Art professor creates film to raise awareness on combating homelessness
March 10, 2021
Inspired by the rise of homelessness in and around the state, Community College of
Rhode Island adjunct professor Brian O’Malley is putting the finishing touches on
an animated short he hopes will raise awareness to assist families struggling from
such housing insecurities.
O’Malley, who teaches digital art at CCRI and in 2020 founded the Rhode Island Independent
Animators (RIIA) collaborative, plans within the next month to release Unsheltered, a six-minute animated film that tells the story of a 10-year-old boy who loses both
of his parents and winds up homeless in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Crossroads Rhode Island, approximately 4,000 people per year experience
homelessness in the Ocean State, and one of every four are children. O’Malley – the
sole writer and director of the film – hopes Unsheltered will help raise awareness and influence others to contribute financially to help
end homelessness. In addition, he will donate half of the funds raised by the film
to The Holy Family Home for Mothers and Children, a homeless shelter in Providence;
next week, he will make an initial donation of $1,200, which he solicited through
a fund-raising video posted on the crowdfunding site Indiegogo.
O’Malley developed the concept for the film in March of 2020, shortly after the first
few cases of coronavirus reached Rhode Island, and loosely based the protagonist’s
story on his own youth; while never homeless, O’Malley admits to living “hand to mouth,”
driving cross country while at times living out of his car. The film also features
on original score from Providence-based composer Peter Scartabello.
“When I heard the statistics on homeless in Rhode Island, it blew my mind,” O’Malley
said. “People need help, and if I can raise a small portion to give back to our community,
I’m happy to do that.”
Once the film is completed, O’Malley will release a trailer to the public and then
submit the finished product to various independent film festivals. The next step,
depending on COVID protocols this summer, is to revive the RIAA collaborative – six
of his seven scheduled events were canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic – and premier
the film in Rhode Island at public screenings. O’Malley hopes his upcoming $1,200
donation is the first of many in 2021.
Share this story
Latest News
Employee Spotlight: Michael Marrapodi
November 27, 2024
Michael Marrapodi has joined CCRI as the new Executive Director of Online Learning. He has been involved with education since teaching music at a private school during his senior year of college in 1976 and is now an innovative leader in the online learning sector.
Read More
Second-year Biology student, PTK scholar helps feed the homeless one sandwich at a time
November 26, 2024
Eighteen-year-old Rhode Island Promise scholar and Warwick, RI, resident Lucas Johnson revived an old family tradition this past summer with Sandwich Party Sundays – a unique opportunity to spread joy and good cheer to Providence's homeless population each weekend at Kennedy Plaza.
Read More
Alumni Spotlight: Flavia A. Albert, M.A.
November 25, 2024
A Providence, RI, native, and Community College of Rhode Island Class of 2011 alumna, Flavia A. Albert, M.A., is on the verge of releasing her first children's book next month to combine her passion for behavioral health and early childhood development with her love for storytelling.
Read More
CCRI announces partnership with Building Futures to deliver new Apprenticeship Readiness program
November 22, 2024
With the support of a $250,000 workforce investment from the RI Department of Labor and Training (RI-DLT), the college will begin offering apprenticeship readiness programming in January through the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3), a comprehensive apprenticeship readiness curriculum that delivers an industry-recognized credential.
Read More
CCRI recognized as a 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting
November 20, 2024
For the past two election cycles, the Community College of Rhode Island has been recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge as part of its Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting recognition program.
Read More
Navy experience guides CCRI alumna in her new career as a full-time Communication professor
November 07, 2024
Assistant Communication and Film/Media professor Jennifer O'Rourke, a Warwick, RI, native and Class of 2007 graduate, is in her second year as a full-time faculty member after serving as a Mass Communication Specialist for the U.S. Navy.
Read More
Second high school joins CCRI's free advanced manufacturing dual-enrollment certificate program
October 29, 2024
One year after CCRI and North Kingstown High School partnered to launch the college's free Advanced Manufacturing Program for high school students interested in earning a Manufacturing and Design Certificate, Mount Pleasant High School has joined the program this fall to extend this unique opportunity to a group of 14 students.
Read More
CCRI receives grant to empower and celebrate First-Generation college students
October 24, 2024
The $1,000 grant will be used to support a First Generation Family Night event at CCRI’s Lincoln Campus on November 7 as part of its First-Generation College Celebration Day programming. First-Generation College Celebration Day is observed each year on November 8 to celebrate the success of first-generation college students, faculty, and staff who were the first in their families to graduate college.
Read More
Vampire love story takes center stage as CCRI Players launch 2024-25 season
October 23, 2024
The CCRI Players, the college's student-run theater group, kick off their fall semester this week at the Bobby Hackett Theatre with an adaptation of Let the Right One In, based off the best-selling 2004 novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist.
Read More
Employee Spotlight: Joshua Seguí-Rodríguez
October 21, 2024
In today’s Employee Spotlight, we meet CCRI's new Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Joshua Seguí-Rodríguez and uncover what inspired him to serve others, how he brought that passion to the forefront as a college student, and his unique skillset beyond the console.
Read More
Alumni Association inducts nine new members into Society of Knights and Squires
October 16, 2024
Nine Community College of Rhode Island alumni were inducted into the college’s Society of Knights and Squires as part of the CCRI Foundation and Alumni Association’s 2024 Outstanding Alumni Awards at the Warwick Campus.
Read More
Theater alum Wong becomes CCRI's fourth to earn Gamm fellowship in 2024-25
October 09, 2024
Allison “Sonny” Wong of Barrington, RI, a Class of 2024 graduate, is one of four fellows selected as part of the Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre's 10-month 2024-25 Gamm Fellowship Program, which will be the theatre's 40th anniversary season.
Read More
CCRI celebrates grand opening of new Casino Training Academy at Lincoln Campus
October 03, 2024
The state-of-the-art Training Academy, sponsored by Bally's Corporation, features eight blackjack tables and will provide a simulated gaming environment for the 30 students enrolled in the first cohort of the college's Introduction to Table Games Dealer Training course.
Read More
Editorial: How Philanthropy Fuels Student Success at CCRI
September 25, 2024
With CCRI continuing its goal of providing accessible, high-quality education that leads to strong learning outcomes and successful career pathways, innovative programs and substantial financial support are necessary to ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed.
Read More
Newport Campus opens its doors to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County Teen Center
September 18, 2024
The Community College of Rhode Island has partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County to relocate the B&GC’s Teen Center to CCRI’s Newport County Campus as part of CCRI’s Community First initiative.
Read More
Upcoming Events
Mar.
18
March 18, 2024 All Day
Flanagan Campus
May.
7
May 7, 2024 All Day
Dec.
12
December 12, 2024 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Knight Campus
Dec.
12
December 12, 2024 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Liston Campus
Dec.
13
December 13, 2024 All Day
Dec.
13
December 13, 2024 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Liston Campus
Dec.
14
December 14, 2024 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Liston Campus
Dec.
14
December 14, 2024 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Liston Campus
Dec.
15
December 15, 2024 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Liston Campus
Dec.
15
December 15, 2024 9:00 PM - 9:21 PM
Online