C.J.: What was your overall goal or mission with Homegrown?
Robert: As I see it, the world’s going through some serious changes. Economically, environmentally, access to energy – and all of these issues are merging together to create a situation where we’re going to have to change our style of lives to survive in the future. It’s pretty scary. So, I wanted to paint a portrait that said, “Hey, it doesn’t have to be that bad. We can embrace these changes as an opportunity.” I felt the Dervaes family were an excellent example of that.
C.J.: How did you originally learn of the Dervaes family?
Robert: There was an article about them in the Los Angeles Times. The basic concept of a family doing this work together seemed like a good film story right from the jump.
C.J.: Was there anything about the Dervaes family and their way of life that truly surprised you?
Robert: I was a bit taken aback by Jules Dervaes’ commitment. This man is a purist. A true believer. He has a determination to stick to his principles and it’s clearly a driving force in his family’s life.
C.J.: Did anything that you learned change how you felt about the commercialized green movement?
Robert: Well, when marketing and money are involved it’s never going to be as pure as your own backyard. But I’m still hopeful. I think it’s good that there’s some organic produce at my local store. As demand increases I’m sure there will be more. Hopefully it won’t be a fad and that some kind of quality controls can keep the corporations from turning into too much of an industry.
C.J.: What are the most important ideas that you hope people take away from this film?
Robert: You don’t have to have a huge piece of land to grow your own food. Hopefully, people aren’t intimidated by the work the Dervaes do, but rather, are inspired to do a little bit more than they are currently doing. Baby steps – again, this doesn’t have to be so hard.
I also hope that people can see that finding ways to come together as a family when times are the hardest can bring great rewards.
Lastly, I want people to see that sticking to your principles is a good thing, but if you want to truly live a self sustainable lifestyle, you’re going to have to adjust every now and then and keep you eyes open for new opportunities.
C.J.: Do you plan to direct any other documentaries in the near future?
Robert: Mostly I’ve been an editor. I’m editing a documentary feature right now on an American Indian leader named Dennis Banks. I haven’t decided on my next directorial effort yet.
To learn more about HomeGrown or to find a screening near you, visit the Web site.
