Immigration is a very polarizing subject in the U.S. My intention for this short film was
not to weigh in with an opinion on the matter but simply to focus on the human
side of the issue. The film’s
subject is a moment in the lives of some day laborers, which in this case
revolves around the simple act of eating a meal. I was inspired by the story I heard of the Father in the
film who has arranged to provide meals for these men.
I shot this footage earlier this month in Santa Fe, NM as
research for a hoped for larger piece on the same subject. As such, most of the footage I shot for
this film was unplanned, and it was while I was editing it that the narrative
came together.
My biggest challenge with this film was gaining the trust of
the men I filmed. Not
surprisingly, they were at first reluctant to be on camera.
Stories are everywhere, and to me filmmaking is the ultimate storyteller's medium. As an aspiring documentary filmmaker, I believe my role and calling is that of a facilitator in helping to tell stories that might not otherwise be heard.
