Good Intentions: New Doc Examines the Complexities of Foreign Aid

WDCB’s Gary Zidek checks in with Chicago-based filmmaker Jack C. Newell to talk about his long journey to making his latest documentary, HOW (NOT) TO BUILD A SCHOOL IN HAITI.

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WDCB 90.9 FM · The Arts Section: New Documentary Dives Into Complexities of International Aid

An estimated 220,000 people were killed, over 300,000 were injured and 1.5 million people were left homeless when a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, 2010.  The aftermath was brutal as the island nation faced a gigantic humanitarian crisis. There was an outpouring of international support to help in Haiti’s recovery efforts. Details of the dire situation inspired many individuals to get involved. While some people donated money, others wanted to do more.

Local filmmaker Jack Newell was one of those people. The Chicago-based director heard a series of stories on public radio about a Haitian community struggling to rebuild its school. He then learned about a semi-retired construction manager from Colorado, who was raising money to rebuild the school himself. Believing a documentary might be able to shed some light on the story, Newell reached out to some of the stakeholders involved with the project and began working a film. That was in 2010, twelve years later the documentary, HOW (NOT) TO BUILD A SCHOOL IN HAITI, is playing at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago.

You can learn more here: haitischooldoc.com