NORTH PUTNAM FILMMAKER Q&A

Hoodox is excited to announce a new addition to our streaming library: “North Putnam.” Directed by Joel Fendelman and produced by Beth Benedix, “North Putnam” tells the story of a rural school district in Putnam County, Indiana, and the community it serves.

Fendelman and Benedix spent more than a year watching the story of North Putnam unfold, following and documenting several storylines that ultimately intersect to draw a connection between public education and community development. Filmed using a hyper-real reporting lens, “North Putnam” is an intimate look at an often overlooked school district and community, examining both their struggles and their hope for the future.

Here’s what Hoodox Executive Director Rocky Walls had to say about the film:

“North Putnam” is a must-see for Hoosiers. What I loved the most about it is how I could clearly see and appreciate the humanity of each person represented, even if I was pretty sure we wouldn't agree or even get along very well. It reminded me of a quote made famous by Mr. Rogers, but originating from Benedictine Sister Mary Lou Kownacki, “There isn’t anyone you couldn’t love once you’ve heard their story.”

The fact is, most of the challenges we face in making our world a better place are much more complicated and require so much listening than it first may seem. I hope that's what “North Putnam” will do for more Hoosiers - give us a way to listen more closely to the way our communities can work together.

We asked Fendelman and Benedix to share their perspectives on “North Putnam” in the short filmmaker Q&A below.

Joel Fendelman, Director

What inspired you to make this film?

Joel: Being a public school student myself, I have a lot of pride in our country’s public school system and having an opportunity to explore it from the perspective of the adult I am now was a real gift. I felt inspiration in opening my heart and mind to a school system and community very far from my own experience.

Beth Benedix, Producer

Beth: As the founder and director of The Castle, a nonprofit that partners with Putnam County public schools, I wanted to do something to help people recognize how vital a thriving public school system is for our communities and our democracy. When I saw another film Joel made—“Man on Fire”—and invited him to my class to talk with my students about it, I was inspired by his humility and non-intrusiveness in his storytelling. He cares more about creating conversations than prescribing solutions. It struck me that a film that took an observational, case study approach—zeroing in on a school district that is itself thoroughly inspirational in the way it makes the most of few resources and takes a “yes-saying” approach to creating opportunities for students—might be a useful way to spark this recognition.

What was the biggest challenge you faced while making this film?

Joel: The biggest challenge was making a film that didn’t have a specific arc that we were following. The film is more like a chorus of moments, slices of life. This took more of an intuitive muscle that requires trust in the moment and making choices from the heart. 

Beth: I think it was keeping momentum and enthusiasm going over such a long haul—4 years, essentially—especially because so much of the subject matter we filmed was emotionally wrenching. As a person who wants to fix problems and “save” people, I found it excruciating to watch people in pain (Tyler, for instance—the man in jail for charges associated with substance use disorder—and his daughter) and not be able to “do” anything about it. Even in a moment as mundane as the one we captured when Nicole (the superintendent) spilled a jar of beads she was preparing to take into the elementary school, it felt odd to not be able to step in and help her clean them up.

What was the most important thing you learned in the process of making “North Putnam?”

Joel: I learned the beauty of the Midwest, its culture and people. Growing up in coastal cities, I didn’t know what to expect but what I found was a slower paced humanity that was quite touching. I ultimately learned that there isn’t much difference of values from all humans even if on the surface we seem different.

Beth: I learned so many things, because the whole experience was new! I think this process really forced me to be patient and let go of expectations—which are qualities I definitely need to be learning because I’m not great at doing either thing! The kind of storytelling we’re doing in “North Putnam” is generative, authentic, organic—the story needs room to breathe and to emerge in its own context and on its own terms. It can’t be forced or rushed or manufactured. What a gift it has been to work with a team and a community that value the process of generative unfolding.

What do you hope Hoosiers will take away from watching your film?

Joel: I hope Hoosiers will see the complexity of a community and its school system and that we are all in this together. That a great school and community is made up of the people who put their heart and soul into making it what it is and at the core we all want the same thing.

Beth: I hope, primarily, that everyone on the screen feels seen, heard and represented in a way that matches their own sense of self. And I hope that Hoosiers watching “North Putnam” feel connected to, inspired by, protective of the people they meet on the screen. I very much hope that our audiences will recognize that we are all part of the conversation we hope to elicit through the film, and that there are profound ways we can impact our schools and communities that start with just seeing each other as humans doing the best they can.

Watch “North Putnam” at hoodox.tv, or learn more about the film here.