I'm Just Here for the Riot
{{Short description|2023 documentary film}}
{{Infobox film
| name = I'm Just Here for the Riot
| image =
| caption =
| director = Asia Youngman
Kathleen Jayme
| producer = {{plainlist|
- James Brown
- Michael Grand
- Gentry Kirby}}
| writer =
| screenplay =
| story =
| based_on =
| starring =
| narrator =
| music =
| cinematography = Kaayla Whachell
| editing = Katie Chipperfield and Greg Ng
| studio =
| distributor = ESPN Films
| released = {{Film date|2023|5|5|Hot Docs}}
| runtime = 77 minutes
| country = Canada
| language = English
| budget =
| gross =
}}
I'm Just Here for the Riot is a 2023 documentary film about the 2011 Stanley Cup riot that occurred in Vancouver after Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Vancouver Canucks and the Boston Bruins.{{cite web |last1=Holliday |first1=Ian |title='I'm Just Here for the Riot': Vancouver directors to tackle 2011 Stanley Cup riot in ESPN documentary |date=25 March 2023 |url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/i-m-just-here-for-the-riot-vancouver-directors-to-tackle-2011-stanley-cup-riot-in-espn-documentary-1.6329113 |publisher=CTV News |access-date=9 May 2023}} Directed by Kathleen Jayme and Asia Youngman, it examines the riot through on-the-ground footage, interviews with many people who were there, including rioters who were outed on social media and the, "lasting, multi-platform impact the riot had across the city."{{cite web |last1=Fitz-Gerald |first1=Sean |title=New ESPN doc shows a different side of the Vancouver Stanley Cup riot's impact |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4453969/2023/04/27/espn-vancouver-canucks-stanley-cup-riot/ |access-date=8 May 2023 |website=The Athletic}}
The documentary premiered at the 2023 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.{{cite web |last1=Punter |first1=Jennie |title=Western Canadian Filmmakers, Industry Professionals Up Their Game at Hot Docs |date=4 May 2023 |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/global/western-canada-hot-docs-1235603122/ |work=Variety |access-date=6 May 2023}} It also screened at the 42nd Vancouver International Film Festival.{{cite web |last1=Gregory |first1=Allie |title=Vancouver International Film Festival Announces 2023 Lineup of Films, Live Events and More |url=https://exclaim.ca/film/article/vancouver_international_film_festival_announces_2023_lineup |publisher=Exclaim |access-date=8 October 2023}} It’s the 124th in ESPN's 30 for 30.{{cite web |last1=Lopez |first1=Isabelle |title=ESPN Films Announces 30 for 30 Documentary "I'm Just Here for the Riot" on 2011 Vancouver Stanley Cup Riot |date=24 March 2023 |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2023/03/espn-films-announces-30-for-30-documentary-im-just-here-for-the-riot-on-2011-vancouver-stanley-cup-riot/ |publisher=ESPN |access-date=6 May 2023}}
Background
An estimated 155,000 people were in downtown Vancouver to watch Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.{{cite web |last1=DeWitt-Van Oosten |first1=Joyce |title=B.C.'s Prosecution Service – Report on the 2011 Vancouver Stanley Cup Riot Prosecutions |url=https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/law-crime-and-justice/criminal-justice/prosecution-service/reports-publications/stanley-cup-riot-prosecutions.pdf |publisher=Ministry of Justice and Attorney General |access-date=6 May 2023}} A massive riot broke out almost immediately after the conclusion of the Boston Bruins win over the Vancouver Canucks. 122 cars were damaged or destroyed, police cars were burned, building windows were shattered and stores were looted as waves of young people were caught in mob mentality, resulting in over $3.78M in damages. At least 140 people were injured, including 9 police officers and 101 people arrested.