONCERNS.

THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

THE OTHER SIDE, WE UNDERSTAND FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE THERE WILL BE SOME IMPACT.

WHETHER THE IMPACT IS MINIMAL, MODERATE OR SEVERE, THERE WILL BE IMPACT.

THAT IMPACT IS EITHER ADDITIONAL ADDICTION AND OR RELATED ISSUES.

WHAT PEOPLE SOMETIMES OVERLOOK, GAMBLING HAS SUCH AN INTERCONNECTED TO A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER ISSUES.

BECAUSE IT IS PART OF THE ONE ISSUE THAT HAS SIGNIFICANT OVERLAP IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS.

WE KNOW FROM PREVIOUS STUDIES PEOPLE WHO RECREATIONAL -- WHO ARE RECREATIONAL GOVERNORS -- GAMBLERS HAVE ISSUES OF OBESITY.

TAKE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS OR MIGHT CONSUME ALCOHOL HIRE.

THERE ARE PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS HERE THAT WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT.

IN PARTICULAR THAT CONCERN, IN REGARDS TO THE ADVERTISEMENT, ONE OF THE THINGS CRITICAL FROM OUR VANTAGE POINT.

ASIDE FROM THE MACRO ISSUES.

THE ONE SAFETY NET BASED ON THE IMPACT THAT WE HAVE IS OUR HELPLINE.

WE KNOW THE IMPACT IS THERE.

PRESERVING THAT AND HAVING IT CLEARLY OUTLINED IN THE ADVERTISEMENT.

THE SAFETY NET, THE ONLY SAFETY NET THAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMONWEALTH IS CRITICAL TO ENSURE WHEN PEOPLE NEED HELP, CAN GET HELP VIA THE HELPLINE.

THAT IS ALSO CRITICAL IN POINTS AS WELL.

>> IS FUNNY YOU MENTIONED THE ONE SAFETY NET THAT WE HAVE.

THE STATE, STANDS TO GAIN MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN REVENUE FROM THIS ONLINE GAMBLING.

THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING, THE SPORTS BETTING.

THERE IS ONLY ONE HELPLINE.

COULD SOME OF THAT MONEY OR SHOULD SOME OF THAT MONEY BE GOING TO MORE SAFETY NETS FOR FOLKS THAT STRUGGLE WITH ADDICTION?

JOHN: SOME OF THE MONEY IS DESIGNATED FOR THOSE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION.

THE MILLIONS REMAIN TO BE SEEN, IT WILL BE MILLIONS, THE ESTIMATES ARE LASZLO AS $6 BILLION IN THE FIRST YEAR TOO HIGH AS -- LOW AS $60 MILLION IN THE FIRST YEAR OR HIGH AS TWICE OF THAT.

IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THE BUDGET IT IS NOT A LOT OF MONEY.

THE BIGGEST DRIVER OF STATE BUDGET IS THE MASS HEALTH PUBLIC HELPLINE AND PROVIDING INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR PEOPLE IN NEED.

A GREATER NUMBER OF PEOPLE OF -- RELY ON THAT THAN EVER BEFORE.

WE MAY GET SOME MONEY IN FROM SPORTS BETTING AND TAXES ON THAT.

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ITEM IN OUR BUDGET IS THE HEALTH BUDGET.

WE GET A LITTLE BIT HERE BUT IT COST MUCH MORE OVER HERE.

THAT IS IN A DIRECT WAY WHERE THERE ARE ISSUES RELATED TO ADDICTION WHERE THERE IS A COST AND THAT IS TREATMENT.

WHAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IS THE IMPACT THAT THIS WILL HAVE.

STUDIES SHOW THERE WILL BE IMPACT ON THINGS LIKE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

ISSUES RELATING TO THE HOME.

CHILDREN FACING GREATER NEEDS FROM SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY'’RE NOT GETTING SUPPORT AT HOME BECAUSE THERE ARE FINANCIAL ISSUES RELATED TO GAMBLING.

