Kids Can Really F*ck Up A Marriage (Nobody tells you that.)

A suburban supermom and her career-driven husband are learning the hard way that love does not conquer all.

  • Julie O'Hora
    Director
    Empty Nest (a Tragedy)
  • Julie O'Hora
    Writer
    The Pool Boys; Empty Nest (a Tragedy)
  • Julie O'Hora
    Producer
    Empty Nest (a Tragedy)
  • Michael Sokol
    Producer
    Postal; Frank Talk; Jenna Gets an Abortion
  • Lynn Elliot
    Producer
    The Illegal; The Nanny
  • Meggan Kaiser
    Key Cast
    "Abby"
    Farm to Fork to Love; Christmas Comes Home
  • David Shae
    Key Cast
    "David"
    Respect; The Walking Dead; Richard Jewell; The Resident
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 45 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 23, 2021
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    Sony Venice
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Julie O'Hora

Julie O'Hora is a film and television writer whose first feature was produced by the guys who made American Pie and was internationally distributed by Sony Pictures. Sliding fluidly along the scale between comedy and drama, her benchmark is raw honesty.

Julie works with universal themes, often with characters yearning to be their favorite version of themselves in a circumstance where that version isn't acceptable. Producers have praised Julie’s work for her authenticity, sharp dialogue, and ability to face hard truths in an entertaining way.

On the Directing side, Julie has directed four short films, two of which she also wrote and produced. She’s currently developing a sexy, funny, bittersweet romantic drama intended to be her feature directorial debut.

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Director Statement

KIDS CAN REALLY FUCK UP A MARRIAGE is a standalone proof of concept short based on EROTIC MUSINGS OF AN AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE, which I've written as both a feature and a pilot.

I guess you could say these projects are semi-autobiographical. There’s the obvious stuff, like the fact that I’m a married, suburban mom with two daughters. But the less-obvious, thematic stuff is more interesting, maybe because I didn’t even realize it was *my* stuff until I stepped outside of myself enough to see it. Like how you can’t find fulfillment by living up to expectations. That nobody’s “normal,” and sex is complicated, and love doesn’t conquer all. The endless struggle to be “good enough,” to be fully present as a wife and as a mother and as a friend, daughter, neighbor, and so on. And how keeping all those balls in the air is a lot harder than everybody’s happy pictures in my Facebook feed would indicate.

Being a mother isn’t actually all that rewarding. You’re not even supposed to think that, let alone say it. And you feel so horribly guilty, because you know how lucky you are to have healthy children, but you can’t help wondering what you might have achieved for yourself if they didn’t exist. (It was a relief to find out I wasn’t the only asshole who felt this way.)

Abby and David are a loving, relatable couple whose marriage is in trouble as an indirect result of ordinary things like parenting, careers, and societal expectations. Their relationship fascinates me, because the struggles they face are universal, but rarely discussed.

Kids can really fuck up a marriage. (Nobody tells you that.)