Directed and produced a five-part, first-person, docu-series that reveals the lives of low-income New Yorkers working in the gig economy to make ends meet.
Weaving through traffic, bike couriers contribute vitally to our “on demand” society by delivering things almost instantly, but they often don’t make a living wage.
A sophomore in college, Daniel Rodriguez works as a courier to pay his share of the family’s bills. He hopes to be a police officer one day and give his mother the car she has always dreamed of.
Nadir Samara makes more money walking dogs in Brooklyn than he did working for an insurance company in Philadelphia.
A recent college graduate, Nadir’s “everyday hustle” means walks during the day, rain or shine, so that he can work on his film projects at night and support himself.
Nadir is proud of being a dog walker, but can he save enough to pursue his dream to be a filmmaker?
Uber. Lyft. Juno. On-demand drivers are a vital and sometimes controversial part of every American city. In NYC, these drivers face challenges from road rage, to personal safety concerns, to low pay.
Cecilia Brentlinger came from Peru in search of a better life for her son. She started working as an on-demand driver for the freedom of determining her own hours, but quickly learned this flexibility comes at a price.
Despite the dangers and tough crowds, there are more than 350 buskers — people who entertain for donations — licensed by the MTA. Hundreds more perform though throughout the city.
For Heidi Kole, one of the biggest challenges is competing with cellphones for your ear—and your donations. Can she make enough to get by?
There are an estimated 10,000 street vendors in New York City, many of whom are immigrants. Walid Abdelwahab (left) is one of them, working long hours cooking and selling food from a cart in Manhattan to support his family.
Sometimes seen as competition to neighborhood cafes, Walid faces constant challenges that come along with street vending, such as obstacles deliberately placed on “his” piece of sidewalk and confrontations with police.
If Walid can’t work, he can’t feed his wife and three children. Yet for him, it’s all part of his American Dream.