Hot Docs - Shiners
From the brash street shiners of New York City, to the masked shoe shine boys of La Paz, Shiners travels the world to show you what it means to be a shoe shiner.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Stacey Tenenbaum
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I love getting my shoes shined and have always thought it must be an incredibly satisfying profession - but when I would talk about shoe shines with people their reactions were almost always negative. I found out that people are really uncomfortable with the whole idea of having somebody else shine their shoes and many think it’s a terrible and degrading job. So I thought that was something interesting to explore in a film. I wanted to find out from the shiners themselves how they felt about the job. Turns out I was right. Almost every shiner I interviewed told me they loved their job. It was pretty universal. How many professionals can say the same?
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
You should watch the film first and foremost because it is enjoyable! I want audiences to have fun watching Shiners. It's visually interesting, laced with humour, deeply human, and gives you an eye into a world you never even thought of exploring - plus you get to visit new cities! While it is an enjoyable film to watch I also hope it will get people thinking and talking about the profession long after they have left the cinema. And I hope it will inspire them to shine their shoes!
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Shiners chronicles a day in the life of shoe shiners around the world - but it is really so much more than that. It is a film about not being afraid to choose your own path in life despite what society might think. It is film about how every profession deserves dignity and respect. It is about how people doing a seemingly little job can have a big impact upon society, and it is a film which I hope will get people to think about how they treat the people they meet in their daily lives.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
When I first started developing the film I thought it would be individual stand-alone stories in each country but when we got to editing the structure changed so the stories in each of the cities are interwoven and the structure of the film is a 'day in the life' of each shoe shiner. So the film starts in the morning with each of the characters setting up and ends with them packing up at the end of the day. It was a bit of a puzzle getting that to work but I think it really helps keep the film interesting since you are always changing countries and meeting new people.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Everybody who sees the film really loves the characters. They like how different each of the shiners are and are also moved by their stories. People comment the most about Yuya, the Japanese shoe shiner in the film. They're surprised to see somebody taking shoe shining to that level of sophistication. People have preconceived notions of what a shoe shiner is - they don't expect to see somebody in a suit doing that job.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Not really, but I think that the film did challenge their points of view about the job - which is what I set out to do.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I want people to come see my film! That's what every film maker wants isn't it? Otherwise why would we do this? I am also excited to be featured on a platform that showcases the work of women in the industry. This is an issue which is incredibly important to me because women film makers are still fighting to be heard and respected. I love that I am a female director and that I have made this film which is not a typical 'women's film' about 'women's issues' - which is how female directors are still pigeon-holed. It proves that women can make movies about all kinds of subjects and that they can make films which appeal to both men and women.
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 to get the attention of journalists and film festival directors. I think that people automatically have preconceived notions about the topic and that keeps some of them away from the film. hey're expecting a depressing movie about downtrodden shoe shiners - but my film is actually the exact opposite. It is empowering and uplifting and the shoe shiners are amazing characters who will change everything you ever thought you knew about this profession.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I'd like to get people to think about their own prejudices when it comes to people who do manual labour and I would also like to encourage them to be just a little bit kinder to the people they meet in their daily lives.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
It's not a question but a statement: If you want job satisfaction become a shoe shine. People just assume that shoe shiners are doing the job because they can't do anything else. When they see my film they will discover that shoe shiners are some of the happiest and most satisfied people out there and that almost all of them love what they do! I think this will be surprising for people to find out and will hopefully spark some conversations about questions of job satisfaction and why we value some jobs over others.
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):
I already have a distributor so and I am really looking for buyers - I have a 53 minute TV version of the film as well - festival directors, and journalists to notice my film.
Would you like to add anything else?
I would encourage everybody - including women - to get their shoes shined! It is one of those affordable luxuries which is available to everybody. Getting your shoes shined just feels good and it makes you feel good about yourself to have shiny shoes. People literally come away from a shine walking taller. It's amazing to see. lus shoe shines extend the life of your shoes!
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
My Shiners co-producer Sergeo Kirby and I are teamed up again on two new films.
The Forbidden Reel is being shot in Afghanistan and is about the history of the country as told through the eyes of it's filmmakers. It is a surprising look into Afghanistan as we have never seenit before. We are also working with Shiners cinematographer, Van Royko on a film he is directing about young organists competing in the Canadian International Organ competition. It is a competition documentar along the lines of Spellbound, which will bring viewers into the weird and wonderful world of competitive organ playing. I guess I have a thing for dying arts!
Interview: April 2017
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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
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Shiners
From the brash street shiners of New York City, to the masked shoe shine boys of La Paz, Shiners travels the world to show you what it means to be a shoe shiner.
Length:
78 min
Director:
Stacey Tenenbau
Producer:
Stacey Tenenbaum & Sergeo Kirb
Writer:
Stacey Tenenbau
About the writer, director and producer:
Stacey Tenenbaum, Producer / Director / Writer
Stacey started her career in factual television 18 years ago. She is skilled at finding interesting characters and bringing their stories to life. Stacey loves getting her shoes shined and is passionate about social justice. Shiners is her first documentary feature.
Producer, Sergeo Kirby, has been producing, directing and filming politically charged, award-winning feature documentaries since 2004. Notable credits include H2Oil, Roadsworth, Wal-Town, and Fennario: The Good Fight. Sergeo is the founding member of Loaded Pictures; a Montreal based documentary film collective focusing on complex social documentaries.
Key cast:
Don Ward, NYC
Kevin Tuohy, A Shine & Co. NYC, San Francisco
Jes Middendorf, A Shine & Co. NYC, San Francisco
Kealani Lada, A Shine & Co. NYC, San Francisco
Nick Mahone, A Shine & Co. NYC
Vincent Zacharko, The Nite Owl Barber Shop, TO.
Ramiz Hasani, The last shoe shiner in Sarajevo
Sylvia Duran Lopez, La Paz
Balloo, La Paz
Yuya Hasegawa, Brift H, Tokyo
Social media handles:
#shinersdo
Facebook:
Shiners: The Art of the Shin
Twitter:
@shinersdo
Instagram:
@shinersdocumentar
Other:
Funders:
Documentary Channel, TV5 Quebec-Canada, Rogers Cable Fund, Canada Media Fun
Where can I see it in the next month?
Shiners will be screening on the documentary Channel in the Fall of 201
Made in association with:
Documentary Channe