The glaring issue
Hi there, Mason here. I had a wonderful time talking to the 28 booksellers we interviewed on our road trip, and I'm so grateful for the time they gave us. Still, there's a glaring issue with the interviews I need to address.
Of the 27 booksellers featured in the film, all of them are white. I'm disappointed in myself for not prioritizing a higher degree of diversity in our interview subjects. And I'm sorry.
Below I'll try to explain how I let this oversight happen, how I'm trying to correct it, and how you can help.
How it happened
There are three reasons why I failed to represent a diverse cast of booksellers in the film.
Reason #1: My sample of bookstores was unintentionally biased
Though I didn't realize this at the time, my criteria for selecting stores to visit skewed the sample toward white folks. Please see my Selection Methods for details.
Reason #2: I didn't prioritize diversity intentionally enough
In preparing for the trip, I didn't take steps to ensure we interviewed a diverse group of booksellers. Because of how progressive the book industry is, I didn't think it would be an issue. That was a lazy assumption
Reason #3 (re: Excuse #1): I was in over my head
In 2019 when I began planning this film, I was not a filmmaker. During the few months leading up to the trip, I asked too much of myself. I had to recruit and find a cameraman. I had to learn the basics of DSLRs in order to manage my cameraman. I had to outline the narrative of the film. I had to write interview questions. I had to plan a 17-day trip to 27 bookstores spread across 5,000 miles, correspond with managers, schedule filming times, manage equipment and footage backups on the road, set up and conduct interviews, and try not to fall asleep at the wheel while driving between locations. All of this during the pandemic. So considering the demographic composition of my interview subjects fell to the wayside. I didn't have room for any more responsibility, because I was already in over my head.
Maybe I wasn't ready to make this film. I'm not sure. All I know now is that excuses don't fix the problem. So what will?
How I'm trying to correct the problem
I first want to say what I can't do to include more diversity in the film. The natural suggestion is to add in some Zoom interviews with a diverse set of booksellers. That won't work. Every interview, besides my chat with Professor Raffaeli, was conducted in person, because that's the narrative of the film: my road trip and my revelations along the way. Dropping in virtual interviews would pull the viewer out of that narrative and ultimately weaken the film.
The alternative solution is to turn the film's lack of diversity into a talking point, something to be addressed at virtual and live screenings to further discussion on the topic.
I recognize this isn't ideal. The perfect solution would have been not to have had the problem in the first place, but I can't change that. What I can do is ensure the viewer is aware of my mistake and raise awareness around the issue at large.
How you can help
The lack of diversity in The Bookstour is my fault, and now I'm trying, in some small way, to make up for it. And I need your help. Please send your ideas to mason@masonengel.com, and we'll get to work.
Thank you for your support,
Mason