James Truslow Adams, the popular American historian,
defined the American Dream as:
The dream of a land in which life should
be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according
to his ability or achievement. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages
merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall
be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable
Kerri's (working title) is a film about the perception of the American Dream;
is it the ability to live a self-sufficient life or a white picket fence and
convertible in the driveway? The film will focus on the different stages of
Michael Kennedy's small business endeavor, Kerri’s Coffee Shop, and
its effects on his family relationships. Through interviews with Michael Kennedy
and his family, the evolution of a business will be explained by the people
who benefited from its financial success, yet felt the strain its time demands.
Capturing the nuances of balancing work and family is achieved through intimate
interview conducted by Michael's son, Tim Kennedy. The conflict is further
elaborated as Tim reveals his own dynamic with his father. In addition to
interviews with the family, interviews with the coffee shop customers show
the pervasive dream of starting a business. The film will chart the evolution
of Michael Kennedy’s goals and dreams over 33 years and present the
question of success in terms of his business, his ideals, and his family.
The ultimate goal is to reveal the essence of a person caught between attaining
his dreams and the responsibility of family.