BEHIND THE MASK

Eva Saunders

Director(s): Eva Saunders

BEHIND THE MASK is an inspiring self-portrait of a high-risk patient who helps front-line workers fight COVID-19 by sewing face masks. Reflecting on my volunteering experience, I want to share insight into my  life in isolation and spread a hopeful message.

Mid-March, when Corona started exploding in Europe, where I'm from, I wanted to find ways to help to keep my local community in Burbank, CA safe before the virus would hit hard in the US. So I offered sewing masks through Next Door and local Facebook groups and got an overwhelming response from medical workers, fellow high risk patients and essential workers. I collected bedsheets and supplies in my neighborhood and went to work. For 6 weeks straight I worked on masks and enlisted friends and neighbors to help. During that time, I learned that kindness is the best antidote to fear, because it gave me a sense of purpose that was rewarding beyond any of my expectations. With this short doc, I want to spread hope and positivity in these rough times and inspire more people to do good. 

Eva Saunders