January 21st, 2013
‘Hands of Harvest’, Documentary Film, Executive Producer, Matt Haley, SoDel Films, Written & Produced by Adrian Muys, Delaware, Maryland, Eastern Shore Congratulations!! ‘Hands of Harvest’ Picked up by the PBS Network
Congratulations to restauranteur, Matt Haley and Adrian Muys!! I remember when in March of 2010 I invited my friend, Debbie, to visit the Art Deco Milton Theater in Milton, Delaware.
A sneak preview of a documentary, Hands of Harvest. At the time, that presentation was co-sponsored by the Rehoboth Film Society and the Milton Historical Society. It was part of the series called Delmarva Roots. These series featured the rich history of the Delmarva region.
It is a documentary that offers a glimpse into a renowned American Industry, being kept afloat by foreign labor. It illustrates the struggles and fortitude of the migrant Mexican women who fuel the crabbing industry on the Eastern Shore. As one of Maryland’s most viable economic resources, a s well as a cultural icon, the blue crab business takes center stage, delving into the history and strife of the watermen who fight to keep the livelihood intact.
The 56 minute film, originally, appeared on PBS back in July of 2010. It has since then made a revival, catching the eye of the National Education Telecommunications Association, or NETA, as they’re more commonly known, who has aired and distributed the documentary through the national PBS network.
Since then, ‘Hands of Harvest’ has aired in Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, and New York City. It will be airing in cities throughout the U.S. for at least another year. The film has also been screened at Salisbury University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland, Washington College, and the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.
Adrian Muys says he is “thrilled” with the film’s recent praise, adding that he is proud that the production has brought further attention to the H-2B visa program as part of the Immigration and Nationality Act established in 1980. This focus has, in turn, brought about discussions on the topic of keeping workers, such as those portrayed in the film, working in the Delmarva region.
“As a restauranteur, I use a lot of Hispanic workers, and I care about the conditions that they live and work in and how they are treated in the community”, explains Matt Haley. “The blue crab industry is of interest to people all across the Delmarva Peninsula and the Eastern Shore–it’s an institution. Many don’t realize how dependent the struggling industry is on Hispanic workers and what their life is like here.”
Since ‘Hands of Harvest’, Matt Haley has produced a second film, “Motorcycle Chang Pa”, which chronicles the lives and travels of the nomadic Chang Pa tribe through the high altitude deserts of the Himalayas. Matt’s new production company, SoDel Films, is in the process of creating an independent film in Delaware with actor and filmmaker, Paul Webster.
For further information on ‘Hands of Harvest’, please visit http://www.handsofharvest.com.
For more information on Matt Haley, please visit http://www.matthaleycompanies.com.
I think you are really going to enjoy this documentary. It is so interesting, especially for those of us that live on the Delmarva Peninsula. I have bought it and given it to friends as a special gift.
Talk to you later….
Tags: Adrian Muys, Crabbing Industry, Delaware, Delaware Beaches, Delmarva Peninsula, Documentary Film, Eastern Shore Crabbing Industry, Film, Hands of Harvest, Maryland's Eastern Shore, Matt Haley, Migrant Workers, PBS Network, SoDel Films, Southern Delaware, Sussex County
