American Bear

Get ready for a road trip!

Our fellow Broomie, Sarah Sellman, and her boyfriend Greg Grano are revving up for an exciting film project this summer. Entitled "American Bear: An Adventure in the Kindness of Strangers," the documentary will track Sarah and Greg as they drive cross-country to five US cities, each called Bear, relying on others for all food and shelter.

The description of the film on Sarah's blog for the project is as follows:

"The story began in summer 2009 when Greg exclaimed in his sleep, "We have to go to Bear, Colorado!" Unfortunately, no Bear actually exists in Colorado. However, there are five Bears in America, fortuitously located in a perfect a 'U' around the continental U.S. - in Washington, Idaho, Arizona, Arkansas, and Delaware. Following the trail of the Bears, Sarah and Greg will travel through 25 states of all different cultures, demographics, populations, and Americans.

Through conversations with locals, we will explore our themes on a personal level and embrace the stories that turn strangers into neighbors. Our discussions with scholars and professionals will dig into the philosophy and nature of a core aspect of what makes us human. We will understand why (or if) we let people into our hearts and our homes."

Good luck, guys! We look forward to screening the finished project next year!