Experiencing Interruptions?

American Foulbrood

When a small town is confronted with bioterrorism, a disgruntled government employee and a troubled single mother navigate the crises together until each suspects the other of foul play.

  • Christina Hodel
    Director
  • Christina Hodel
    Writer
    Freedom Love Gold, Jessie In Reverie
  • Christina Hodel
    Producer
    Freedom Love Gold, Jessie In Reverie
  • Jennifer Salvucci
    Key Cast
    "Charlotte"
  • Jeffrey Ford
    Key Cast
    "Jeremy"
  • Melissa Rafferty
    Key Cast
    "Violet"
  • Jack Sinnott
    Key Cast
    "Leonard"
  • Cheryl Dedora-Pynn
    Key Cast
    "Arlene"
  • Amory Wallace
    Key Cast
    "Dr. Quinn"
  • Allison Gayle-Rothwell
    Key Cast
    "Kendall"
  • Yaritsa Sanchez
    Key Cast
    "Trista"
  • Paul Corwin Jr.
    Key Cast
    "Field Reporter"
  • Michelle Fenelen
    Key Cast
    "News Anchor"
  • Luis Negron
    Key Cast
    "Field Reporter"
  • Leah Deboer
    Key Cast
    "Child #1"
  • Sawyer Aslor
    Key Cast
    "Child #2"
  • Miah Abigail Aguasvivas
    Key Cast
    "Journee"
  • Miguel Castañeda
    Key Cast
    "Brock"
  • Kai Prunier
    Key Cast
    "Wiley"
  • Rhiannon Prunier
    Key Cast
    "Emma"
  • Leela Dasti
    Key Cast
    "Police Officer"
  • Brody Rafferty
    Key Cast
    "Police Officer"
  • Ian Simmons
    Key Cast
    "FBI Agent"
  • Mark Henderson
    Key Cast
    "Hazmat Team"
  • Kim Kelliher
    Key Cast
    "Hazmat Team"
  • Ana Dasti
    Key Cast
    "Social Worker"
  • Matt Dasti
    Key Cast
    "Neighbor"
  • Brandon Lopes
    Key Cast
    "Party Boy"
  • Julio Mendez
    Key Cast
    "Bystander"
  • Mark Dean
    Key Cast
    "Camera Operator"
  • Huck Vaughan
    Key Cast
    "Boom Operator"
  • Ken Willinger
    Cinematographer
  • Marina XU
    First AC
  • Julio Mendez
    Production Assistant
  • Christina Hodel
    Editor
  • Zach McCallion
    Sound Recordist
  • Huck Vaughn
    Sound Recordist
  • Zach McCallion
    Boom Operator
  • Huck Vaughn
    Boom Operator
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    38 minutes 35 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 5, 2024
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED Komodo
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Christina Hodel

Christina Hodel is an award-winning American/French Polynesian filmmaker, screenwriter, film & television scholar, actress, and educator. She is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Bridgewater State University, where she teaches filmmaking and film studies courses. She works in both Boston, MA and Los Angeles, CA.

Christina holds a Ph.D. in Film and Media Studies from the University of Kansas, an M.A. in Individualized Study (Film/Dance) from New York University, and a B.A. in Film and Electronic Arts from California State University, Long Beach.

As a practicing artist, Christina has written, directed, produced, starred in, and edited various industrials, public service announcements, commercials, event trailers, video installations, narrative films, and documentaries. Her award-winning feature documentary, Freedom Love Gold, has screened at over 17 festivals around the world. Her most recent film, American Foulbrood, is on the film festival circuit.

Her films and screenplays have received funding, won awards, and screened at festivals including Docs Without Borders, Rome Prisma Independent Film Awards, Essex Doc Fest, American Golden Picture International Film Festival, Tallgrass International Film Festival, Bare Bones International Film and Music Festival, and Lady's First International Film Festival among many others.

She has worked for Food Network, HBO, CBS, ABC, NBC, Freeform, Showtime, The CW, 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, Universal Pictures, Sony Pictures, The History Channel, and YouTube Premium.

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Director Statement

As the story goes, while beekeeper Charlotte is battling her insurance provider to find support for her daughter, Violet, who is suffering from a genetic disease, her neighbor Jeremy struggles to secure therapy and medication for his worsening schizophrenia. This occurs during a bioterrorist threat, which the healthcare system and local government do little to alleviate. When Charlotte and Jeremy first meet, they strike up a unique friendship due to
their common bond over their troubles with the US healthcare system--and their love of honey.

The title of the film references a fatal bacterial disease of honeybee brood. Bees are going extinct due to human involvement, allowing killer bacteria called American Foulbrood to wipe out colony after colony. The story serves as a metaphor for the current state of American society's healthcare system and a convenient reminder of how we must care for one another.

Without care, society as we know it would be impossible. American Foulbrood teaches audiences that true democracy is one in which the public can candidly and fearlessly ask questions. The story is very much about questioning the US government. A questioning person does not become less patriotic than others. Instead, a good question can remind the people in authority of their obligations and pave the way for society's betterment. The intent of such questions is not personal gain but a collective gain for society. By voicing opinions and questioning issues via this film, one might be solving an individual problem, but it results in the collective good of all.

This film aims to raise awareness about how the broken American healthcare system negatively affects society and offers a remedy. Currently, in many parts of the US, a new patient seeking care for a mental disorder, such as schizophrenia, is put on a waitlist to see a provider that is 1-2 years long. Without prompt access to care, those suffering from the illness may develop suicidal thoughts, irreversible brain damage, and other mental health issues (Zhuo 2021). In addition, the rising cost of healthcare and certain drugs excluded from coverage means there are many Americans who will needlessly suffer or die due to greed, fraud, and abuse (Cohen 2018). In the film, Jeremy and Charlotte support one another as they navigate the inequitable healthcare system and, in so doing, teach us something about healthcare reformation: social solidarity. Jeremy and Charlotte are interconnected regarding their views on healthcare and drive home the concept that care should not be a market product but a fundamental right.

Jeremy, Charlotte, and Violet represent the millions of Americans suffering from a health insurance industry practicing discrimination and lacking transparency and accountability (Lundebjerg et al. 2021). American Foulbrood's significance is that this film holds the power to shape our beliefs, values, and perspectives. Every movie is set and developed in a particular culture. Movies are an integral part of us; they mirror what we believe and how we coexist. It is easier to see our concerns, attitudes, flaws, and strengths in films than decipher them from our daily interactions.

When our prevalent beliefs and ideologies are challenged in films like this one, we can better interrogate ourselves and embrace change.

Christina Hodel, Director