Do you know what happens when we place our orders at a restaurant? Do we think about the lives of the MTA workers who make it possible for us to get to our jobs day in and day out? We say hello to the doormen exchanging small greetings but do we think about their lives outside of the uniform? More than likely the answer is no. It reminds me of being in elementary school before I realized my teachers didn’t live in the classrooms. We all help to create this world and regardless of what job we might have in any particular time, we all have the capacity to love and listen.
To and Fro Productions founders Kirk Johnson and Cedric Hill pride themselves as the village story-tellers, committed to producing works that stir the mind and spirit. With their strong belief that everyone has a story to tell, To and Fro’s newest project “The Service List NYC” aims to share the stories of those essential workers in America that sometimes are taken for granted.
Their subjects are servers, bartenders, chefs, postal service clerks, property managers, retail specialists and the list goes on. Sitting behind the camera, watching interview after interview although the occupations might have changed the desire to make others happy stayed the same.
A property manager spoke about the worst part of her job being that moment when you can no longer help and have to evict someone. The sweet-faced young lady was genuine in her distaste for having to complete this portion of her job. It makes me think differently about the next bill collector who might be calling about student loans. With the bad, there is also the good. Our property manager tells us that calling someone to tell them their approved for a home is one of the more rewarding aspects of her job.
The earnest retail sales associate recalled his experiences while working at a high-end clothing store. He explained how he used to blindly trust people before his lusting manager repeatedly scheduled him for shifts, forcing the two of them into constant interaction. And although he was conditioned to think it was alright to be groped by foreign customers, he wasn’t jaded by these working conditions. Instead, he smartly summed it up with simplicity. He needed the job. Though he was the youngest subject interviewed on this day of shooting, he opened our eyes to a concept often forgotten. “Listening to someone’s story might help you solve the problem in the chapter of your book,” he said, reminding us that we indeed are not alone in this world, so we must look to each other for guidance and support.
In the end, “The Service List NYC” is more than just a documentary. It’s a reminder. It reminds us to interact with one another with respect and kindness. When you see another human being, make an effort to see yourself working to survive in his or her shoes. I think that might help make this a much better society.