ALL THAT IS A SILENT COST AND IT IS HARD TO QUANTIFY.

WE KNOW IT IS THERE, AND SO MUCH OF THAT DRIVES WE HAVE TO DO IN OUR PUBLIC HEALTH BUDGETS AND THE HEALTH INSURANCE BUDGETS.

CRYSTAL: HOW IS YOUR OFFICE IN THE CLINICIANS IN THE SUPPORT OFFICE MANAGE WHAT COULD BE AN INFLUX OF FOLKS OR A NUMBER OF FOLKS TRIGGERED BY THIS EXCITEMENT?

I KNOW EVERYWHERE FROM THE NEWS, THE RADIO, THE BILLBOARDS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW.

HOW IS YOUR OFFICE MANAGING THIS INITIAL TWO WEEKS OF EXCITEMENT OF IT BEING LEGAL IN MASSACHUSETTS?

VICTOR: I AM NOT GETTING LOST -- A LOT ASLEEP, THAT IS NUMBER ONE.

OUR OFFICE IN 2016 WHEN WAS ESTABLISHED TOOK AN APPROACH THAT WAS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE COUNTRY.

MOST EFFORT SINGULARLY LOOK AT GAMBLING, WE LOOK AT THE INTEGRATION AND TAKE A LOT BROADER PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH.

THE KEY PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC HEALTH LEADING WITH EQUITY, THINKING OF GROUPS JUST FORTUNATELY IMPACTED -- DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED.

WE HAVE INVESTED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PREVENTION.

WITH YOUTH, WITH OLDER ADULTS, A WHOLE HOST OF PREVENTION EFFORTS WE CONDUCTED COMMUNITY LEVEL.

ON THE OTHERS OF THE SPECTRUM, THE TREATMENT, WE HAVE ONE OF THE MOST COPPERHEADS OF SERVICES OF -- COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES OF PROBLEM GAMBLING TREATMENT IN THE COUNTRY.

WE INTEGRATED THE HELPLINE THREE YEARS AGO WITH A SUBSTANCE ABUSE HELPLINE.

AS A RESULT OF THE INTEGRATION WE ARE SCREENING UP TO 20,000 SUBSTANCE ABUSE CALLERS FOR PROBLEM GAMBLING.

THE LARGEST EXPANSION OF PROBLEM GAMBLING SCREENING IN THE COUNTRY.

WE HAVE TAKEN THIS OPPORTUNITY SINCE 2016 THINKING ABOUT THE RESOURCES AND THINGS OF THE LEGISLATORS ACTUALLY MAKE THAT HAPPEN FOR US TO HAVE THOSE RESOURCES.

THINKING ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO BETTER IN MASSACHUSETTS FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE WHEN IT RELATES TO GAMBLING.

THIS SPORTS WAGERING RINGS A NEW CHALLENGE.

IT IS -- BRINGS A NEW CHALLENGE.

IT IS A NEW CHALLENGE WHERE CLOSELY MONITORING IN PREPARING FOR THIS MOMENT WE ARE MONITORING OUR HELPLINE'’S AND ENHANCE -- HELPLINE AND ENHANCE THE HELPLINE.

WE ENHANCE THE COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND PROGRAMMING, WE ARE PREPARING FOR THIS MOMENT THAT WE ARE IN.

AT THE SAME TIME WE KEEP AN EAR TO THE GROUND AND LISTEN TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

AS I MENTIONED WHEN I STARTED I AM ON THE PHONE EVERY DAY CONSISTENTLY TALKING TO PARENTS, TALKING TO FOLKS IN RECOVERY.

TALKING TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE EXPRESSING BEING OVERWHELMED AND CONCERNED.

THEY KNOW OUR OFFICE, WHILE THINGS ABOUT OUR OFFICE IS WE HAVE ENGAGED OVER 2000 VISUALS AT THE COMMUNITY -- INDIVIDUALS AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL.

A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE OF COLOR AS PART OF THE THING UP VOICE TO BE PART OF THE PROGRAM.

WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND BOY ARE WE HEARING FROM THEM.

CRYSTAL: VICTOR ORTIZCRYSTAL:, SENATOR KEENAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

IF YOU NEED HELP WITH THE GATLING PROBLEM OR NEED TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION YOU CAN CALL THE MESSAGES PROBLEM GAMBLING HELPLINE.

800-327-5050 OR GO GAMBLING HELPLINE MA.ORG.

AMID THE YEARS OF HARD WORK, PRACTICE AND DEDICATION TO THE CRAFT, THE GIRLS HAVE ALSO HAD TO CONFRONT THE STATUS QUO IN A SYSTEM THAT FAVORS THEIR MALE CAP REPORTS.

>> I ASKED COUNTERPARTS.

>> I HAD A LOT OF COMMENTS, LIKE TOO AGGRESSIVE, TONE IT DOWN, SKIRT IS TOO SHORT.

I MADE A DECISION TO WEAR PANTS.

>> THE JUDGES WILL VOTE FOR WHO LOOKS LIKE A WINNER, SO SPEAK.

STEREOTYPES HAVE SHOWN LOOKING LIKE A WINNER OFTEN TIMES IS NOT VERY FEMININE.

>> IT IS HARD AS A WOMAN TO NOT COME ACROSS AS LIKE BITCHY, AGGRESSIVE, POWERFUL WOMEN ARE NOT BUT PEOPLE WANT TO SEE NECESSARILY.

CRYSTAL: THEIR STORY IS THE FOCUS OF THE FILM GIRL TALK SET TO AIR IN BOSTON TOMORROW AS PART OF THE RUN-UP OF THE 25TH ANNUAL ROXBURY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL.

IT IS HOSTED BY THE BOARDS EMERSON SHARED STORIES PROGRAM, A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE ROXBURY FESTIVAL AND THE BOSTON ASIAN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL.

I AM JOINED NOW BY LISA SIMMONS, OUR ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ROXBURY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AND SUSAN, FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF THE BOSTON ASIAN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS PARTNERSHIP.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ARTS EMERSON AND THE DIFFERENT FILM FESTIVALS.

>> I THINK SUSAN AND SABRINA AND I CAME TOGETHER A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO AND DECIDED WE REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE OUR AUDIENCE CAME TOGETHER TO SEE EACH OTHER'’S WORK.

WHAT WE FELT WAS, THE SHARED STORIES PROGRAM, WE REALIZE WE WERE MORE ALIKE THAN WE ARE NOT.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT FILMS, MY FAMILY IS LIKE THAT, PEOPLE THAT COME TO MY FILM FESTIVAL -- FESTIVAL WILL LOVE THAT FILM.

SHARED STORIES BEGAN AND IT WAS A WAY FOR US TO COME TOGETHER AS THREE FESTIVALS.

WOMEN LED FESTIVALS, WOMEN OF COLOR LED FESTIVALS TO SAY WE WANT TO USE FILM AS A CATALYST FOR CONVERSATION.

WE WANT TO BRING PEOPLE TO THE TABLE THINKING THAT WE COULD SHOW PEOPLE THAT IT IS THE WHOLE THING AND WE -- WE ARE MORE ALIKE THAN WE ARE NOT.

CRYSTAL: CHOOSING THIS FILM, GIRL TALK, DOES ITALIAN TO THE THEME OF THE -- DOES IT TIE INTO THE THEME OF SHARED STORIES?

IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS WOMAN POWER HAPPENING AS WELL.

>> THERE IT DEFINITELY IS WE OFTEN TRY TO FIND PARALLEL THEMES OF WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH MARCH BEING WOMEN'’S HISTORY MONTH.

THINKING ABOUT THE COMMONALITIES OF THEMES WE CAN SHARE.

BESIDES BEING WOMEN OF COLOR, STORIES WITH GENDER IS ALSO LAYERED IN WITH THAT.

WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS FILM IS SET IN BOSTON.

