From Staceyann Chin - Baby Makes Me film

PLEASE POST ON YOUR BLOGS, SITES, LISTS etc. Help us reach the folks we need.

Many of you have already heard about our film, Baby Makes me. For you, this is an update. But for the folks who have not heard Tiona and I are making a documentary together.

For years, I have wanted to become a mother. But the timing has never been quite right. Either my partners weren’t ready, or I was scared, or I couldn’t find a donor or something. There was always something. By the time I rolled into 35, I was tired of being afraid, tired of waiting for the right woman with whom it would be the right time, tired of watching every Christmas roll over another Birthday, tired of watching my peers get knocked up and months later appear with the most amazing little bundle of potential—I was tired of waiting and ready to make the leap, and I was ready to make it alone.

I began the research with great heart—only to discover that there were little no resources for women who either wanted to, or had to embark on the journey of motherhood in the solo. There were one or two essays and a few books on artificial insemination, and some were even directed at lesbians—but most, if not all assumed that the mother would be operating from inside of a partnership, be that partnership heterosexual or homosexual.

The idea for the film came out of a conversation with Tiona to film the pregnancy/labor, assuming that there would be one—because no one, least of all me, knows if my body will cooperate in doing such a thing as conceiving. I envisioned Tiona asking a couple of heartfelt questions and spinning the light to create a high-end home-movie I could show my child at eighteen. She agreed and we began to flesh out some ideas. That conversation, coupled with the lack of resource material out there spurred the project now known as Baby Makes Me.

Baby Makes Me, a feature-length documentary, will explore the challenges and triumphs of Single Motherhood, particularly in the lives of women of color, lesbians and women who make a conscious choice to be mothers in the absence of intimate/romantic partnerships with men.

The film will use as its narrative skeleton, the journey of activist/writer/performer, Staceyann Chin, as she navigates her personal choices with reference to motherhood. Author of the memoir, The Other Side of Paradise, Chin now brings her talents to the medium of film as writer and Executive Producer.

The Director, Tiona McClodden, is a champion of promoting positive images of women in media. Her last film, “Black./womyn.:conversations…”, garnered much respect in both accolades and awards. She now brings her attention to the issue of women and motherhood.

It is our intent to interview a series of women from all the demographic cross-sections. Issues of financial, ethical, medical, cultural, and political relevance will be fore-grounded. We hope that clinics, hospitals, families, children of Black lesbians, straight Black women who want children, mothers of gay women who lament the loss of grandchildren when they discover their daughters are gay, and anybody who seeks to have a clearer picture of the family that includes gay women will see that our lives go on, that women who are single, be they lesbian, or Black or poor, can and do have babies, and that we are simply another group of people who live and laugh and grow. We hope to paint the subjects in the film as human and likable characters who, though they are dealing with slightly different challenges than the women we traditionally see as mothers, are not very different from any other group of people considering parenthood.

We are going to need all the help we can get. We need help in reaching out to folks who would like to be interviewed; other single mothers, women who have been inseminated, women who are thinking about it, women who work in the medical field, women who work in the administrative world of policy etc. We are on the hunt for the all the voices that could represent our story in the film.

We have recently been awarded a grant from ASTREA Lesbian Foundation for Justice and are set to move forward. We write to you now, in the hope that you will want to be involved in this groundbreaking project in whatever capacity you choose: we need space to host fundraisers and screening and other events connected to the film. We need people to fundraise, to promote the film, to host community talks, to suggest topics for discussion in the film—we need to secure additional investors, we need the help of people who are experts in the business of making films, and we need the counter-perspective of people who have never made a film. We are hoping to make this a community effort; from start to finish we want the ideas to be representative of the various factions in our diverse village of the women who mother our children. If you are sure you are unable to do any of the above, we only ask that you make room for our fliers, questionnaires, invitations, and other promotional materials for the film.

We would be honored if you would join us as we attempt to break more ceilings, level more walls to make room those of us who are too frequently left out of the history and imagination of the world we live in. We look forward to a spirited journey with you, from the opening shot to the ending credits—complete with your name listed among the most stalwart of our supporters.

Thanks again to the women who have already offered assistance. We look forward to your being a part of our process.

