Update on Film Participants from February 2009 Filming

Debbie’s financial situation is even worse than in June, because she wanted to give her kids a good Christmas. A number of bills didn’t get paid, so now she is scrambling. Of the honorarium that I gave her, she was going to use some to buy food. But it will be 2.5 weeks before her next cheque comes, and Debbie’s fridge and cupboards are nearly empty. She says she is “relying on the kindness of strangers” at this point.

Summer is expecting her third daughter in April. She married her new boyfriend over the summer but the marriage lasted only a few weeks and now she is looking for a divorce lawyer. Summer says that since he moved out, the ex-boyfriend has exhibited mental instability. She hopes to raise the third daughter without any involvement from him; she doesn’t think he will have any interest in his baby daughter in any case.

Sophie is doing well. She said that for the first time, she was able not get sucked into the consumer spending frenzy at Christmas and will avoid the financial crisis that usually drags her down in January. She spoke of walking a thin line financially, and always being aware of the deep dark pit that is never far away.

Pam’s job at a home care agency, plus all the walking she is doing to get back and forth to work, is taking its toll on her body. Her back and her feet are really bothering her but she can’t afford to get treatment for them. She worries that her 14-yr old son is a “follower”. and is really upset that he has told her that he doesn’t want to go to college because he doesn’t have to want to slave like she does to pay off her student loan debt. She knows that education is the only way out of poverty so she is trying to save some money for him, but once her savings and her income reach $1500/month, she will be cut off welfare, leaving her without drug coverage.

The most moving part of Alison’s interview was her description of the stigma of being poor: of not having the right clothes, not feeling like she fits in, and feeling looked down on by everyone. When I asked her what needed to change, she said immediately that people’s attitudes toward the poor need to change, and she started to cry. She spoke of being closely monitored every time she goes to the local grocery store. She has no idea why this happens; she has never shoplifted. As she said, it is stressful enough to be grocery shopping with little money without someone tailing her.

“Thank you for making such a important film. I want you to know that I’m grateful for what you’re doing and I’m glad that so many people are supporting you.”

These are the words of Sophie, written in a letter I received earlier this week. “Sophie” is one of the women who agreed to be filmed for my documentary film project, Life on the Cheque, but only if her face isn’t shown and her identity concealed. As much as she is able, Sophie tries to protect her 13-year old daughter from stigmatization by poverty and being on a disability cheque, wanting her to have as “normal” a life as Sophie can provide for her. Sophie grew up in a middle class family in the suburbs of Toronto and has a university degree from Queen’s. Fourteen years ago, she spent three months in hospital with debilitating mental illness, and for the next eleven years, she was in and out of hospital, until she was finally prescribed medication that better controls her mental illness.

One of Sophie’s reasons for writing was to apologize for not fully answering a question during the interview about the things she did to provide for her daughter. Even though her identity will be kept secret and her face not shown, Sophie was too ashamed to tell me about the “sex for favours” relationship she had with a previous landlord, or the things she stole and hocked. She is grateful that her financial situation has improved so that she doesn’t have to do any of these things anymore. But, she says that she would probably do the same things again if she were in the same financial situation, not because she’d want to, but would feel that she had no alternative, as in the past.

I didn’t know whether to cry or rage when I read Sophie’s letter; I did both. Many other women are put in similar situations to try to provide their kids with a normal childhood. We can and must do better as a society to provide for women and children living in poverty.

Sophie’s endorsement of the project is very heartening and encouraging, but also humbling. I hope that the film is able to live up to her expectations of it.

On behalf of Sophie and the other women, thank you for your interest in the project and to everyone who has already contributed financially.

A subject very close to home … loomk forward to see this.

HI Tamasha,

Thanks for your inquiry. I was able to achieve both my fundraising goals mostly because of the generosity of friends, family, and acquaintances. However, the first donation was from Jtad88, someone I didn’t know and who lives in another country. It was so reassuring that a stranger supported the project. And the IndieGoGo website provides an “official” face that encouraged people to make significant donations. IndieGoGo can be important in reaching the “tipping point” for success.