The History of Work
When did we become a society that works so much, and in a way that benefits the workforce so little?
The History of Work unravels our modern relationships to work and contextualizes our capitalist work systems by examining how the nation’s past has created a foundation for
the present. From early humans to the Industrial Revolution to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ll see how workplace structures and norms evolved into what we experience at work today.
This documentary aims to shed light on how we got here, expose you to new perspectives and take you on a journey of discovery about our relationship to work—and how we can change it.
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Wendy RussDirector
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Wendy RussWriter
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Zoha AbbasWriter
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Wendy RussProducer
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Zoha AbbasProducer
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Tammy TrioloKey Cast"Self"
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Rachael LehmanKey Cast"Self"
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Maureen AkeKey Cast"Self"
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Project Type:Documentary
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Runtime:1 hour 10 minutes 29 seconds
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Completion Date:September 3, 2024
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Production Budget:600 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:digital
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
Wendy Russ grew up in South Florida and had various careers in her working life. It was the combination of her relentless curiosity, inherited creativity, and frustrating fatigue at finding the same kinds of working environments over and over that led her to create "The History of Work," her directorial debut.
She will continue with this theme and return to filmmaking with her next project, "The History of Marriage."
The idea for “The History of Work” came to me on a dog walk while I was wondering, “does work have to suck?” I had worked in many different environments in my decades of being employed and while they were all different, they had one thing in common- humanity was not welcome in the workplace.
I’ve had many conversations with friends, past co-workers, and business owners along with those they employ through my consulting work, and everyone was frustrated with their working lives. I didn’t fully understand how we got here, the history that has shaped our relationships to work, and how we could change the way we work.
While I had an idea of what the answers would be, I definitely learned a lot through the interviews and research for this film. My aim was not just to bring some unknown history to the forefront and connect the dots for the audience regarding all the intricacies of modern day workplaces, but to also provide some solutions on how we can change the way we work.