Staceyann Chin
Executive Producer/Writer, “Baby Makes Me”
Tiona McClodden
Director/Producer, “Baby Makes Me”

Please send all inquiries and requests to: babymakesme@gmail.com

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Travel: ATL - DC - COL

Over the past weekend I took a wee bit of a road trip. For a total of 81 hours of travel and some 2200 miles I rode through 10 states. I don't want to sit in a car again for that much time for a LONG TIME.

In Atlanta I met several queer ladies. I caught breakfast (at 5am) with someone at a diner in North ATL and I met 2 couples. Person I was with did not believe me when I first pointed them out and said they were lesbian couples. Anyway after breakfast we were paying and one of the ladies calls me over. They then ask me if the person that I was grabbing breakfast with was my girlfriend. Guess we was looking quite chummy and my habit of rubbing her head might have given them that idea. Anyway I tell em no & they apologize for thinking I'm gay & I tell em it's all good cause I am. They then invited us to an event. Would have loved to attend but I had other states to visit during this trip.

Second queer group was a pair of studs that I met while catching dinner in ATL. We gave each other the head nod that's family recognizing family.

Second official stop was DC. Had to see my sis. I love her new place. It was nice to just kick it with her. We did spend a lot of time talking over things and plans for the next year. No sight seeing on this trip. On my way to DC I saw several car accidents and 1 that was a 10 car pile up. They had to close down the interstate for at least 2 hours. The car that started it had no doors and roof. Front was smashed up and I'm fairly certain noone got out of that car alive. The rest of the cars in the pile up had moderate damage and most of the occupants walked out of their own cars.

Third official stop was Columbus, OH. Had to stop by and see the bro. He's looking pretty good and I like his new place too. I also stopped by to see a friend's mom and dad who were in town from Kenya. I try to see them every time that they make it in. Took the bro wit me to see em and they were pleasantly surprised to see him.

I had hoped to stop by and see my new "nephew" Cole on the drive back but I ended up leaving Columbus later than planned.

Tuesday Beat: Mariah Carey - Get Your Number / Imagination - Just an Illusion

Original beat was by Imagination for the song Just an Illusion hence the double play.

Travel: I smell a roadtrip

Ok so maybe i am already on one. I'm down south and should be heading towards the east coast tomorrow. Planning to swing by home state OH on Sunday before heading back to the chi. SO no weekly rundown this week though i'll summarize the trip on monday.

Enjoy your weekend!

Random Post: Nthati Moshesh in The Long Run - A South African Film and Round Trip

South African Actress Nthati Moshesh has potrayed several characters that I am fond of, both straight and queer. I love that she plays characters that you can't help but sympathize with.

In Round Trip she portrays a Ghananian immigrant in Israel who takes up baby sitting in exchange for room and board. She eventually becomes involved with the mother of the kids that she is babysitting. Her back story is a little confusing, as she was dating a French lady while living in Nigeria and has a son with a decidedly South African name. There are a lot of layers in this movie and I highly recommend watching it in its entirety. You can see a highly summarized version of her character's story on YT here. It's a 2 part piece. For a full synopsis of the movie check IMDB.

I saw the movie The Long Run shortly after I arrived in the US and it has remained one of my fav movies from home. I was elated to discover that it was being streamed in its entirety on IMDB so if you would like to see it check it out here. Nthati Moshesh is the lead in it and portrays a Namibian immigrant living in South Africa who encounters Barry, a bloke who sees her potential and wants to train her for the Comrades marathon, a race of note in South Africa. No the bloke is not a perv, and you can't help but feel sorry for him as the story progresses. Anyway time permitting do check it out.

image courtesy of TVSA

Tuesday Beat: Karl Wolf - Yalla Habibi

I thought I'd throw this one in for the hell of it. It's not exactly a love song. Lebanese Canadian bloke whose music I listen to on occasion. Shayne Ward (English), Burhan G (Danish), Karl Wolf and Shawn Desman (Portuguese Canadian) will be forever linked in my mind as I discovered their music around the same time. Last week we had Shayne Ward this week it's Wolf. We had Desman a few weeks back. Next week we have a throw back, 1982 to be exact, and an '05 song that borrows from it.