{{cite web|url=http://bc.ctvnews.ca/from-bad-to-brutal-timeline-of-a-riot-1.658118|title=From bad to brutal: Timeline of a riot|publisher=CTV Vancouver News|first=Bethany|last=Lindsay|date=June 16, 2011|access-date=September 14, 2015}}{{cite news |date=June 13, 2014 |title=Riots erupt in Vancouver after Canucks loss |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/riots-erupt-in-vancouver-after-canucks-loss-1.993707 |access-date=February 1, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cp24.com/nine-cops-hurt-150-injured-during-vancouver-riot-1.657648|title=Nine cops hurt, 150 injured during Vancouver riot|work=CP24|date=16 June 2011 |access-date=February 1, 2016}} In total, police brought 887 charges against 301 people.{{cite web |last1=Crawford |first1=Tiffany |title=Stanley Cup riot investigation winds down as last two suspects charged |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/metro/stanley-cup-riot-investigation-winds-down-as-last-two-suspects-charged |work=The Vancouver Sun |access-date=6 May 2023}}
Production
Both directors, Kathleen Jayme and Asia Youngman, are Vancouverites who watched Game 7: Youngman was present downtown while Jayme watched from home. Jayme went downtown the following morning to interview cleanup volunteers.{{cite web |last1=Jayme |first1=Kat |title=Every Vancouverite has a story about the Vancouver 2011 riot. This film is ours |url=https://www.cbc.ca/arts/i-m-just-here-for-the-riot-kat-jayme-asia-youngman-hot-docs-2023-1.6832162 |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=6 May 2023}} They began developing the documentary together in 2018 but every broadcaster in Canada turned them down. In February 2020, they pitched it to the former director of development at ESPN and were greenlit the following year. Sound and colour correction was completed by April 2023.{{cite web |last1=Ntim |first1=Zac |date=5 April 2023 |title=Canadian Post Production Outfit Elemental Post Opens Studio In Vancouver |url=https://deadline.com/2023/04/elemental-post-opens-studio-in-vancouver-1235318579/ |access-date=9 May 2023 |website=Deadline}}
Cast
Rioters were quickly identified online, described as the first "smartphone riot" and "trial-by-social-media."{{cite web |last1=Ho |first1=Rachel |title=Hot Docs 2023: 'I'm Just Here for the Riot' Tackles a Different Kind of Mob Mentality |url=https://exclaim.ca/film/article/hot_docs_2023_im_just_here_for_the_riot_review-directed_by_kathleen_s_jayme_and_asia_youngman |work=Exclaim! |access-date=6 May 2023}} Interviews include some of the people whose faces were "named and shamed."{{cite web |last1=Kergin |first1=Brendan |title='I'm just here for the riot': New documentary to look at 2011 Vancouver Canucks riot |url=https://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/highlights/im-just-here-for-the-riot-new-documentary-to-look-at-2011-vancouver-canucks-riot-6761350 |access-date=6 May 2023 |website=Prince George Citizen}}
Reception
Susan G. Cole, writing for POV Magazine, said it was an "emotional experience" and "loaded with information."{{cite web |last1=Cole |first1=Susan G. |date=May 2023 |title=I'm Just Here for the Riot Review: When the Hockey Hosers Get Mad |url=https://povmagazine.com/im-just-here-for-the-riot-review-fandamonium-explored/ |access-date=7 May 2023 |website=POV}} Rachel Ho praised its "balanced approach exploring the effects of social media and mob mentality." Writing for TheGATE, Andrew Parker described it as "a typically great ESPN 30 for 30 documentary" and "compelling viewing... sure to spark debate."{{cite web |last1=Parker |first1=Andrew |title=HOT DOCS 2023 REVIEW: I'M JUST HERE FOR THE RIOT |date=May 2023 |url=https://www.thegate.ca/film/060309/hot-docs-2023-review-im-just-here-for-the-riot/ |publisher=TheGATE |access-date=8 May 2023}}
The film was named to the initial longlist for the 2023 Jean-Marc Vallée DGC Discovery Award.Connie Thiessen, [https://broadcastdialogue.com/dgc-unveils-2023-discovery-award-long-list/ "DGC unveils 2023 Discovery Award long list"]. Broadcast Dialogue, September 12, 2023.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{30 for 30}}
{{Vancouver Canucks}}
Category:2023 documentary films
Category:Canadian sports documentary films
Category:Canadian ice hockey films
Category:Documentary films about Vancouver