For many in rural America, we know the hardships and risks of farming. However, only a small percentage of Americans really know the risk due to the lack of media representation. New York film producer Sam Goldberg seeks to change that, and he talked to Rob Sharkey, with the Shark Farmer Podcast, about his new film, “Silo.”
Inspired by true events, “Silo” follows a harrowing day in an American farm town. Disaster strikes in a small American farm town when teenager Cody Rose becomes the victim of a grain entrapment incident. As grain turns to quicksand inside a 50-foot tall silo, the town locals must put aside their differences to save Cody from drowning in the crop that has sustained their community for generations.
Goldberg worked for five years to develop, research, and connect with farmers and talk to them about farm safety. He also reached out to rural fire departments that work with grain bin safety. Farm safety is a serious topic that deserves national recognition. This movie is based on a true events and tells the story of small town America.
Sharkey said, “I want every farmer to go see this. It is such a good reminder, that no matter how careful you think you are going to be, you can still get into a world of trouble.”
Goldberg also talks about the positive initial interactions with farmers while developing this film. “I believe because so few films are made about agriculture ,and because most of the coastal media is so negative and down on certain parts of the country, we were embraced in a way that was unexpected for everybody.”
However, he did receive some skepticism when he started since he was a New York film producer who had never been on a farm before, trying to convey the rural lifestyle. “The more they learned about us, and we sent our script out, people realized we were the real deal; we weren’t coming with an agenda.”
After the premier last week at the Farm Progress Show, you can now request to host a screening of the movie. The 75-minute film would be perfect for any annual conventions or educational opportunities coming up in your community. You can request a screening here. Goldberg hopes to host screenings with Farm Bureau members and FFA chapters to spread the message.
During one screening with farmers, Goldberg asked the audience to raise their hands if they knew someone who was injured or killed in an entrapment situation. Of the 75 people there, nearly 60 raised their hand! That is a large majority that has seen or felt this tragic heartbreak.
You can listen to the full podcast here.
