Only two more days of filming. The days have been very very full, and intense. Yesterday we did a shoot with Pam, who is very lively and animated. Although her story is similar to Debbie’s and Summer’s, it doesn’t have the same heavy quality, partly because she has a very strong political analysis and feels very much a part of a group of people who are poor - she calls them “my people” and knows that there are structural, systemic reasons why “her people” are poor.
We also took Debbie to the food bank yesterday. She was in a very good mood, for three reasons. First, I had given her an honorarium for being in the film, so she had some extra money to put on her electrical bill and to buy a few treats for herself and her kids. Second, her son, who often gets in trouble at school was away on a field trip, and so she wasn’t waiting with baited breath for bad news every time the phone rang. And finally, she got food from the food bank, so the fridge and cupboards were stocked for a few days. She doesn’t get to the food bank very often because it is a long way from her house, and not easily accessible by public transit. She was glad of the ride, though she did comment that she hates going to “places like that”. Most people find having to ask for food humiliating, even if the food bank staff are kind and friendly. I think we got some great shots of her unpacking the food with her 3-year old daughter, who helped her put things away. We also filmed Debbie taking some of the food next door, to Summer.
Last night, we interviewed Jeanette, who spoke about the importance of affordable housing, and the changes that she has watched in the 20 years that she has worked as a community support worker for marginalized women. She spoke very powerfully. Today we interviewed Matt, a community organizer who has participated in some direct action campaigns. And tomorrow we film the weekly anti-poverty silent vigil in front of City Hall, that has been happening EVERY Friday for 13 years, every since the former premier of the province, Mike Harris, cut welfare rates by almost 22%. That rate cut has never been restored, and now with inflation, amounts to a 40% cut relative to welfare rates in the early 1990s. We will also interview Jamie, a local social justice advocate, and Sr. Pauline Lally, the General Superior of the Sisters of Providence, who sponsor the anti-poverty vigil, as well as a very active Office of Justice and Peace. The Sisters of Providence are also supporting “Life on the Cheque”, financially and morally.
