The Bridge is a one-hour television documentary co-produced by Common Ground Productions, Downtown Community Television Center, Video Cairo SAT, and Baraka Productions. The program connects a mainstream audience in the United States with a sophisticated viewing audience in the Middle East by exploring the nuances in both American and Egyptian culture to reveal our common humanity. Since 9/11 and the war in Iraq, misconceptions between these two cultures have intensified and mistrust based on these misconceptions has escalated. When foreign cultures and ways of life become faceless, and when fear drives the relationship, opportunities for finding common ground diminish. With tourism between the Middle East and the United States at an all-time low, the electronic media is rapidly becoming the sole pipeline through which these perceptions are formed. This program addresses the popular ignorance that stems from a lack of understanding within the mainstream media of both cultures.
About The Bridge
The Bridge tells the story of two Americans and two Egyptians who share their lives and their cultures. Spirit, a relationship therapist who hosts a weekly radio call-in program in Atlanta, is paired with Bothaina, a politically active television talk show host from Cairo. Mike, an Alabama cowboy who lives on a small farm with his wife and two daughters, forms a relationship with Mahmoud, an Egyptian horse trainer from Giza who is married to two wives. Each of these unique individuals leaves their normal lives to travel to their counterpart's country and learn how to function on a day-to-day basis in a foreign culture.
The program follows each participant as they participate in daily activities and jobs, visit one another's homes, and spend time with friends and family. Through this documentary format, viewers are exposed to the realities of life in another culture, as they see a member of their own society confronted with the challenges of living and adapting to the culture of “the other.” Viewers also learn about their own culture by watching visitors adjust and adapt to daily life similar to their own. The culture gap between Egyptians and Americans is bridged through the experiences of Spirit, Mike, Bothaina and Mahmoud.
Video from The Bridge
Dialogue in English. Running time: 4 min.
Photos from The Bridge
Building bridges: Mahmoud, Mike, Bothaina and Spirit (from left to right)
Mike and Mahmoud share a passion for horses
Spirit and Bothaina: "I think I made a sister"
The Blase family of Alabama with their Egyptian guest, Mahmoud
Mahmoud gives Mike and Spirit a tour of the desert on camelback
