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Big Enough, Small Enough: South Bend in Transition

South Bend, Indiana is in the midst of its most dramatic shift since the collapse of Studebaker in 1963. Today, it is at a turning point and still trying to find its footing. Big Enough, Small Enough is a set of conversations with more than 20 residents around South Bend and captures how they are experiencing its changes, embracing its new life and confronting its enduring problems – all while the mayor, Pete Buttigieg, was campaigning to be the President of the United States.

  • Zach Schrank
    Director
  • Ryan Blaske
    Director
  • Zach Schrank
    Producer
  • Ryan Blaske
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 20 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    February 23, 2020
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • South Bend
    United States
    January 14, 2022
    St. Joseph County Public Library - Movies @ Main Film Series Premiere
Distribution Information
  • Hoodox
    Distributor
    Country: United States
    Rights: Internet, Video on Demand
Director Biography - Zach Schrank, Ryan Blaske

Zach Schrank is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Indiana University South Bend. He is a 9th generation Hoosier and resides in South Bend.

Ryan Blaske is a freelance filmmaker whose work has been featured on sites such as Adobe, Billboard, Red Bull and The Washington Post. He is native to and resides in South Bend, Indiana.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Filming for this documentary began in 2019 when national media swarmed South Bend, Indiana in an attempt to understand how the city was reinventing itself, who Mayor Pete was, and how he fit in with its evolution. Gradual changes over several years in and around the hulking emptiness of South Bend were beginning to emerge as a phase shift in the life of the city. This shift crescendoed with Pete Buttigieg announcing his run for the presidency, ascending in the polls, and campaigning around the country. Independently filmed and produced over 9 months during this heightened national focus on South Bend's identity, Big Enough, Small Enough features striking vistas, sounds of city life, and conversations with 22 residents weaved together about our city’s rich history, enduring problems, recent revitalization, and imagined futures during a liminal moment in the spotlight.