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I have a longstanding interest in labor, Story shares.
My first film had been about a petrochemical town in distress.
They were complaining about productivity quotas.
‘Union’Level Ground Productions
Embedding with the AWU over the course of a year entailed a similar degree of trust-building and duty-of-care.
Amazon workers felt this very dire, existential squeeze; there was not much else they could lose.
People always wonder, How do these grassroots movements emerge and generate so much momentum and energy?
Amazon Workers Union leader Chris SmallsLevel Ground Productions
Although the filmmakers had known each other for quite some time,Unionbecame their first collaboration.
And despite their distinct aesthetic styles, they developed a strong alliance.
And theres a basic ethic: How do we want to work?
How do we relate to our subjects?
Why are we doing this work?
I have a full-time job here, and the border was still semi-closed because of COVID.
Wed have to talk through our disparate ideas.
We could puzzle something out and have these two different proximities to it.
In some ways, it really mirrors the arc of a grassroots union campaign, Maing adds.
Its a durational endurance battle.
So there was a tremendous amount to talk through.
How did their work influence theUnionteam?
Were inspired by those films their close observation, their commitment, their care for people.
She would never say that shes a neutral observer.
She was clear about being in solidarity with working people.
You just think of a film likeUnion Maids, Maing adds.
KopplesHarlan County, USA(1976) andAmerican Dream(1990) also took home Oscars.
When we didnt get distribution out of Sundance, it was disappointing, Story recalls.
Self-distribution was wrapped up in impact outreach work.
Its very labor and resource-intensive, but its also very gratifying.
Its all about building partnerships.
Its a project that were so proud of.
Unionis currently streaming on its website and onGathr.
