The Motherlode (Trailer)

Participatory documentary with unique, unpretentious, hardworking, wild women roaming across saturated, detailed high-resolution imagery bustling with images of them at work in studios, interacting with their children, and hyper-detailed shots of their specific creative works. Lots of mobile shots and jump cuts charge this grandiose, messy, beautiful, raging, personal experience of the universal concept of motherhood. Occasionally punctuated with slow and methodical moments to really pack a punch for some of the difficult conversations revolving around strife.

The film indulges in the voyeuristic pleasures of watching people be creative, while delving significantly into the tender demands of family life, and the antagonistic hurdles that society unceasingly presents. Actively traversing the artist’s various environments situates the story and grounds their points of view in their authentic positioning. Inextricably linking the subject/people to their environment will build a strong storytelling signature across the project, tackling the theoretical in the midst of the everyday. The various artists invite Chase to participate in an activity (that they suggest) as they share their insights for example:
• Learning to ride a motorcycle, discussing late capitalism and its role in the arts
• Making jam, discussing being raised as a 3rd culture kid
• Building giant cardboard puppets, discussing being a non-binary mo-they
• Making tamales while discussing teaching documentary in higher education
• Wrangling ducks at sunset on a homestead while raising multiracial children and discussing graphic design principals
• Assisting on a painting using pagan rituals with inks and fire, discussing how much screen time is too much for kids
Chase channels a uniquely feminine version of Morgan Spurlock or Michael Moore rolling through a kind of flip side of the Real Housewives coin, not throwing shade—just the opposite where—pretty much everyone’s nails are fucked up, half of us haven’t even showered yet today, and the other half of us don’t have nor want husbands! Comparables include: Ride with Norman Reedus (slightly rebellious feel, though doing other things besides riding motorbikes etc) mixed with Parts Unknown (experiencing culture in a specific space, probably lots of food—and ART) mixed with United Shades of America (unpacking cultural elements we are experiencing), a little Chef’s Table vibe with gorgeous footage of making. Kids roam through many scenes adding some feral energy—though the perspective favors the women.

At the end of the 2nd act, we get some insight from existing residencies that have recently expanded to include the possibility of children coming with parents. McColl in Charlotte, NC and Mothra on Toronto Island. This leads into the 3rd act where we make our own residency.

Chase and Pitts are the lead production team with the ability to (both) slip into most technical roles on a streamlined production crew as well as post-production. The original score will be composed by a participating artist, an electronic music producer, and a vocalist. The process of creating the score (and parts of the documentary process) are woven into the story of the documentary… (a little like F for Fake! with performative doc style).

CONNECTION, ACCESS, ACCOUNTABILITY STATEMENT:
I began my journey into motherhood as an uninsured, pregnant filmmaker working as an adjunct professor teaching in two different departments. Once I had my daughter, I would often have to pump milk between classes due to long hours away from my child, which causes tremendous physical pain. I had no office of my own. Both the chairs of the programs I taught in were women, both told me to either pump milk in the bathroom or trek across the entire campus to a lactation room. I would often hide in a sound suite or a cove in the photography studio to pump as fast as humanly possible. Sometimes, when possible, I’d have a babysitter just bring my baby to campus so I could feed her in the back of a car.

As the director and host, I’[m also an artist and mother. The struggle of the creative working mother is my story. My connection to this material is personal, as I am an artist/filmmaker, working in academia and raising a child. But I see this story as universal, and demands many voices to fully express this universal concept. I’ve been working on, and making films for more than 13 years, some of which have been documentaries.

The project has an international scope with more than 24 mothers (hailing from around the world) who’ve agreed to participate in this doc. I am connected to organizations (such as the Artist/Parent/Academic, and the Artist/Mother podcast) where I continue to connect with potential people to feature. Additionally, the people involved with this project continuously and enthusiastically recommend more mothers for me to meet! Because I know there is a continuous stream of willing artists to harness, I will eventually develop a docuseries and a podcast.

Feedback circles between our team and the artists have already been started. Keeping dialog open between us, and introducing the artists to each other and facilitating group regular Zoom sessions is already in place.

We recognize that some of the artists balance (sometimes strained) relationships to their ex-partners who are also parents of the children. We must tread carefully and take these mother’s safety and wellbeing very seriously and respect their thoughts on the portrayal of their individual circumstance. We recognize that minors are involved in this project, and we follow the lead of each one of the minor’s parents in how the minor is represented. This series uplifts and celebrates, it does not wish to denigrate or disparage the points of view expressed by the subjects of the film. We seek the feedback of the featured artists in this series. Trust and fostering healthy relationships are a STRONG priority.

The project will continue after the feature to build constructive conversations (aiming for systemic change) through a multiplatform approach. Part of our vision for sharing the power dynamic is building a healthy information and access highway across platforms, building audience connection to featured artists through our social media, creating a feedback loop and potential market for these artists.