Yalla Habibi
We can go
Far away
To a sunny place
Yalla Habibi
We can fly
To a place and hide
So we can spend time
Yalla Habibi
I miss the cuddlin’
Miss the kissin’
And miss the way you touch me
Why don’t we enjoy the beauty of life?
Yalla Baby

Portraits of Chicago

I came across this sign while walking around the other day. If you click on the photo and enlarge it you'll see that sign #2 reads Tropical Time Jerk Chicken. You can get your cash loan on the counter to the right and your chicken to go on the left.

Half Penny Post: Weekly Rundown

I feel like the cat to the left. My hair is in tufts at this point. Last week was classified as an o shit weekend, this week we are in the bloody buggering hell category.

• Another week has gone by with the usual mix of work, sleep, RC training, and dancing in the park. Speaking of dancing in the park, my abs hurt like the dickens courtesy of yesterday's dance class. I am getting old I tell you.
• Now for one who hasn't made it out to church much in recent memory, I've said a lot of praise hims this past week. Beautiful women abound and I must say they make life that much more interesting - yes that's my inner frat boy talking. I enjoy flirting with women and do try to keep it clean so that they are not offended. Today I volunteered at a function where I met and flirted with a few ladies. Safest starting point was the shoes as these women were on point - no pun intended. My order of complimenting is shoes, dress, hair / accessories. Never fails.
• I'm going to be posting eye brow raising / snicker worthy / random Chicago photos every Sunday. Eye brow raising in a good way, for example at a construction site there is a sign that reads beware of falling material. A good sign you think? Well it is posted on a fence that surrounds a construction site that's has a hole in the ground as they've started on the foundation. What the hell are we expecting to have fall from the sky? Dust? I'm jus saying remove the damn sign.
• I've discovered that I handle work stress a lot better than I handle personal stress.
• I'm picking up more tech projects at work which is nice. I am less likely to get rusty that way.

Enjoy your weekend!

Tuesday Beat: Shayne Ward - Breathless

Two of my favorite songs by Shayne Ward. Around 2:40 on Breathless he hits some notes that never fail to send a shiver down my spine.
Breathless

You leave me breathless
You’re everything good in my life
You leave me breathless
I still can’t believe that you’re mine
You just walked out of one of my dreams
So beautiful you’re leaving me
Breathless

No U Hang Up

You can keep me up on the phone all night
We say lets hang up on 3 but we don’t ever do it
Aint it crazy how after all this time
We got that you hang up no you hang up kinda love
We got that you hang up no you hang up kinda love

Half Penny Post: Weekly Rundown

Tis Friday!!!!!!!!

• Sorry I missed last week ... I got blindsided by a few things. When my family has O SHIT moments we go all out.
• I love the Chi! Chicago summer dance is one of my favorite activities ever. I love dancing in the park. All the lovely women ... sigh. I can now cha cha cha, salsa, mambo, chicago step ... my two left feet are well trained. I love that poeple don't mind switching partners so I've danced with blokes and lasses whom I've met on the floor so I never feel bad for showing up alone.
• I'm getting better at introducing myself to ladies that I like. I think that one lady that I've met might be queer too. We met in the buffet line and I later stopped by her office to introduce myself properly. I've just realized that I am about two thirds into my summer break and I haven't had a lot of time to work on the dating situation.
• I am training with the RC in disaster relief technology. Lots of reading I tell you but I'm learning stuff that I actually will use so it's not all painful.
• Haven't had a chance to see what's happening on the African Queer circuit so I'll throw something in next week.
• I'll be checking out the Chicago Ginza festival tomorrow so I'll put up photos if I remember to take my camera with me.

Have a good weekend poeple!

image extracted from Carollaradioblog

Tuesday Beat: Martin Kember - Driving Myself Insane

All I want is you ... song says it all.

You already know.
Love's capable
Can't you see who's been there all along.
And I know I can be wrong.
Oh tell me why...

[Chorus:]
Did I have to fall in love with you.
I'm drivin myself insane.
But I know.
Without you I can't function no more.
And you, will never look at me the same.
You know it's really drivin me insane.
But I know.
Without you I can't function.
I'm drivin myself insane [x2]