In the second season of Morgan Spulock’s show 30 Days, we meet Frank, a California Minuteman who adamantly believes that all illegal aliens in the United States should be removed immediately. For thirty days Frank will be living with the Gonzales family - illegal immigrants from Mexico living in East L.A.
30 Days really is like a punch in the stomach. I see this indignant, hard headed man who believes he is right at any cost patroling the United States border with fully loaded arms. I recognize this man. I see myself, my father, my country. I see Travis - the law.
What’s right is right. These people come into our country and do jobs no one should have to do for the small amount of money they do it for. They say Americans wouldn’t do the work, but that isn’t true. Americans would do the work if the pay was commisurate. Employers exploit the immigrants not only by not paying them properly, but not providing insurance or other benefits either.
When Frank meets the mother and father that left behind parents and siblings behind to raise a family in America, the feel of the room is cold, awkward and downright passive-confrontational.
After meeting the five (way to fight racial stereo-typing!) children and, more impactfully, visiting the family’s old home in Mexico, Frank is twisted into knots.
We learn in junior high English about the thems of literature. My favorite one is Man Vs. Himself. It’s the one most people can identify with and. oddly, the one with the most possibilities and variences. We all have inner conflict. We are all different. Therefore all conflict is different.
The twisting of Frank’s inner beliefs system is made quite evident. He’s a man of conviction and determination who’s nature is stern and stoic. By the end he is reduced to tears.
This problem of immigration is not cut and dry. I have opinions about them, but no real conviction behind them. In Cowboy Smoke the role of Travis at one point says, “I got no dog in this fight,” refering to immigration not being his problem. Like Frank, Travis must decide in the end what ultimately is more important: principals or humanity.
I’ve recently noticed that I express emotions alone in a movie theatre or watching television in my bedroom far more than I do in my actual life. I will cry at a car commercial or feel elated at the end of a gameshow, let alone be inspired by or fall in love with characters in movies. I think that’s why I love this business so much. Because I am a huge fan!!!
We start shooting in September and I fully intend on bringing a copy of this show with me to watch when I need to pull from these emotions. I highly recommend you checking it out.
