Blog: (T)ERROR Filmmaker Visits Ramapo College

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Winner of a 2015 Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Prize, (T)ERROR is the first documentary to place filmmakers on the ground during an active FBI counterterrorism sting operation.
(T)ERROR follows Saeed “Shariff” Torres, a 63-year-old Black revolutionary turned informant, as he takes on what he swears is his last job for the FBI, and invites filmmakers to document his covert efforts to befriend a suspected jihadist – without informing his superiors.

(T)ERROR explores the ethics and intrigue of undercover work.

Shannon Meade

the presence of marijuana is throughout the entire film, a very liberal topic as well as non discrimination.

3:07- “my wife is afraid to leave our house in the morning, because she doesn’t know if someone wants to hurt her or not”

3:13-“Unless you are a white man, I don’t know if there is anything you really can do”

3:33- Identfiy ourselves in solidarity said the documentary director in Q&A – Emma Thor

3:32 p.m. – “The public, meaning white and non-Muslim people, support this because it does not affect them,” explains David Sutcliffe. – Ryan Rinsky

3:31pm “White extremists have killed twice as many Americans as muslim extremists since 9/11” -Nicole Shanley

3:30 p.m. – Filmmaker tells viewers his wife doesn’t know who wants to hurt her. – Joshua D. Mittwol

3:29 p.m. – “We spend $1 Trillion to homeland security annually,” says David Sutcliffe. – Joshua D. Mittwol

3:26 p.m. – Sutcliffe tells viewers he had no part in investigation. He was only there to document. – Joshua D. Mittwol

3:24 p.m. – “The fear that I am left with is the fear that I am supposed to have because of the media,” said Sutcliffe. – Ryan Rinsky

3:23 p.m. – FBI tells the muslim community to spy on their neighbors, if not they will deport their families.” -Linda Blandon

3:23 p.m. – When asked about reaction from the Muslim community, director Sutcliffe said “grateful, they see the film as a sign of relief in the muslim community” – Marcus Miles

3:22 p.m – “they want criminals to commit crimes while attempting to catch allege criminals because the FBI doesn’t want to look dirty.” – Linda Blandon

3:20 p.m. – “The perspective we are left with is the perspective that the FBI wants us to have.” – Victoria Hone

3:19 p.m. –  “We are the product of what we consume,” says David Sutcliffe. – Joshua D. Mittwol

3:17 p.m. -“To put things in perspective, since 9/11 we’re working to say that white extremists have killed more than Muslim extremists.” – Victoria Hone

3:17 p.m.”we do not see the FBI going into white communities or targeting people who are committing those acts or who committing those murders and trying to encourage them to also commit terrorist acts.” – Linda Blandon

3:16 p.m. -“Since 9/11 we’re working to say that white extremists have killed more than just Muslim extremists.” Laura Heckelmann

3:14: since 9/11 500 have been arrested for anti-american activity, 50 percent of cases were set up by a paid informant for the FBI – Raechel

3:12: Khalifah was arrested for the books in his house pertaining to the US military and radical islam– Raechel

3:10: 18 hours after meeting with an attorney the FBI shows up at Khalifahs home and takes him into custody– Raechel

3:09: Khalifah feels he and his family are living in fear– Raechel

3:03: Khalifah hopes to take legal action against the FBI for their harassment and hope to set him up– Raechel

2:52: Khalifah did NOT want to meet Mohammad– Raechel

2:50; Khalifah was raised Protistant but converted to Muslim– Raechel

2:49:Shariff Feels that Khaalifah is unpredictable and not the smartest but not the ddubmestt, Khalifah steals petty objects, random items- Raechel

2:45: 1997, charged with grand larsony, having a weapon, impersonating a transit cop– Raechel

2:43: Shariff feels he has missed out on a lot, family life and social life – RAechel

2:29: Shah Used his Jazz career as a cover for his ties with al qaeda

2:27: Tarik Shah was Sharriffs friend before he come under investigation, his father worked for Malcomn X

2:25: Shariff explains how he and Khaliffah only share a religion and other than that they are nothing alike- Raechel

2:23: MAny Muslims don’t like Khaliffah because he starts trouble- Raechel

2:21: All POI’s are Muslim- Raechel

2:18: ADmits to being a part of the Black Panther Party beginning the Spring of 1967– RAechel

2:16 PM Shows everyday life of what it’s like for Shariff, where he goes, what interactions he has with The FBI; visuals of him driving around. Audience attentiveness differs around the room. Laura Heckelmann

2:15: Terrorist are usings Social Media– RAechel

2:14- Disgrace of Islam glimpse of facebook status of Khaliffah  – Emma Thor

2:11 PM Movie shows severity of domestic terrorism by showing text messages between a simple informant and the FBI. Audience looks engaged. Laura Heckelmann

2:12 What is ths POI?  Point of Interest – Emma Thor

2:10: 15,000 informants after 9/11 — RAechel

2:09- HE makes a map of possible suspects, he says many muslims come to america and gain an education then return to their homeland, “stop crime before they happen” — Raechel

2:06: Did anyone else see that Black Panther Party poster?? — RAechel

2:03: I don’t want my face in this “shit”

2:03 PM The Pavilion is packed as students and staff members alike gather and sit down for the beginning of the film. Laura Heckelmann

2:00 — Director David Sutcliffe delivers a short introduction to his film, saying, “I’ve spent the last 10 years reporting on national security, especially from a Muslim perspective.” — Scott Yunker

1:54 p.m. – Award-winning director, David Sutcliffe, hosted a public screening and discussion of his award-winning film, (T)ERROR. The film premiered  at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival  where he won a Special Jury Prize for Break Out First Feature.

–Edna Negron