THE FILMMAKERS FROM BOSTON.

THERE ARE WAYS WE CAN CONNECT THIS FILM DEEPER TO THE EXPERIENCES OF THE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN BOSTON AS WELL.

CRYSTAL: THIS FILM HAS SUCH A POWERFUL MESSAGE.

IT ALSO SHOWS THESE GIRLS WHO ARE TRYING TO WORK SO HARD.

THEY HAVE WORKED YEARS TO GET TO WHERE THEY ARE.

THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THIS GENDERIZM AND UNDERCURRENTS OF RACISM IN THE SPACE AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE.

WHAT STRUCK YOU THE MOST ABOUT THIS STORY AND THEIR STORIES IN THE FILM?

>> AS WOMEN AND A WOMAN OF COLOR AND AS A WOMAN OF COLOR ESPECIALLY FACES EVERY DAY.

THERE IS SO MUCH IN THIS FILM I COULD RELATE TO.

NOT BEING ON A DEBATE TIME -- TEAM.

EVEN JUST GOING TO THE -- THE FESTIVAL TO WHERE IT IS TODAY AND THE FIGHTS AND THE PUSHBACK YOU GET OFTEN TIMES AS A WOMAN WHEN YOU TRY TO BUILD SOMETHING.

WHEN YOU TRY TO BE AT THE TOP OF THE GAME AND YOU ARE -- THERE ARE GATEKEEPERS.

IT IS NOT JUST FOR GIRLS FACING THESE, BUT IT IS FOR ALL OF US WOMEN WHO HAVE SPENT OUR LIVES PUSHING AGAINST SOMETHING THAT IS NOT BEING FLEXIBLE.

TRYING TO FIND YOUR WAY TO THE TOP OF THAT.

I THINK THAT IS INSPIRING.

I THINK THESE YOUNG GIRLS ARE INSPIRING, THEIR UNAPOLOGETICALLY, WE WILL GET THERE.

>> I WAS ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS IMPRESSED WITH WATCHING THESE GIRLS GROW UP ESSENTIALLY AND MATURE OVER THE COURSE OF THE TIME THE FILM WAS RECORDED.

ONE OF THE PIECES I REALLY THOUGHT STRUCK ME AS WELL WAS THE INSTITUTION THEY ARE IRKING WITH IT -- WORKING WITH IT.

THERE WAS NOT A DIRECT WAY OF SAYING YES THIS IS GENDER BIAS.

IT IS NOT SET UP THAT WAY AND FELT VERY MUCH, LIKE NAVIGATING THE WORLD THESE DAYS.

FOR ME, IS BECAUSE I AM ASIAN?

A WOMAN?

BOTH?

STEREOTYPES PROJECTED AROUND APPEARANCES, TONE OF VOICE, ALL THOSE THINGS.

>> IN THAT VEIN I WANT TO SHOW THIS CLIP OF A COACH AND A JUDGE DISCUSSING DOUBLE STANDARD AND BIAS IN THE DEBATE WORLD.

>> IT IS NOT JUST LIMITED TO GENDER.

ASIAN STUDENTS ARE STEREOTYPED AS BEING ROBOTIC DEBATERS.

BLACK DEBATERS CAN BE SEEN AS TOO AGGRESSIVE.

IN EVERY CASE YOU HAVE THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN.

OH, THIS IS ONE OF THE GOOD ONES, THIS IS THE MODEL OF WHAT A DEBATER OF COLOR OR A WOMAN OF -- DEBATER SHOULD BE AS CLOSE AS THEY ARE TO THE WHITE STANDARD.

>> WE FERRET OUT TRAINING FOR JUDGES SO WE COULD ILLUMINATE THEIR GENDER BIASED.

THEN THE GIRLS WILL HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO PERFORM WELL IN A WORLD THAT DOES NOT EXIST.

>> THAT STRUCK ME THE MOST.

AT THE GIRLS WILL BE PERFORMED -- TRAINED PERFORM WELL IN WORLD THAT DOES NOT EXIST.

