Private Project

Parent Ally

A tireless advocate for mothers who struggle with addiction, Gina Wassemiller leads an inspirational journey of recovery and reconciliation for families impacted by addiction.

  • Radha Mehta
    Director
  • Radha Mehta
    Producer
  • Paige Williams
    Producer
  • Gina Wassemliller
    Key Cast
    "As Herself"
  • Adam Ballout
    Key Cast
    "As Himself"
  • Candice Nachman
    Director of Photography
  • Rachel Saldivar
    Sound Mixer
  • Radha Mehta
    Editor
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    25 minutes 26 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 1, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    25,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital (4K)
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival 2021
    Hot Springs, Arkansas
    United States
    October 16, 2021
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Radha Mehta

Radha Mehta is a BIPOC (South Asian) woman filmmaker based in Los Angeles, California and is currently a Directing Fellow at American Film Institute. Prior to attending AFI, Radha served as a Director/Producer on various short documentaries on social justice causes including domestic violence and sexual assault, mental health, taboos within the South Asian culture, and most recently mothers recovering from substance abuse disorders while staying united with their newborns. Radha has been accepted into two Sundance Co//ab Workshops including “Developing Your Story” with June Cross, and “Crafting Your Story In Post” with Maxine Trump, and with the help of her Sundance Advisors and Mentors and the invaluable lessons taught in each course, she has since expanded and strengthened her craft in documentary filmmaking including the film “Being Gina” and "Parent Ally" as two of her most recently completed films.
Given her background in documentary filmmaking, Radha hopes to hone in on many untold true stories of the underserved and underrepresented and, with the help of AFI and beyond, craft compelling and humanizing narratives to affect positive social change.

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Director Statement

I directed the film "Parent Ally" after I’d been introduced to the work she does as an Office of Public Defense Social Worker and Parent Ally for the State of Washington with the sole mission of keeping families united, particularly for mothers with their newborns. As a mother of 2 myself, I cannot fathom ever having my children being taken away from me especially given how much I love and will die for them. Many mothers I’ve come across through my work with Gina feel the same, and despite the challenges they face given their substance abuse disorders, not one person can deny the love they have for their children. Through observing Gina, I recognized the power of community, and the power parents allies - each of whom were able to recover and come out the other side of substance abuse - can be to these mothers and fathers who seek all the help they can get to be able to stay united with their families.

I feel oftentimes mothers are made to feel shame and guilt for their actions when using, but I’m often reminded that no one chooses to be addicted. I truly believe no mother is unworthy to parent their children especially if they choose to love them unconditionally.

"Parent Ally" is just the first step to humanize this vulnerable population, and my hope is as we hear more stories like Gina, the more we recognize the power of community and lifting one another up, especially in our darkest moments, can have everlasting positive impacts on generations to come.