Archived Q&A with Marc Levin

• Q

  

  HBODocs

  Please welcome #HardTimes filmmaker Marc Levin. Marc, thanks for joining us today. How are you feeling after last night’s HBO premiere?

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  Marc Levin says:

  We're getting tremendous feedback - seems to have come out at just the right moment.

• Q

  

  beckyayay

  What was the most surprising thing you captured in the film?

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  Marc Levin says:

  the isolation of so many of the long term unemployed - they weren't organized in any way - the felt alone, invisible and many deeply ashamed - instead of crying out for help they were mute - it was almost as if they were disappeared.

• Q

  

  beckyayay

  What made you want to become a filmmaker?

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  Marc Levin says:

  it was a way to never grow up - the peter pan syndrome. when I was a teenager in the sixties the movies had an enormous impact - dr. strangelove, the graduate, battle of algiers... it was were the action was and I wanted to be part of it.

• Q

  

  CarrollJSteven

  From the perspective of a documentary filmmaker, do you believe reality television can offer the same value as non-fiction moving pictures?

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  Marc Levin says:

  that's a tough question - i think reality tv has helped widen the space for documentary films and has made everyone comfortable with the style and grammer of non fiction filmmaking - the problem is that too much of reality tv is fake and staged, even though it's with real people. Hopefully a good documentary is more authentic and can put the "real" back into reality.

• Q

  

  ValentinaMonte

  What were some of the challenges you faced when shooting this documentary?

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  Marc Levin says:

  Getting people to be open and honest about their situation - it was surprising how many folks were struggling but were afraid their friends and neighbors would find out if they went on camera. It took a combination of desperation and courage for our main characters to open up on camera.

• Q

  

  ValentinaMonte

  When did you begin documenting your subjects? How long was the filming process?

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  Marc Levin says:

  we started around april 2010 - jen weiss our coproducer started pre interviewing people all over the tristate area. The principal photography went on for 9 months till the end of 2010. I think we really captured a unique moment, a kind of tipping point were we went from seeing the great recession as a serious but cyclical downturn to realizing that something fundamental had changed in the global economy and consequently in the so called good life here in America.

• Q

  

  anonymiss8

  Where in US are they rebuilding communities ??

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  Marc Levin says:

  good question - i think that is the challenge - as you probably know even getting our infrastructure up to speed in the 21st century has proved a major challenge given the political partisanship and gridlock.

• Q

  

  Toni Lear

  What do you hope people take away from the film?

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  Marc Levin says:

  First, that the casualties of this great recession have to find their voice. They have to tell their stories. They cannot remain silent. Second, that we have to realize that these people are not "them," the other but our friends, neighbors and families. THEY ARE US!

• Q

  

  Emily Giannusa

  Do you think employment benefits need to be reformed?

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  Marc Levin says:

  Probably - one thing to consider is shared part time work like in Germany. Where instead of laying off lots of people everyone shares in working less, but keeping everyone employed.

• Q

  

  lindseypearl

  My brother-in-law has been "Lost on Long Island" for almost 4 years now. What advice would you give someone in that position?

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  Marc Levin says:

  I think the most important things are to share your story - don't be afraid to let people know your situation. And to volunteer to help others because sometimes through reaching out you finally find the connection that can get you back in the job market.

• Q

  

  thedvdgen

  Were you surprised how deep and debilitating this problem has become?

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  Marc Levin says:

  Stunned! I knew the financial toll but the psychic toll I never fully comprehended until we made this film.

• Q

  

  firstcohen

  Do you think politicians running in Nov be required to view this excellent film? They should. Thanks for showing others unemployed like me.

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  Marc Levin says:

  It would be great to have them screen the film - we've tried but not that successfully. I saw that Mitt Romney was on Long Island this weekend raising money.

• Q

  

  mercedes_ingram

  What pushed you to create this film?

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  Marc Levin says:

  We had done a film called "Schmatta: Rags to Riches to Rags" on the rise and fall of the garment center. HBO got such positive feedback that we decided to do a film on the children and grandchildren of those immigrants who worked in the garment center earlier in the 20th century. How were they doing after the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression. How could we explore the human face and voice of these casualties of the Great REcession?

• Q

  

  AndrewPiccone

  was it hard for your subjects to expose themselves in such a sensitive way?

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  Marc Levin says:

  Very hard - I give them a lot of credit for their courage to bare their souls. Also our Blowback Productions team of Daphne Pinkerson, Jen Weiss, Kara Rozansky, Karl Hollandt, Dan Levin, Chris Walker and Rose Schlossberg helped our characters feel comfortable. They created the trust that was crucial.

• Q

  

  thedvdgen

  Just have to thank you for putting faces to this problem. My father is 61 in Buffalo and in this very situation and people dont understand

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  Marc Levin says:

  Thank you - it's tough to really comprehend - in many ways that was our goal to try and make a film that didn't so much explain or analyze the jobs crisis as much as experience what it is like to be one of the long term unemployed.

• Q

  

  Wildcardqm

  I have been following your films since Execution Machine! Love your work. May be off topic, how do you get into prisons to interview?

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  Marc Levin says:

  Thanks - it takes lots of paper work and persistence - state prisons are much more cooperative. Since 9/11 the Feds have been very difficult.

• Q

  

  ADiPesto

  You've done a lot of films about economic impact - what draws you to that topic?

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  Marc Levin says:

  I think this is the great issue of our time - the global consumer capitalist paradigm is in crisis. What is the 21st Century economic model that will deliver the freedom, creativity, and a living wage to a live a decent life. The middle class is shrinking. Income inequality is growing. This is the great challenge for the upcoming generation - how to reform the global economy so it is productive, fair and sustainable.

• Q

  

  Animize

  I'm a fan of Prayer for a Perfect season would like to know if you have spoken with MKG since his NCAA win & NBA draft. He's an amazing guy

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  Marc Levin says:

  Michael is a great guy and I was thrilled to see him go number 2 in the NBA draft. I've texted him and hope to see him in Charlotte when I'm down there on another project at the end of the summer.

• Q

  

  HBODocs

  That’s all the time we have for the Marc Levin’s Q&A. Thanks to Marc for joining us. Is there anything else you’d like to say?

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  Marc Levin says:

  A film like this is not only challenging for the subjects and the filmmakers, but also for the executives and the network. Sheila Nevins and Nancy Abraham took a risk with a documentary like this. Sheila constantly pushed us as filmmakers, and I giver her and HBO tremendous credit for their support.