I THINK OF THE SPECTRUM OF WOMEN , THE WOMEN THAT FIGHT FOR WOMEN'’S RIGHTS AND HOW FAR EVERYONE SAYS WE HAVE COME, RIGHT?

THEN YOU HAVE TEENAGERS WHO COME UP AGAINST THIS WALL OF GENDER BIAS.

IT IS INCREDIBLE TO ME.

>> THAT THINGS HAVE NOT CHANGED.

THEY ARE FIGHTING THE FIGHTS WE WERE RIDING AND WE ALL CONTINUE TO FIGHT.

AS ADULTS, AS TEENS.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IS THAT THEY ARE SO FOCUSED ON BEING THE BEST REGARDLESS OF THEIR GENDER.

REGARDLESS OF THE RACE.

THEY WILL NOT ALLOW THAT TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.

YOU CAN SEE THE TREND IS MOVING.

I LOVE THAT THEY COULD TRAIN JUDGES.

YOU WILL BUMP UP AGAINST IS YOUR WHOLE LIFE.

THE GLASS CEILING, WHATEVER IT IS, IF YOU CAN HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THAT AND LEARN HOW TO FIGHT AGAINST THAT, I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

THAT IS WHY I THINK THIS MOVIE IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO SEE.

>> ONE OF THE OTHER PIECES IS THE LAYERING OF THE FACT, WE'’RE TALKING ABOUT NEWTON SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL.

THERE IS A LOT OF PRIVILEGE AND AFFLUENCE THAT COMES WITH THAT.

THE RECOGNITION, EVEN WITH ALL THE SOCIOECONOMICS THINGS IN PLACE THEY ARE STILL FACING THIS GENDER IMBALANCE.

FOR PEOPLE THAT SAY WE ARE BEYOND GENDER AND SEXUALITY -- I AM SORRY, GENDER ATTRIBUTIONS THAT ARE BLIND, THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

CRYSTAL: AS PART OF THE SCREENING WILL BE BRINGING DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE THAT THEY TAKE AWAY FROM THIS MESSAGING?

IS THERE AN ACTION STATEMENT AT THE END OF THE SCREENING?

>> I THINK THAT YOU TAKE AWAY TO REALLY HONOR YOUR INSTINCT AND YOURSELF.

DO NOT SIT BACK AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO MAKE JUDGMENTS OF YOU.

TO TELL YOU WHO YOU ARE.

YOU KNOW DEEP IN YOUR HEART YOU ARE AS A PERSON AND WHAT YOUR ABILITIES ARE.

DO NOT ALLOW PEOPLE TO MAKE JUDGMENTS ABOUT YOU AND TELL YOU WHO YOU ARE WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WHO YOU ARE.

I THINK THAT IS THE TAKE AWAY FROM ME.

>> I THINK ALSO LEANING INTO THE FACT THAT WE ARE THREE FESTIVALS WORKING TOGETHER.

THE MEDIUM OF EARNING PEOPLE TOGETHER IN A ROOM.

YOU CAN WASH ONLINE THESE DAYS -- WATCH THINGS ONLINE THESE DAYS, WILL HAVE FILMMAKERS IN ONE OF THE PROTAGONIST WITH US.

WE HAVE A COMMUNITY MEMBER THAT WILL BE PART OF THE CONVERSATIONS.

THE CONNECTIONS YOU CAN MAKE TO THE DECISION-MAKERS AND THE CREATIVE.

THE AUDIENCE MEMBERS, BY THE STRONGER POINTS EACH OF THE VESSELS WE HAVE THE CORE AUDIENCE THAT FOLLOW US AND COME ALL THE TIME.

WE KNOW OUR PEOPLE.

WOULDN'’T IT BE AMAZING IF WE GOT OUR PEOPLE TOGETHER AND BECOME A BIGGER GROUP OF PEOPLE IN THE SAME CAUSE AND GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER?

