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SPECIAL FEATURESNov. 2006 - Sept. 2007

Documentary: 'Independent America'

Two filmmakers embark on a 'two-lane search for mom and pop.'

By the Hot Zone Team, Mon Dec 11, 7:17 PM ET

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Note: This is the second in a series of independent documentaries we are spotlighting on the Hot Zone. Our first, "Shadow Company," looked at security contractors in

Iraq. With our second feature, we shift focus and place, to the U.S. "Independent America," by Hanson Hosein and Heather Hughes, asks if small, independent businesses are a thing of the past in modern America.

In 2006, filmmakers Hanson Hosein and Heather Hughes set off on a cross-country journey with an unusual goal: shunning "big box" outlets and chain stores, the couple would only do business with "mom and pop" shops.

In this installment of our documentary feature series, the Hot Zone will highlight scenes from "Independent America" and excerpts from the Hot Zone's discussion with Hosein.

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Today, Hosein tells the Hot Zone what prompted the film.

HOT ZONE: Why did you pick this story? You and your wife are journalists. There are a thousand stories you could tell. What made this the one?

HANSON HOSEIN: Basically I've lived in Paris and Tel Aviv and New York all my adult life. I never realized how important my relationships were with independent businesses until I moved to a bit of a retail wasteland in Canada and saw the proliferation of big boxes and realized how much I hated it.

I was embedded with the U.S. military during the war (in Iraq) and spent six months covering that. When I got back I decided to get reacquainted with my wife and the neighborhood. We took a trip down the Pacific Coast Highway and I thought , "Let's try to reconnect with those independent businesses that I thought that I had those relationships with."

So, we made that first trip and that's where we got the idea for the documentary. It's really based on our adult life and what matters to us and how we live. We wanted to see if it was still possible to do business with mom and pop or whether they were a dying breed as we saw in Canada.

To learn more or to buy a copy of the DVD, visit the "Independent America" web site here. 

Next: 'Independent America' Part II
Previous: 'Shadow Company' Part V
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Comments

Join the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.

1
I saw this documentary with my boyfriend at an event sponsored by our local community college's Peace Club. We found the effect of big box stores on our society absolutely fascinating. After we left the viewing, it was rather late and we were starving. We almost began to give up hope of finding a "mom and pop" place still open for business where we could dine. However, we did and had the best meal out that we've had in a long time.
Posted by sirens_offspring on Tue, Dec 12, 2006 1:47 AM ET
2
I absolutely loved this film and have shown it to several family members and friends. I find that people have no idea how their shopping habits shape their community and the country in general. This film delivers that message without being preachy
Posted by mariac_98122 on Tue, Dec 12, 2006 11:54 AM ET
3
This movie totally opened my eyes to the immense problem of big box retailers in our communities. Well done!
Posted by denisetriathlon on Tue, Dec 12, 2006 12:14 PM ET
4
I guess it is fashionable to long for the good old days of limited selections and high prices anywhere but in the largest cities. I, for one, don't miss them.
Posted by grampyman on Tue, Dec 12, 2006 12:24 PM ET
5
Great clip...makes we want to see entire documentary!! Thanks to Hanson and Heather for doing this work.
Posted by bevmar4 on Tue, Dec 12, 2006 12:47 PM ET
6
This movie totally opened my eyes to the immense problem of big box retailers in our communities. Well ,I like it
Posted by zheng_102591 on Tue, Dec 12, 2006 8:37 PM ET
7
l hated Walmart until one of my closest friends became truly poor. Then I realized that "Mom and Pop" stores are a great commodity for the middle class and rich, but the "big box retailers" are a godsend to the less fortunate among us. Then I read "Atlas Shrugged" and realized that I'm truly pro-capitalism. America is big business, and that's why it's great. It's sad when ideals have to die, but oh well, that's life.
Posted by betsy1780 on Wed, Dec 13, 2006 4:26 AM ET
8
It's funny but i am glad the documentary realises that Walmart did start as mom and pop store. And boy did they do well or what!. The problem is that now they are TOO big. Hmmm.Last time i checked being too big isnt illegal. Well, then maybe we should make a law to make anything too big illegal. And then break apart big corporations like walmart, starbucks into little pieces and sell them off to moms and pops. The only problem with that is "what exactly is too big" ? A corporation with $100 million dollars in sales or one that has 1000 employees in it ?
Posted by srireddy3 on Wed, Dec 13, 2006 12:51 PM ET
9
It's not really a matter how companies becoming, "too big". The problem is how these companies become so huge. Where is the line drawn between corporate need and corporate greed? Do companies have a responsibility to provide prosperity for the citizens who enrich them, or is profitability the only yardstck for success. Are hiring illegals, outsourcing vital services, layoffs, political payoffs and extinguishing pension plans, the only means for a company to expand? If so, then maybe some of them are becoming "too big". I'd like to think I live in a country that still values me more as a citizen than a consumer.
Posted by moonstarsnbyond on Wed, Dec 13, 2006 1:13 PM ET
10
Very informative and WELL Done! I being a minority and living in this generation AM thank-ful for big corporations as Wal-mart, Borders, Olive Garden etc. I travel alot and w/Big Corps MOST of the time you don't have any red-necks or conservative folks LOOK at you EVERYTIME you enter a mom and pop store may it be a general store, book store or restaurant as you enter there doors with suspicious or unwanted service to serve you.
Posted by delarmente808 on Wed, Dec 13, 2006 1:14 PM ET

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in memoriam

The Kevin Sites in the Hot Zone team dedicates this site to Marla Ruzicka, a fearless voice of compassion, who was killed in Iraq on April 16, 2005, while trying to lessen the suffering of others. For more information, see Civic Worldwide.