How does the work we do give us purpose, meaning and identity? In these four short documentaries student filmmakers engage with these questions in their film portraits of Fred Carroll, artist and self-appointed street sweeper of Middletown’s Main Street; Robert Gooding, tofu-maker at Middletown’s Bridge Tofu, Elizabeth MacAlister and Mark Gillman, Cato Corner Farm’s mother and son cheesemaking team; and Mayor Ben Florsheim as he goes from a first-time political candidate to Middletown’s mayor.

Produced in the Fall of 2019 by students in Film 104: Documentary Filmmaking taught by Assistant Professor Sadia Quraeshi Shepard.

FLORSHEIM FOR MAYOR, TRT: 10:00
Produced and Directed by Perri Easley ‘23,

Florsheim for Mayor follows Ben Florsheim, a 24-year-old political junkie, as he enters into a highly competitive race for mayor of Middletown. Appearing as the election’s underdog, Florsheim must navigate the realities of fake news, local endorsements, and his fairly-new presence in Middletown’s political scene if he  hopes to win the race.

MAN WITH A BROOM, TRT: 11:00
Produced and Directed by Lydia Leiber ’22, Caroline Nouhan ‘23, and Joel Rader ‘23

This documentary film follows Fred Carroll, a homeless resident of Middletown, CT, while he does the (mostly unpaid) street sweeping that has become his day job and shares what moves him.

PORTRAIT OF CATO CORNER FARM, TRT: 9:30
Produced and Directed by Cleo Kromelow ‘23,

From Cow to Curd: A Portrait of Cato Corner Farm gives viewers intimate access to Cato Corner, a small cheesemaking farm located in Colchester, Connecticut.

TO BE SOMETHING IN THIS COUNTRY, TRT: 9:20
Produced and Directed by

A slice of life documentary about Robert Gooding, an immigrant tofu factory worker who’s pursuit for the American dream has led him to discover his passion and also allow him to support his family.