Local Legend Films is a documentary studio that practices restorative justice and employs young people who have survived gun violence. The company was founded by filmmaker Jayme Joyce in 2017 as a way to practice restorative justice and what she calls "The Healing Power of Workplaces". 

After creating many films for nonprofits about gun violence in the city of Chicago where she resides Jayme Joyce still felt like a "tourist" about the issue. Further, after asking the question over and over again to interview subjects: "What can help stop the gun violence?" she kept hearing the same answer: "Jobs." 

Naiivly, Jayme Joyce decided to offer some young people (who were considered by the University of Chicago's Crime Database to be "Active Shooters") a job helping to carry camera equipment and import footage to begin the film editing process. She wondered if paying an individual $15 per hour in cash would be enough of an incentive for them to turn away from the streets and thereby help make the city a safer place.

What transpired was life-altering both for her and the young people who would become the founding apprentices of the social enterprise company Local Legend Films.

Behind the camera, the company has created films worthy of film festivals and public television broadcasts. In addition, they have provided holistic and wrap-around support to apprentices who have experienced homelessness, muggings, loss of over a dozen friends and family members to gun violence and incarceration, wrongful arrests, police stops, search and seizures, and police raids of their homes.

The forty hours a person works each week takes up a significant role in that person's life and shapes the character of an individual. In the United States, it is not possible for individuals experiencing traumas related to gun violence to effectively heal and reconcile emotional peace in their lives without the support of their employer. Local Legend Films created a culture that was trauma-engaged for a team size of 11 individuals to support the two full-time apprentices who were directly impacted by gun violence.

Then, with the pandemic, the heartbreaking loss of many essential work contracts caused a layoff of these employees and despite the setbacks, the crew of Local Legend Films remains as close as ever despite the precariousness of the organization's financial situation. Currently, Local Legend Films strives to live up to its name both in front of the camera and behind, putting one foot in front of the other to find a sustainable business model that will stand the test of time. 

Jayme Joyce is an award-winning entrepreneur and Founder of social enterprise company Local Legend Films, a documentary film company committed to employing young people directly impacted by gun violence. 

Jayme has worked in various capacities on dozens of films, most notably as a camera operator for the Oscar-nominated documentary, Finding Vivian Maier. In addition, she was the second unit Assistant Director on the critically acclaimed documentary film, Girl Rising and a Producer on the authorized biopic, George Romero, An Independent Man, which premiered in Spain at the Sitges Film Festival in the fall of 2018. 

Currently, she is directing a restorative justice road trip film, Red Summer Project, and a producer of the film, Lead Never Follow, a documentary series about the Leaders streetwear brand.

Additionally, Jayme has juried the Chicago International Film Festival, worked for seven years at the Sundance Film Festival, and served on the board of the Chicago chapter of Women in Film for four years.