The Great American Cooking Story is a documentary video series that explores the role of restaurants in revitalizing neighborhoods.

Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Clara Ritger

Congratulations! Why did you make your web series?

So many of the new restaurants that make it on food publications’ “hot” lists are located in gentrifying neighborhoods. I posited that the popularity of those restaurants and the clientele they’re attracting to the neighborhood was partially driving the gentrification of the area, and I was curious as to how chefs and restaurant owners saw their role in their communities.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

Gentrification is something that neighborhoods in all cities are experiencing. You’re bound to connect with one of the episodes because you’ll see elements of your own city’s struggles and progress in it. I present the conversation through the digestible lens of food. It’s an approachable way to explore issues we’re all trying to navigate.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

This series explores the good and the bad that come with neighborhood change. There are themes of safety, economic opportunity, human connection and community building that come with bringing change to a neighborhood. There are also themes of personal hardship as a small business owner, the struggle to keep food affordable but still make a living, and the issues with local government support for development.

**The Great American Cooking Story - Shane in San Antonio.**

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?

When you’re making a documentary film, you go out knowing what you want to tell your story about, but you don’t really know what the story looks like until you capture it. I absolutely was influenced by what I experienced in each neighborhood where I filmed, and my experiences and observations informed how I put it all together in the edit. I wanted people to feel like they had a sense of the culture of the neighborhood after watching each episode. It’s why the story is told differently in all of them. Each episode is a different vignette, a different mini-documentary, of the city in which it takes place.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

The series was a passion project for me. I crowdfunded my way on board a 10-day train trip across the country and shot each episode in about 5 hours. I work full-time, so my intention was really to edit it into short videos on nights and weekends. I ended up spending six months of nights and weekends putting it together, and it blossomed into six, 10-15 minute episodes. The reception has been incredible. It’s not perfect, given the circumstances, but the story is there, and it’s really resonated with a lot of people. I’m excited for it to be shown on a bigger stage and inspire more people to talk about how neighborhood revitalization can be more inclusive all across the country. It would be great to get financial backing to film a second season with a small crew (shooter/editor) and spend more time in the cities so that I can expand the storytelling to include community members and local government.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

I would love more outlets to share the series, because the ultimate goal is to inspire more conversation about revitalization and how it can benefit the current residents of changing neighborhoods. And I’m looking for funding and distribution to be able to create a second season.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

San Antonio Episode (which is the one screening at the Bushwick Film Festival)

Who do you think could have the most impact to help facilitate positive, inclusive change in the East Side neighborhood?

Series as a whole

What do you think positive, inclusive change looks like for these neighborhoods?

Interview: September 2016

_______________________________________________________________________________

We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

_______________________________________________________________________________

The Great American Cooking Story

The Great American Cooking Story is a documentary video series that explores the role of restaurants in revitalizing neighborhoods.

Length: ~10 minutes/episode

Director: Clara Ritger

Producer: Clara Ritger

Writer: Clara Ritger

About the writer, director and producer:

Clara Ritger is a documentary filmmaker and journalist based in Washington, D.C. She currently works full-time as an associate producer at Green Buzz Agency. Previously she worked in multimedia and print journalism, and her work has appeared in USA Today, National Journal, the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Indianapolis Star, among others. She is passionate about food and travel, and is excited about debuting her first independent project, which she created over the course of many nights and weekends!

Key cast: Clara Ritger

Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Buyers/Distributors who are interested in supporting a second season of the series, which would showcase six more cities. With the right financial support, season two could be produced with additional team members (director of photography and editor) and each episode could be shot over the course of a week rather than 5 hours.

Funders: Crowdfunded through Indiegogo

Made in association with: n/a

Release date: First episode dropped December 2, 2015