aiff_program10_interior.xp 3/4/10 11:48 PM Page 18
Bag It Bits and Pieces – a short from Jordan
ies 75 minutes ■ 2010 ■ USA ■ In Competition 5 minutes ■ 2008 ■ USA/Jordan ■ In Competition
Thursday 9:00p
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Sunday 12:00p
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Monday 9:30a Thursday 6:40p
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Friday 9:40p
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Sunday 3:40p
Director: Suzan Beraza ■ Producers: Suzan Beraza, Michelle Hill ■ Executive Producer:
Plays in: Animation Shorts (p50)
Judith Kohin ■ Screenwriters: Suzan Beraza, Jeb Berrier, Michelle Curry Wright ■
Cinematographer: Leigh Reagan ■ Editors: Suzan Beraza, Casey Nay ■ Music/Composer:
Directors/Producers: Ben Mandell, Jackie Sawiris ■ Animator: Amer al Mohtaseb ■
Larry Groupé ■ Principal Cast: Jeb Berrier, Anne Reeser ■
reelthing.us
Music/Composer: Yacoub Abu Ghosh ■ Principal Cast: Ahmad, Ersa, Ghada, Hazem, Khalil,
Madian, Sally, Yanal
Jeb, an average American guy who is admittedly not a “tree hug-
documentar
ger,” makes a resolution to stop using plastic bags at the grocery
Jordanian women and men of various ages and socioeconomic
store. Little does he know that this seemingly simple decision
backgrounds candidly discuss perceptions of the Middle East:
will change his life. He comes to the conclusion that plastic has
Jordan’s place in the world, the impact of globalization, the com-
finally caught up to us, and looks at what we can do about it.
plexity of being Muslim, homosexuality and tolerance, the hatta
He embarks on a global fact-finding mission to examine our so-
and its association with terrorism, what it means to be Palestin-
ciety’s use and abuse of plastic. Jeb looks at the throwaway men-
ian, the desire for peace, and the need for understanding be-
18
tality, our culture of convenience, over consumption of
tween cultures. Their voices are accompanied by handmade
throwaway products and packaging, and the absurdity of terms
mosaics—resulting in a mesmerizing blend of traditional culture
like “single-use disposable.” With humor and a personal point
and contemporary insights.
of reference he exposes the environmental effects of plastic on a
wide range of species, lands, waterways and human health. Re-
Ben Mandell, Jackie Sawiris
minding us of the hundreds of choices we face each day, one reg-
Directors’ Statement
ular guy helps indentify smart alternatives and solutions to a
global problem.
This film is inspired by the powerful need
to confront distorted perceptions of Jordani-
Suzan Beraza
ans in particular and Arabs in general. After
finding each other through the online film
Director’s Statement
community Shooting People, we (Jordan-
A few years ago, I made a resolution to stop
ian/Egyptian and American) came together
using plastic bags. This simple decision
in Jordan. With the help of friends, family
Ben Mandell
opened the flood gates. I suddenly became
and strangers, we set out to understand and
aware of plastic for the first time. Fast for-
document the realities of one of the Middle
ward a year, to when my town entered into
East’s most rapidly developing nations.
a friendly competition against a neighboring
We conducted over two dozen interviews
town to see who could reduce their use of plastic bags the most.
and from these conversations certain in-
I began work on a film to chronicle this challenge.
escapable truths emerged. Forgoing a tradi-
Plastic bags led me into the world of other single-use disposable
tional documentary approach, we selected
items: things that are, by their design, meant to be used only
excerpts from eight of the interviews to il-
once and then thrown “away.” I then started to question where
lustrate with handmade mosaics.
“away” really is. I came to realize that plastic is an amazing sub-
Jackie Sawiris
ject, and that when you start to unravel it, you find the whole
Filmography: Directorial Debuts
world attached.
Filmography: Life’s a Beach, Sister and Brother
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