The Defenders
Commissioned by the Foundation for Mississippi History and the Mississippi Department of Archives & History, The Defenders tells the story of three pioneering Black lawyers whose work in the 1950s and 60s shaped the civil rights legal movement in Mississippi. RED SQUARED led the full creative process, from shaping the story to directing the documentary and designing the full campaign experience. The result is a 30-minute film supported by a comprehensive suite of visuals, all developed to reclaim a powerful piece of legal history and share it with new audiences.
Brief
RED SQUARED was commissioned by the Foundation for Mississippi History and the Mississippi Department of Archives & History to create a short documentary telling the overlooked story of three Black attorneys—R. Jess Brown, Jack Young, and Carsie Hall—whose civil rights work laid the groundwork for legal activism in the Deep South. We led the full creative process: from archival research and interviews to scripting, filming, scoring and editing a 30-minute documentary. Alongside the film, we developed a full campaign suite to elevate the story across platforms and public events.
Results
✱ Premiered the documentary in Jackson and successfully placed it in national and regional film festivals, including The March on Washington Film Festival, The Morehouse Human Rights Film Festival, The Jackson Film Festival and The Oxford Film Festival
✱ Won a Gold Award in the Southeastern Museums Conference for media production over $10,000
✱ Delivered a full brand system to support the documentary, from large-format posters and social templates to physical event collateral
✱ Helped reintroduce key legal figures into the broader civil rights narrative in Mississippi
Project Scope
✱ Documentary Film (Story Development, Interviews, Editing, Original Score)
✱ Trailer, Motion Graphics, and Archival Research
✱ Campaign Branding & Visual Identity
✱ Festival Assets, Press Kit, and Promotional Materials
✱ Event Design (Posters, Billboards, Table Stands, Print Collateral)
The Mississippi Department of Archives & History and the Foundation for Mississippi History approached RED SQUARED with a challenge: tell the story of three unsung legal giants—R. Jess Brown, Carsie Hall, and Jack Young—and their impact on civil rights in Mississippi. What began as a short film evolved into a multi-platform campaign reclaiming their legacy.
How the Story Came to RED SQUARED
Introducing: The Defenders
To ground the campaign in emotion and story, we produced a cinematic trailer that distills the heart of The Defenders. With archival textures, deliberate pacing, and powerful voiceover, the trailer introduces the legal legacy of R. Jess Brown, Carsie Hall, and Jack Young while setting the tone for the full documentary experience. It was designed to work across platforms, anchoring the project’s rollout and drawing viewers into a forgotten history brought to life.
The Deep Work Before the Cameras Rolled
We started by digging through archives, reading legal briefs, locating descendants, and mapping the ripple effects of these men’s work. We gathered context, secured interviews, and shaped a script rooted in lived history and untold impact.
Branding The Documentary
With the story locked and documentary developed, we looked to create a brand identity from the ground up, one that honored the gravity of the subject matter while positioning the project for festivals, education, and public programming. From full-size movie posters to digital templates and event materials, we gave the film a recognizable, elevated visual presence.
Motion in Memory
To open the film and guide transitions, we created original animations that visualize key moments in the story from the courtroom scenes, marches, legal filings, through layered textures and subtle movement. These pieces act as visual bridges, grounding viewers in time and place while honoring the archival gaps that so often exist in Black history. Whether viewed in motion or frame by frame, they extend the story’s impact beyond the screen.
Behind The Scenes
Telling this story meant spending time in archives, living rooms, and legal offices across Mississippi and the nation. From setting up interviews in historic courthouses to scouting meaningful locations tied to each attorney’s legacy, our team was fully embedded in the production. These behind-the-scenes moments capture the care, curiosity, and craft that went into bringing The Defenders to life.
“This was a story that needed to be told and RED SQUARED helped us communicate it beautifully in all aspects, from the film itself to all of the pieces that make it special.”
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Katie Blount, Executive Director, Mississippi Department of Archives & History
Distribution & Recognition
The Defenders premiered in Jackson, then traveled to major regional and national festivals including the March on Washington Film Festival in Washington D.C., the Morehouse College Human Rights Film Festival in Atlanta, GA, Atlanta Public Broadcasting and Oxford Film Festival in Oxford, MS. It won Gold at the Southeastern Museums Conference for best media production and continues to serve as a teaching and engagement tool.
Beyond its screenings and accolades, The Defenders reinserted three Black legal pioneers into the public record. It gave institutions a way to teach civil rights law through Mississippi’s lens and gave viewers a reason to dig deeper into the state’s complex legal history.