R.Mariela Morales-Inturias

Project

"Food for Thought"

One out of three college students are estimated to go to bed hungry. Food insecurity has become an invisible epidemic across college campuses in the US. Thousands of students must decide whether to eat a meal or pay for the cost of their education. Invisible is the word that best describes this problem because the students who experience it almost always stay quiet.

Food-insecure students belong to all races, backgrounds and ages. However, first-generation students, students of color, and non-traditional students are among the most affected by this problem. In addition, food-insecure students tend to have higher rates of depression, anxiety, and obesity because they buy affordable, highly processed foods to lessen their expenses. Every year, thousands of food-insecure students across the country drop out of college; despite working countless jobs and receiving financial aid, some of them cannot make ends meet.The United States’ higher education system is depriving lower-income communities of future professionals entering the workforce; it is also leaving these students with thousands of dollars of student debt.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT will be a timely documentary about this invisible epidemic of food insecurity, a Verité documentary that portrays the intimate life and struggles of three unique students from the thousands of food-insecure students in the country.

Our crew is excited that FOOD FOR THOUGHT will help raise awareness about an issue that has long been stigmatized. We want to initiate conversations between institutions and students and, most importantly, create real change. This documentary will connect students to our in-the-works website with local resources to access food near their campuses.

Collaborators

Food for thought is coming to life thanks to the people who have believed in it since the beginning; here are some key collaborators.

Phoenix Sullivan

Phoenix is a producer, screenwriter, and playwright, currently in her senior year studying Film & Television at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. While focusing intensively on screenwriting and playwriting during her first years of university, she also gained experience in project management by assisting with logistics for a STEM camp in her hometown and producing—as well as co-writing and script supervising—a student miniseries. She is excited to navigate creative storytelling and production logistics for three thesis documentaries this year as an Executive Producer. Phoenix uses surrealism and genre fiction to explore the psychological experiences of marginalized communities in her writing. In her documentary filmmaking, she seeks out stories that spotlight the experiences of marginalized subjects and investigates unjust institutions. She plans to work across narrative fiction and documentary throughout her career.

The College Student Pantry 

The College Student Pantry is a food pantry program for college and graduate students in NYC.  The Pantry is run by student volunteers and is there for any student who needs food.  No questions asked. 

Alice Elliott

Special thanks to Advanced Documentary professor Alice Elliott for her support in class to workshop this film.