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"Kiss the Babies"

In America, gun violence is now the number one killer of children under the age of eighteen. This raw, emotional, documentary takes an uncomfortable look at how we got to this unacceptable place.

“Kiss The Babies” is not a film about gun control, rather, it’s a truly non-partisan look at how gun violence has trickled through the layers of political posturing and public opinion and landed squarely in the laps of our children. Not just our children, but our babies!

“Kiss the babies is a story about opening your eyes. Turning them blindly is only making the problem worse. Gun violence is now a part of our children’s everyday culture, and it’s them who are forced to deal with the issue every time they leave their home.

While society is looking to lawmakers for a solution, we must first understand what is causing the illness before we can deliver a cure. Through the eyes of gunshot victims and families left behind, “Kiss the Babies” reveals that gun violence is the direct symptom of something much deeper.

  • Byron M Goggin
    Director
    Discovery Channel, National Geographic, History Channel
  • Byron M Goggin
    Writer
    Ice Road Truckers, Wild Justice, Wicked Tuna
  • Charlie LeDuff
    Writer
    Pulitzer Prize winner, NY Times, Detroit News, Fox
  • Byron M Goggin
    Producer
    Discovery Channel, National Geographic, History Channel
  • Charlie LeDuff
    Producer
    Pulitzer Prize winner, NY Times, Detroit News, Fox
  • Ira Todd
    Key Cast
    ""Detective, Ira Todd""
  • Charlie LeDuff
    Key Cast
    ""Reporter, Charlie LeDuff""
  • India Williams
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Christian Miller (family)
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Myana Lanton
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Jordan Ruffin El
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Charlie Leduff
    Executive Producers
    Pulitzer Prize winner, NY Times, Detroit News, Fox
  • Dennis Niemiec
    Executive Producers
    Detroit Free Press
  • Ira Todd
    Executive Producers
    Executive Consulting Producer
  • Byron Goggin
    Editor
    Discovery Channel, National Geographic, History Channel
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    Social Injustice, Social Relevance, Child Gun Violence
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 3 minutes 15 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 30, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    40,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital 24p
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16x9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • None
    Central Michigan Film Festival
    United States
    February 18, 2023
    Michigan Premier
    Best Feature Documentary
Distribution Information
  • None
Director Biography - Byron M Goggin

In 2005 Byron left his position at FOX Sports Net, to launch his own production company. His self created “Wild Weekend Adventures” aired on PBS, winning 7 Emmy Awards and 2 Associated Press awards.

In 2010 Byron moved from Detroit to Los Angeles to create and develop programming for the Discovery Channel, National Geographic, History Channel, and BBC America. His list of photography and DP credits include the highest rated cable programs like Ice Road Truckers, Wicked Tuna and Wild Justice.

Byron’s passions lie in filming and producing stories and that affect change and spotlight the unbreakable human spirit. “Seizing Opportunity” was one of his first feature length films that told the story of NASA’s George Gloeckler and the first generation space explorers. This documentary took Byron to Washington DC, Germany, Austria and Switzerland where he filmed and handled original documents and photographs from the first landing on the moon.

Features like “Voices of the Inside Passage” exposed the dangers of transboundary mining and it’s effects on a multi-billion dollar fishing industry. This documentary won his company acclaim at the Colorado Environmental Film Festival and was viewed by tens of thousands on social media.

Between 2014 and 2016 Byron spent a significant amount of time in Africa traveling to places like Botswana, Kenya, South Africa and Ethiopia. There he filmed and produced conservation efforts throughout the regions bringing light to various issues including, but not limited to, wildlife conservation.

While cinematography is Byron’s passion, he recalls, “My most fulfilling memories of being a part of conservation team was teaching the indigenous people how to play baseball with sticks and plastic bottles and helping dig ditches to bring a community clean, fresh, drinking water. It’s all about being human and touching peoples lives”.

Today, Byron lives in Rochester, Michigan working on contract basis with his company, Byron Goggin StoryWorks.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

As a former Director of Photography, Editor and Producer for National Geographic, Discovery and History Channel, I have seen many things that have shocked or disturbed me. Nothing, however, has compared to the heart crushing stories and situations that were uncovered in the making of “Kiss the Babies”.

Child gun violence is a uniquely American issue and can be found in every city across the United States. This documentary was filmed in Detroit, not because Detroit was the worst of the worst for child gun violence (which it is not), but because the filmmakers and participants are from Detroit. We could have chosen any large city or suburb in the country and had the same result. Look in the mirror America, child gun violence is already taking place in a city near you.

If you are not moved by this documentary, you may not be human. After all, it’s a film about the most precious thing in our lives. Our children. Whether they are in the perceived “safety” of your own home, at school, or even at a Christmas tree lighting, kids under the age of 18 are one trigger pull away from their lives being instantly changed. Don’t think you are on an island with this issue. Statistics show It’s only a matter of time before you, personally, are touched by it.