A short documentary film by Gabriella Canal
A Bonanza Production
Synopsis
In Pennsylvania, the portrait of small town America is changing.
At a time when the entire nation seems fractured, this short film will tell the story of Hazleton, a former coal town that, once overwhelmed with friction surrounding a rapid influx of immigrants, is on the road towards becoming a model of inclusivity and economic recovery. We’ll follow local leaders—a former bookstore owner uniting families, a wrestler writing the town’s history, a Dominican mom running to become the first politically elected Latina in Hazleton—to show how this small town sits on the proverbial tipping point between accepting the immigrant and celebrating them.
Director/Producer: Gabriella Canal
Gabriella is a documentary producer and director living in New York City, working around the world. Through writing, photography, and filmmaking she produces content guided by originality and truth, and rooted in human stories focused around immigration and women’s issues. She also has an appetite to highlight the efforts of those working to improve human lives and protect the environment. She is currently producing a feature length documentary with Hayden5, the Emmy-nominated producers of Long Shot (Netflix) which is set to release in summer 2020, and is an Associate Producer with NGL Studios, John Leguizamo’s official production house. Her work can be found on The Atlantic, Global Citizen, Newsdeeply, Latino Rebels, and The Miami Planet. Gabriella will be the single project manager who will be responsible for requesting funds and reporting to NYWIFT.
Director of Photography: Brendan Hall
Brendan is a director, cinematographer and editor of documentary stories and branded content. He’s deeply driven about telling human-driven stories centered around nature, conservation and science. After graduating from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Brendan went on to work at The National Geographic Channel, assisting with the development of new programming. He has since created content for brands including Adobe, GE, The Atlantic, National Geographic, Bloomberg Philanthropies, AT&T, Volkswagen, and Away Travel.
