California Dreaming - VPRO Backlight - 2010

California is a strong brand, the state of new beginnings, dreams and movie stars, of surfers and a wonderful climate. But the Golden State is bankrupt and the city of Los Angeles is running out of cash. Public services are being cut and unemployment keeps rising. At the same time, optimism, entrepreneurship and the belief in the power of America are stronger than ever.

In Los Angeles, we meet five people who are going through a transformation in their lives during this crisis. Justin and Christine lost their jobs and are now living in a van with their two young sons. Charles has gotten out of prison after fourteen years. Mizuko prepares her children for the future by making them at ease in virtual reality. Laura has taken advantage of the crisis by buying land cheaply and starting an urban farm and artists collective Fallen Fruit maps the abundant free public fruit available in the city. Who are the pioneers who are reinventing the new America and how do they see the future?

About Backlight

Backlight, VPRO's weekly, 50-minute, Future Affairs- program, balances on the edge of storytelling and journalism. It focuses on our globalized world in which societies, economies and cultures seek a new equilibrium. Backlight aims to grasp the quintessence of prominent trends and developments.

The series shifts between two modes of communication: it provides in-depth analysis of new developments by leading intellectuals, visionaries and mavericks - the architects of change. At the same time, it applies daring cinematic techniques, capturing the effects these changes have on the daily lives of the real world's citizens.

Director: Bregtje van der Haak

Cinematography/Editing: Jean Counet

Sound: Joris van Ballegoijen

Research: Maren Merckx

Production: Mariska Schneider

Commissioning editors: Henneke Hagen/Jos de Putter

Broadcaster: VPRO Television/Backlight series