CRYSTAL: THAT IS THE WORK THAT HAPPENS BEYOND THE FILM ITSELF.

NOT ONLY ADDRESSING ISSUES IN THE FILM BUT ALSO COMING TOGETHER TO ADDRESS LARGER SOCIETAL PROBLEMS THROUGH ART.

>> THE OTHER PART OF THE HAT THAT I WEAR IS I AM A CREATOR PRODUCER AT ARTS EMERSON.

THIS COLLABORATION CAME FROM ME BEING ON STAFF AND ACCESS TO THE SCREENING ROOM AND RESOURCES.

WE WANTED TO WORK TOGETHER.

>> FOR YEARS.

>> WE ARE ALSO BUSY, AND WE -- THIS ENABLED US TO CARVE OUT THE TIME AND RESOURCES TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

THAT WAS A BIG PART OF IN THE VEIN OF ART EMERSON, LOOKING AT ART AS A PROMPT.

THE POINT THAT IT HAS BEEN A LONG-STANDING TRADITION FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND SOMETHING THAT WE ARE CONTINUING AND WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE IT POSSIBLE.

THIS IS BEEN A -- WE'’VE ALWAYS DONE A FESTIVAL.

THIS IS A GREAT COLLABORATION.

>> I WILL HAVE -- THERE IS ALWAYS, WE COLLABORATE ON THIS FILM, WE CO-PRESENT THIS FILM.

WE CONSTANTLY DO THIS.

THIS SHARED SPACE GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO PICK ONE FILM AND BRING THE AUDIENCE TOGETHER.

>> THIS IS THE THIRD SEASON WE ARE COMING BACK AND WE ARE DOING THIS.

ONE OF THE LAYERS WE HAVE ADDED ON THIS YEAR IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH ROLL CHANNEL.

THEY HAVE COME ON, WE SELECTED A COUPLE, THIS BEING ONE OF THEM TO FEATURE THROUGH THE SEASON.

BETWEEN NOW AND MAY, FOLKS SHOULD CHECK OUT THE MOVIES BEING WORKED ON.

CRYSTAL: SO OFTEN THIS WORK IS DONE IN SILOS.

YOU ALL ARE FORGET ABOUT THAT MODEL WE WORK TOGETHER.

>> WE HAVE TO.

WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER.

WE LOVE WORKING WITH EACH OTHER.

WE ARE VERY RESPECTFUL OF EACH OTHER'’S FESTIVALS.

I THINK IT JUST MAKES SENSE TO BE COLLABORATING AND BRINGING THESE FILMS TO SPACES THAT MAY NEVER HAVE BEEN SEEN ON THE BIG SCREEN.

TO CREATE DISCUSSION AROUND THINGS THAT AFFECT ALL OF US.

>> LISA HAVING HER 25TH ANNIVERSARY AND THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF MY FESTIVAL AS WELL.

WE BOTH HAVE THESE MILESTONES.

IT IS THIS NEEDING TO, WANTING TO WORK TOGETHER IN A BOSTON SCENE.

WE ARE HERE IN BOSTON.

WE FACE A LOT OF FACTORS THAT HAVE SOMETIMES IN AGAINST US.

TO COLLABORATE AND SHOW SOME INDIFFERENT FOR BOSTON, THERE IS NO NEED TO COMPETE.

WE CAN ALL RISE TOGETHER.

CRYSTAL: INCREDIBLE, LISA AND SUSAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU THIS IS GREAT.

>> TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ROXBURY FILM FESTIVAL AND GET TICKETS TO TOMORROW'’S SCREENING OF GIRL TALK GO TO ROC XFILMFEST.COM IT CAN ALSO BE STREAMED NOW.

COME BACK TOMORROW FOR TALKING POLITICS AS EVICTIONS SPIKE IN BOSTON.

WHAT CAN THE GOVERNMENT DO TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES?

BIDENS ENVIRONMENTAL CREED AND HIS HOMETOWN OF MALDEN.

ALL THAT AND MORE TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

.