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Tom Colicchio Discusses Documentary on Childhood Hunger, 'A Place at the Table'
From left: Kristi Jacobson, Lori Silverbush, Tom Colicchio and host Krista Simmons (Photo courtesy of Young Hollywood)
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An astounding 50 million people in the U.S. —one in four of which are children —don’t know where their next meal is coming from. Those numbers are particularly shocking considering we live in the wealthiest nation on Earth. Filmmakers Kristi Jacobson and Lori Silverbush decided to address the issue in their new documentary, "A Place at the Table," which was co-produced by Silverbush's husband, Tom Colicchio, of the "Top Chef" fame.
The film, which was released in select theaters on Friday, discusses the problems within the food system that are causing America's kids to go hungry. The sad reality is that if you're living on food stamps at about $3 a day, the food you can afford is absolute junk.
"You have to ask yourself why are fruits and vegetables expensive. There's a government solution to that," says Colicchio in the video interview. "We choose to subsidize fast food, and not fruits and vegetables."
But to the filmmakers, the issue is as much political as it is personal.
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When asked about the initial inspiration for the project, Silverbush recalls mentoring a 12-year-old, only to find out that the girl they'd sponsored was foraging in the trash for food. Moving her from a public school meant that she wasn't getting the provided lunches, which often were the only meals she got. So Silverbush reached out to Jacobson, a documentary filmmaker who is known for covering political issues in America and abroad. They have been on a crusade to get the film made since 2009, and are now seeing it all come together.
The doco was scored by T Bone Burnett and the Civil Wars, and Jeff Bridges was even on board. It's is being marketed by Participant, the same folks who helped make "Food Inc." such a widespread success.
You can watch the interview with the team, as well as the trailer, below. And of course, here's a list of the theaters screening "A Place at the Table." (The Nuart in West L.A. is the theater for Angelenos.)
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