Anatomy of a Gang Member
Featuring Jim Mandelin, CPC
Executive Producer: Jerome DeLuca
Producer / Director: Alexis Fosse Mackintosh
Line Producer: Al Zylstra
Content Consultant: Jim Mandelin
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“Anatomy of a Gang Member” is a feature length documentary on child abuse, addiction, homelessness, violence and the long road of recovery. Produced by LexTV Canada Ltd., “Anatomy of a Gang Member” will be filmed in High Definition by the award winning Director and Cinematographer Alexis Fosse Mackintosh. The expected release date is in the September of 2008
Eighteen years after the award winning film: “Child Sexual Abuse: Both Sides of the Coin” we again turn our lens on Jim Mandelin, A survivor of childhood physical and sexual abuse. We follow Jim on his journey of recovery as he travels back to the farm where he was raised outside of Rock Mountain House, Alberta.
We will explore the farm he grew up on, meet Uncle Clifford, Jim’s brother, his children, his ex-wife and Jim’s mother who will all share their stories of Jim’s life. Jim’s sons, Seth and Siruss will add a multigenerational perspective as they discuss their childhoods and the impact that Jim’s journey of recovery had on their lives. As a special guest we will visit Jim’s sponsor Ron who has known Jim from his early days in recovery. Ron considers Jim to be his son.
At fifteen Jim ran away from the farm and ended up homeless on the streets of Vancouver where he was again the target of pedophiles and became addicted to drugs and violence. The film will explore this turbulent time in Jim’s life and look to how these experiences lead to his gang member days.
In prison Jim was befriended by some older bike gang members who groomed him for a life of crime as an “associate” of their gang. This period of his life was one of booze, drugs and of course extreme violence and crime. At 22 Jim found that he could not live that life anymore and so began his Journey of recovery from the darkness of abuse and violence into the light of recovery. Now in his fifties, Jim’s insights provide a lens for the viewer to better understand child abuse, homelessness, gang life and of course recovery.
The film follows the arc of Jim’s life revealing valuable insights into child abuse, gang life and, of course, recovery. The story is told as a metaphorical journey within Jim’s journey back to Alberta and the “family” he left so long ago.
For more information please contact the director, Alexis Fosse Mackintosh at 604.779.1108 (email at alexis@lextv.ca ) Jim Mandelin at 604 722-5891 (email: jim@lextv.ca )
LexTV Canada
LexTV Canada produces documentary and current affairs programming of interest to Canadians and serves them to the world.