Ronald Merritt, a filmmaker, peered out at the group of 30 high school students who stood before him on a Lower East Side sidewalk.
“If y’all lost somebody to gun violence, raise your hand,” he said.
Nine students did so. Their stories poured out: the friend killed after a rowdy party; the relative singled out by a rival gang.
Mr. Merritt nodded. A video camera recorded the students’ faces then panned back to him.
“Think about it,” he said. “It could be your life...
