Today we filmed Debbie and Summer, two friends and next-door neighbours who live in public housing. Debbie has been on a disability pension for almost 7 years, related to depression and anxiety. Summer went on welfare about a year ago after fleeing an emotionally, verbally, financially abusive relationship. We did about 90 minute interviews with each of them, and then filmed one of their joint dinners, where they each contribute some of the food and some of the cooking and eat together in Summer’s kitchen. It was a pretty chaotic scene with a 13 yr old, 8 yr old, 3 yr old and a 2 yr old, and not enough chairs for everyone to sit around the table. Usually there is even another child, who is 5, but she was visiting her dad.
Yesterday’s sense of elation has given way to feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. And this from only listening to Debbie and Summer’s life stories. It’s hard to imagine living in their shoes. Amazing what these two women have been through, and the challenges they face everyday. I think there will be many difficult decisions to make in editing the film, to tell their stories coherently and give a flavour of what their lives are like.
Perhaps it will turn out to be a blessing in disguise that we have lost two of the participants in the last few days. Sytina’s family raised concerns about how she would be portrayed in a film about single mothers living in poverty and they didn’t support her being in the film, so she decided to withdraw. That was very difficult news for me, because I think her vibrant personality would have shone on camera and her story would have added significantly to the documentary. But c’est la vie. There was no way I could convince her. And then just two days ago, Alison told me that she has to have medical tests this week after a CT scan turned up something suspicious. The new tests have been scheduled so quickly that she is worried that there is something very serious. And of course, she has to take time off work, with no sick pay, and she has no benefits. Fingers crossed that it is nothing serious, and that she will be fine. We may end up doing another shoot in the fall, and I hope we will be able to pick up Alison’s story then. She is so thoughtful, and her story of the obstacles she has faced in getting her high school education, a college diploma, and a job are very powerful and very disturbing.
Tomorrow we film Pam. And we will take Debbie to the food bank to see what the food bank provides for a family of four.
