Interview with Maggie Bowman, producer of Hard Earned

Hard Earned is a six-part documentary series produced by Kartemquin Films and Al Jazeera America that explores the hopes, fears and realities of low-wage American workers, following five families across the country trying to achieve the American Dream. The series is slated to air on Sunday nights beginning May 3rd on Al Jazeera America Presents.

The Hard Earned series producer is Maggie Bowman, directors are Katy Chevigny, Maria Finitzo, Ruth Leitman, Brad Lichtenstein, and Joanna Rudnick, with series editors & co-directors Liz Kaar and David E. Simpson, and executive producers Steve James, Justine Nagan, and Gordon Quinn.

Maggie Bowman talks about it:

Before that world TV premiere, Maggie Bowman, series producer, took the time to tell us about her experiences working on this landmark new series.

Questions and transcription by Mihaela Popescu, Spring ’15 Intern.

Why did you want to make this documentary?
We were in the great position of being approached by Al Jazeera America who had the idea for the series and so they approached Kartemquin. They knew they wanted something on this topic and (executive producer) Justine Nagan put together a team and asked me to be a part of it to try to capture these stories.

Personally, it’s been a topic close to my heart for a very long time, I used to be a Union organizer and spent 5 years working on campaigns to organize low-wage workers into unions so they can improve their wages and working conditions. So, through that work and the approach that Kartemquin takes to making films on social issues, I knew it was a project that I really wanted to be a part of. . . . .

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