Henry Green & Stephen Dest. I Am Shakespeare First Screening, 2017
About the Event
Site Projects hosted the first screening of I Am Shakespeare, plus a conversation with the film's creators, Henry Green and Stephen Dest. Held in New Haven, the gathering honored the life and legacy of Henry Harris Green IV, tracing his journey from surviving gun violence to becoming a powerful voice for forgiveness, healing, and transformation.
After surviving a near-fatal shooting as a teenager, Green dedicated his life to uplifting others through art, mentorship, acting, and motivational speaking. The event brought together community members, artists, educators, and supporters to reflect on his impact and to experience the documentary capturing his story and enduring message.
Green, whose life became the focus of the film, later passed away from medical complications at age 26 on July 22 in Washington, D.C. In the weeks following his passing, tributes and celebrations of his life continued throughout the New Haven community. Friends and family reflected on the profound impact he had on those around him, emphasizing the lasting influence of his short but meaningful life.
Who was Henry Green
Green in Lead role of Jesus Christ Superstar at Co-op. Credit: ROB ESPOSITO PHOTO
Henry Harris Green IV was an actor, motivational speaker, mentor, and community advocate from New Haven, Connecticut. Known for his charisma, compassion, and resilience, Green transformed personal tragedy into a mission of service after surviving a 2009 shooting that left him critically injured.
Through public speaking engagements, youth mentorship, and artistic work, Green became a respected figure in New Haven and beyond, encouraging young people to pursue healing, self-expression, and nonviolence. His work focused on creating dialogue around trauma, inequity, forgiveness, and personal growth.
Green’s legacy continues through the lives he influenced, the conversations he inspired, and the documentary that preserves his voice and story.
About I Am Shakespeare
I Am Shakespeare is an award-winning documentary directed by Stephen Dest that chronicles Henry Green’s journey of survival, recovery, and transformation. Originally conceived as a scripted narrative film, the project evolved into a deeply personal documentary centered on Green himself as storyteller and guide.
Throughout the film, Green openly confronts his past, exploring fear, trauma, identity, and healing with honesty and emotional depth. The documentary blends intimate interviews, personal reflection, and social commentary to examine the broader realities of gun violence and systemic inequity within urban communities.
More than a film about survival, I Am Shakespeare is a story about resilience, purpose, and the power of turning pain into advocacy and hope.
According to David Sepulveda, author of New Haven Independent, Dest described the filmmaking process as meaningful for Green, saying it gave him a “sense of comfort and closure.”
About Stephen Dest
Director Stephen Dest
Stephen Dest is a New Haven filmmaker, educator, and mentor whose work centers storytelling, healing, and the transformative power of the arts within the community. As the founder of the drama department at the Neighborhood Music School, Dest played an important role in Henry Green’s artistic upbringing, mentoring him as a young actor and helping nurture the talent and confidence that would later shape Green’s voice and impact.
Their relationship evolved beyond teacher and student when Dest directed and produced the award-winning documentary I Am Shakespeare: The Henry Green Story, a deeply personal film chronicling Green’s journey through violence, recovery, identity, and redemption. Through years of mentorship, collaboration, and friendship, Dest helped create a platform for Green’s story to inspire audiences across New Haven and beyond.