Fairfax Academy Teacher's Documentary Takes On Battle Between Food Trucks and Restaurants in D.C.

A documentary film created by Fairfax Academy Professional Television Production teacher Matt Pastic will be shown during the Alexandria Film Festival Thursday night.

The documentary, titled Capitol Food Fight, deals with the explosive food truck industry in D.C. and its effect on brick-and-mortar restaurants.

The film will be screened at the Old Town Theatre in Alexandria this Thursday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. 

Capitol Food Fight was a product of two years of intensive work and four trips back to the drawing board, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) spokespersons said Wednesday. The film originally aired on PBS and MPT in June of this year. 

The film was directed by Robert Paschen, and Pastic served as the co-producer, director of photography, audio technologist and editor for the film.

More than 10 hours of interviews and an equal amount of background, or "b-roll," were condensed into a 26-minute story of the plight of food trucks and brick-and-mortar restaurants in the nation’s capital, spokespersons said.

“The goal was to provide an unbiased story, but we encountered something greater along the way,” Pastic said.

While working on the film, Pastic said he realized that the trend of mobile businesses combined with the advent of social media networking is shaking up an industry that has limited competitors. 

In part due to rent, the costs associated with starting up a brick-and-mortar business are very expensive, and there is "no comparison to starting a gourmet food truck business," he said. 

“The saying is ‘location, location, location,’ and these gourmet food trucks can change locations quickly and increase business from it,” Pastic explained.

In just four years, Washington, D.C., has become one of the top five food truck cities in the country, Pastic explained.

“Some say it's because of a loophole in the law,” he added. “Politically connected restaurants and building owners are using back channels to squash the little guy, but trucks are fighting back, big-time." 

This political fight is happening in cities across the country as communities cope with an exploding food truck industry that is raising questions about capitalism, social media, and the future of business in America, he explained.

Pastic said he feels that being a teacher has helped him serve as a documentarian because “it epitomizes the teaching and learning process." 

"The whole process has challenged me to display information for the maximum impact for learning, and the best way to generate ideas is to communicate with others," he said. "You must be organized when dealing with a project of this magnitude.”

Fairfax Academy is one of six high school academies in the Fairfax County school district.

Capital Food Fight will be screened at the Old Town Theatre in Alexandria on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the Alexandria Film Festival are available in advance online or at the door.

What do you think of Pastic's take on the food truck industry? Tell us in the comments below.

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