Short film created by Ventureland underscores the vital role of America’s small businesses

Created by Ventureland in association with Meta, They Came From All Over directed by Rayka Zehtabchi, tells the story of a fourth-generation grocer from Iowa whose business was destroyed by fire, but is being rebuilt with help from the community

Small businesses account for nearly two-thirds of all private employment in America, but they also provide their communities with crucial revenue while serving as part of the social fabric.

The importance of the country’s more than 33 million SMEs is underscored in They Came From All Over, a powerful short film that tells the story of Tom Mulholland, a fourth-generation grocer in Malvern, Iowa (pop. 1,046) whose more than century-old store was destroyed by fire in 2021. (Watch the trailer here.)

It also demonstrates the transformative power of community, and its ability to provide both moral support and more tangible assistance, even when all hope seems lost.

In addition to robbing Malvern of its cornerstone business, the loss of Mulholland’s business also saw the town’s population join the ranks of the approximately 10% of the U.S. population living in “food deserts,” without ready access to fresh food.

According to Mulholland, six communities within 45 miles of Malvern have lost their store during the time he has owned his store. “When a small town loses their grocery store, that’s just the beginning of the death spiral for that community,” he says.

Directed by Rayka Zehtabchi, whose film Period. End of Sentence. won the 2019 Oscar for Best Documentary Short, the 14-minute film was developed by the Los Angeles-based independent creative studio Ventureland for its client, Meta.

“The film is a story about Tom, a small business owner, who attempts to save his small town from collapse after his grocery store is ravaged by fire,” says Lyle Shemer, Creative Lead at Meta.  “While the film focuses on Tom’s sense of responsibility to his community, it also shines a light on the fragility of small town America, the scourge of rural food deserts, and how technology can help create a deeper sense of community and connectedness.”

The film features interviews with Tom’s friends and neighbors who recall his sorrow at the prospect of letting down his community and his pledge to do everything he can to rebuild the store.d

“It’s hard to believe that we live in one of the wealthiest countries in the world and yet food deserts are this prevalent,” says Zehtabchi. “Small businesses like Mulholland Grocery are not only essential, but are often the backbone of their community. I hope that this film can shine a light on this issue and uplift community leaders like Tom Mulholland in their quest to bring more essential resources to the people who need it most.”

The film had its premiere during National Small Business Week in April. In May, it won an Award of Excellence (Special Jury Mention) at the Independent Shorts Awards, selected for the HollyShorts Festival and Snake Alley, and was recently named a Vimeo Staff Pick. 

Source: Ventureland

  Lyle Shemer, Meta, Ventureland