About the film
Raised by Wolves
The feral boys of the internet
Raised By Wolves peers into online youth culture in a community in Appalachia and works with experts to reveal the complex ecosystem increasing the risk of radicalization of youth exposed to weaponized misinformation, toxic content and far right extremism in social media and online gaming.
While the acceleration of hate-fueled violence is happening across the country and around the globe — this is a personal story anchored in our community.
Contrary to popular perceptions that dangerous content is confined to dark corners of the Internet, it is hiding in plain sight on mainstream platforms frequented by children and teens. Meanwhile adult, organized white supremacist groups in the region are accelerating, drawing inspiration and strategies from European fascist movements of the 1920-30s, which is distilled into youth-centered memetic content reimagined for an opioid traumatized, post-industrial Appalachia.
The documentary is intended to help society confront increasing risks to youth and targeted community members and to understanding the systemic nature of the problem rooted in our times, our tech and our history.
Production
Photography
Cinematography and photography features work by media makers in Appalachia, including Tyler Channel, Joel Beeson, Emily Pelland, Curren Sheldon, Jesse Wright and Rob Simmons. Animation sequences are by Brad Stalnaker, video artist Kid Kadian and Tristan Zammit.
Locations
Raised by Wolves was shot on location in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia and Kentucky. Scenes also include filming shot on location in Poland and New Zealand. Interviews were shot in West Virginia, Washington D.C., Portland, Oregon, San Francisco and Berkeley, California, New York City and Brooklyn, New York.
Music
The documentary includes original music composed by Appalachian musicians, including rapper Geonovah from Big Stone Gap, Virginia, Nothing & Everything from Alabama, and Soft Pain from Ashland, Kentucky.
Crew
Meet the crew
Dana Coester began work on Raised by Wolves in 2017. Dana Coester is Editor-in-Chief of 100 Days in Appalachia and Executive Director of the Rural Digital Youth Resiliency Project.
Directed by
Dana Coester
Produced by
Dana Coester, Joel Beeson
Edited by
Joel Beeson, P. Nick Curran
Director of Photography
Joel Beeson
Cinematography by
Emily Pelland, P. Nick Curran
Animation by
Brad Stalnaker, Kid Kadian
Reporter
P. Nick Curran
Production Assistant
Kristen Uppercue
Donate
Support the film
Raised by Wolves is fiscally sponsored by The Center for Independent Documentary, a 501(c)(3) non-profit media arts organization. Donations support the production and completion of this media project and are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
Community partners
With support from
