
American Promise
In 1999, filmmakers Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson turned the camera on themselves and began filming their five-year-old son, Idris, and his best friend, Seun, as they started kindergarten at the prestigious Dalton School just as the private institution was committing to diversify its student body. Their cameras continued to follow both families for another 12 years as the paths of the two boys diverged—one continued private school while the other pursued a very different route through the public education system.
Top Billed Cast
Idris Brewster
Self
Oluwaseun Summers
Self

Michèle Stephenson
Self

Joe Brewster
Self

Anthony Summers
Self
Featured Crew

Joe Brewster
Director

Michèle Stephenson
Director
Erin Casper
Editor
Margaret Byrne
Cinematography
Mary Manhardt
Editor
Errol Webber
Cinematography
Andrew Siwoff
Editor
Jon Stuyvesant
Cinematography
Cynthia Lopez
Executive Producer

Michèle Stephenson
Producer

Miriam Cutler
Original Music Composer

Joe Brewster
Producer