It°®¶¹app no secret that the political divide in the United States might be the most contentious it has ever been since the Civil War or the Civil Rights era of the 1950°®¶¹app and 60°®¶¹app.
But some students from some area high schools and a few adults sat down with a documentary film crew traveling across the country last Thursday to talk about some of the reasons why America is so divided and what can be done to bring more people together.
The working title of the documentary is °®¶¹appBridging the Gap,°®¶¹app a collaborative project by Los Angeles filmmaker Dave Rosenberg and Dubuque-area producer Susan Gorrell.
Rosenberg identifies politically as a liberal democrat (though he says he is starting to lean more independent lately) while Gorrell identifies as a conservative republican.
The two friends have previously collaborated together on a feature film (2022°®¶¹app °®¶¹appThe Reunion°®¶¹app), but set out to do something different on this project.
The documentary follows Gorrell, Rosenberg and their crew as they trek across the country for a 23-day trip in an RV from Los Angeles to New York City, making several stops along the way in places like Sedona, Arizona; Denver, Kearny, Nebraska; St. Louis; Nashville; Washington D.C.; and Philadelphia.
And throughout these stops, the filmmakers are speaking with individuals across the political spectrum with the intention of °®¶¹appbridging the gap°®¶¹app between the two political parties (and philosophies), as well as exploring their own friendship despite their differing political opinions.
The project is Rosenberg°®¶¹app first time as a director, but he is no stranger to the world of entertainment, having worked as an actor on stage and in films in the past, as well a writer, producer, stand-up comedian, and, more recently, teaching film-making to middle school students.
And Gorrell has produced several independent documentaries, a TV pilot shot in Dubuque, and other short and feature film projects, including the 2018 action comedy °®¶¹appSupercon,°®¶¹app which starred John Malkovich, Clancy Brown, comedian Mike Epps, and Dana Snyder (who also co-wrote the film), the voice of °®¶¹appMaster Shake°®¶¹app on the groundbreaking animated Adult Swim classic °®¶¹appAqua Teen Hunger Force.°®¶¹app
°®¶¹appI produced a film that Dave did before COVID,°®¶¹app Gorrell explained. °®¶¹appWhen he came up with the idea for this project, he called me up, and he knew he enjoyed working with me on the last film, so he asked if I would do (this documentary) with him.
°®¶¹appOriginally, I was just supposed to be producing, (but) then he informed me that he wanted me to be the °®¶¹appconservative°®¶¹app that rode along with him.°®¶¹app
°®¶¹appThe last couple of years, I°®¶¹appve really been kind of upset and angry about what°®¶¹app been going on in the country and seeing how people have kind of been at war with each other,°®¶¹app Rosenberg told everyone at the beginning of the conversation that was filmed for the documentary.
Rosenberg shared one anecdote about an argument he got into with his father after his dad insisted on not watching anything other than Fox News that evening, which he said seemed to encapsulate the mood of many in this country for several years now.
°®¶¹appFamilies are getting broken up,°®¶¹app Rosenberg said. °®¶¹appFriendships are getting broken up because of politics. And it°®¶¹app upsetting.
°®¶¹appI°®¶¹appve been around for five decades now, and I°®¶¹appve never seen anything like this in my like this in my country. So, I wanted to do something about it.°®¶¹app
Prior to last Thursday°®¶¹app visit, the crew had already made a stop in Dubuque, where Gorrell, a Donnellson native, currently lives, and spoke with Iowa Republican Party Chairman Jeff Kaufmann and Dubuque mayor Brad Cavanagh.
But Thursday°®¶¹app stop in Donnellson was a little different.
Instead of speaking with people with longstanding political views, Rosenberg and Gorrell decided to hear from some local kids who are still trying to figure out where they stand on many of today°®¶¹app political issues, and the production crew filmed that conversation at Grass Roots Market & Cafe in Donnellson.
Besides Rosenberg and Gorrell, those who took part in the conversation that was filmed for the documentary included:
- Sara Poole, an incoming junior at Central Lee
- Emma Menke, an incoming sophomore at Holy Trinity
- Brooklyn Todd, an incoming junior at Holy Trinity
- Peyton Howard, an incoming junior at Holy Trinity
- Austin Fogarty, an incoming junior at Central Lee
- Alli Ames, a recent graduate of Keokuk High School
- Brandon Gorrell, Susan°®¶¹app son and himself a filmmaker who came along with the production crew for the shoot.
- Ernie Schiller, a retired science teacher at Holy Trinity and a former member of the Lee County Board of Supervisors.
The two-hour conversation covered a wide range of topics, from news and social media consumption; how their political affiliations have impacted their lives; political bias; issues with establishing basic facts; political leanings of family and friends; religion and faith; abortion; racism; transgender issues; political arguments; and, perhaps most importantly for the filmmakers, ways that people with opposing political views can look past their differences and come together.
There isn°®¶¹appt enough space to fit the entire discussion into print (and I°®¶¹appll let those curious watch the documentary to learn what each of the participants had to say).
But the conversation was civil and pondered many different questions, including why some news outlets and social media platforms work so hard to keep people angry and divided; why some have difficulties separating facts from fiction, and the problems those issues present with debates and reaching consensus; why some choose to put politics over personal relationships; and how those with differing views can better communicate and live more harmoniously among one another.
And at the end of their talk, the general mood among participants was that valuing kindness and humility and listening to each other instead trying to win arguments and conversations might be the best path forward.
The plan is to try to complete the film this April and have it screen at the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival before releasing it worldwide next summer before the fall Midterm Elections.
Rosenberg said it is unclear at this time which streaming services people will be able to watch the film, but the goal is to get the documentary on bigger streaming services, like Netflix, if possible.
°®¶¹appIt was great,°®¶¹app Rosenberg said about the conversation after the filming.
°®¶¹appI teach kids. Sometimes it°®¶¹app harder to get kids to talk about certain things. And maybe they°®¶¹appre not used to talking about it. Maybe they don°®¶¹appt have that much background information. But kids are finding their voice.
°®¶¹appThere were moments where it was a little bit uncomfortable. But I think that°®¶¹app good. We need to get comfortable with the uncomfortable...
°®¶¹appThis was us working it out. We°®¶¹appre figuring each other out, and I thought it was really productive.°®¶¹app
And Gorrell hopes the film shows some people that hatred and division does not need to be the norm for modern political discourse.
°®¶¹appI think it°®¶¹app really important to share (this project with people),°®¶¹app she said.
°®¶¹appWe have two different political views but (Dave and I are) friends, and he°®¶¹app friends with my family.
°®¶¹appSo let°®¶¹app show America that we can do that.°®¶¹app