Let’s not get ahead of ourselves yet but I can tell you that the
feeling amongst the team is extremely positive. We feel like we
are doing a great job on an enormously important project. The
confidence in and enthusiasm all of us have for this documentary
is richly rewarding. We all know that there is a long road ahead of
us with lots and lots of hard work but it does not feel at all
daunting because, the fact is, we know how special this film is
going to be, how it is going to open eyes, infuriate and inspire our
viewers. We feel like we are a part of something that can do more
than simply shine a light on the issue, we feel like we might be
able to be part of the solution and, as documentary filmmakers,
few things are ever so special.
Today, we turned the cameras inward and focused on one of our
own. In the course of discussion during a production meeting a
a few weeks ago, project manager extraordinaire Gabrielle McNicol
shared with us the agonizing story of her mother, Mary’s,
immense struggles with health and financial stability. We all felt it
as she told us her story and it was not long before one of us
asked Gabrielle if she thought her mother would be comfortable
sitting for an interview. We shot that interview today and it was so
heart-wrenching, it so epitomizes what we are trying to say in the
documentary. Suffice it to say that there were some moist eyes in
front of and behind the camera. But we are not finished with Mary,
we will be following her around town as she shops for groceries
and tries to do her best with extremely limited resources.
Next week, we have an interview scheduled with George Matysik.
Executive Director of Share Food Program and one of the major
forces in the fight against food insecurity in the city.
Following that, we will interview Mariana Chilton, PhD, MPH, a
Professor in the Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel
University and Director of Dornsife’s Center for Hunger-Free
Communities, a community-engaged research and advocacy
center focused on developing solutions to the challenges of
hunger and economic insecurity.
Again, we are working to keep our confidence in check but this
film is coming together in a big way and all of us are excited.