Central City Concern, A Clean Start for Two Friends
Work becomes a turning point in A Clean Start for Two Friends, a documentary film created with Central City Concern that follows two friends rebuilding their lives through the Clean Start program. Rather than presenting employment as a single milestone, the film traces how shared experience, accountability, and steady work create stability after years of uncertainty.
Through a patient, observational approach, the story reflects how structure and support can open new possibilities. Day by day, work becomes more than a task. It becomes a source of confidence, trust, and forward momentum.
The Challenge
Telling stories rooted in recovery and reentry requires care. This project involved individuals sharing deeply personal experiences, often for the first time on camera. As a result, the primary challenge was not access, but trust.
The film needed to honor vulnerability without exploitation. It also needed to show progress without simplifying it. Clean Start is not a quick fix, and the story had to reflect that reality honestly.
At the same time, Central City Concern wanted the film to communicate how employment programs can support broader change without framing work as punishment or pressure.
The Approach
Instead of leading with outcomes, the film focuses on process. The story centers on the relationship between two friends as they move through the Clean Start program together.
Their bond becomes a source of motivation on difficult days. It also reinforces the importance of showing up for one another. Small wins accumulate. Responsibility builds gradually. Progress feels earned rather than promised.
Alongside their story, the film highlights how Clean Start meets people where they are. Work is framed as a bridge, not a demand. In turn, employment becomes a pathway toward independence and long-term opportunity.
Production & Collaboration
Production took place over three days across multiple locations in the greater Portland area. A two-person Lightbox Filmworks crew worked closely with the Central City Concern team, who supported the process by facilitating interviews and helping create a comfortable on-set environment.
Because the subject matter was sensitive, the approach prioritized relationship-building over efficiency. The crew spent time getting to know participants, capturing b-roll, and keeping the atmosphere light and respectful. Only after that trust was established did the team settle into interviews.
In total, the project included six interviews conducted across locations. This measured pace allowed participants to share openly while maintaining agency and dignity throughout the process.
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Deliverables
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Primary documentary film telling the core Clean Start story
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Two supporting cutdowns drawn directly from the main piece
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Two additional original spots captured during production to expand the Clean Start narrative across social platforms
The Outcome
Ultimately, A Clean Start for Two Friends reflects the power of second chances and the role meaningful work can play in rebuilding lives. By centering friendship, accountability, and trust, the film shows how employment can support personal change without forcing it.
The result is a grounded, human portrait of workforce reentry, one that values patience, connection, and the dignity of progress made together.
This project is part of our broader Nonprofit & Community Storytelling work and our ongoing collaborations with organizations focused on housing, employment, and community-based care.
Client: Central City Concern
Project: A Clean Start for Two Friends
Industry: Nonprofit / Social Services / Workforce Development
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA
Services: Documentary-Style Filmmaking, Fundraising Video Production, On-Location Production, Post-Production
