ST. LOUIS – A local filmmaker and college professor gives an up-close look at violence in a north St. Louis neighborhood with a new documentary called “Catching Bullets.”

For three years, Lindenwood professor and filmmaker Ben Scholle hit the streets with city activist Darren Seals.

"This is the type of movie that lets you see there is no reset. This life is it," Seals said.

Seals, a former drug dealer, was shot 13 times and survived. Now, he runs the Sankofa Community Center in Walnut Park, helping steer kids away from a life of crime.

"I watched a kid get killed up the street. And I kept saying what if he were somewhere else, if he had something else today. What triggered him to try and get off in a stolen car," Seals said.

"Catching Bullets" gives a raw look inside Seals' work and the cycle of violence tormenting youth. In one scene shown to FOX 2 News, a boy being interviewed openly discusses his inner conflict with violence.

"If I kill him, what's going to be good for me? Nothing. I'm just going to be in jail for life. But, if I kill him, that's going to get my payback for my cousin," he said in the movie clip.

"I wanted to understand better how this is happening, why this is happening," Scholle said.

Scholle's film was named best documentary at the St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase. Later this week, it will be available for everyone to watch. It will be released nationwide on Aug. 15 for streaming on multiple platforms. Scholle says It can be rented on Amazon Prime or viewed for free with ads on Tubi.

"When you're going to talk about violence and you're going to talk about young people losing their lives, you can't avoid the fact that it's a heavy topic, but I also think that there's hope there," Scholle said.

To celebrate the release, 24:1 Cinema in Pagedale will host a public screening on Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. Snacks will be served starting at 6:30 p.m.