Experiencing Interruptions?

The Whitmore Project

The Whitmore Project is a deeply personal documentary that chronicles Lisa’s victorious battle with breast cancer. Viewers are invited into the raw, vulnerable, and often inspiring moments of her treatment and recovery. This documentary provides an intimate view of a Black woman's breast cancer journey who faced the affects of racial health disparities, overcoming barriers to access to health care via battles with big insurance while exploring a millennial's perspective of caregiving. The film weaves together journal entries, candid photographs, and video footage into an intimate narrative of hope, determination, and grace.

This project isn’t only about one woman’s journey—it’s a call to action. With sobering statistics shared throughout the film, The Whitmore Project urges audiences to be more vigilant about their health, to advocate for early detection, and to support each other through the often isolating cancer experience.

  • Christian A Wallingford
    Director
  • Lisa Whitmore Davis
    Producer
  • Allanté Whitmore-Studmire
    Producer
  • Lisa Whitmore Davis
    Key Cast
  • Allanté Whitmore-Studmire
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Genres:
    Women's Health, Biographical, Health Documentary, Inspirational/Survivor Story, Social Issues, Human Interest
  • Runtime:
    55 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    March 15, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    XAVC-I
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • The Whitmore Project: Focus Group
    Detroit, MI
    United States
    March 15, 2025
Director Biography - Christian A Wallingford

Christian is a proud Army veteran who has spent years overseas, serving in multiple deployments. It was upon his return to his hometown of Detroit that life took an unexpected turn in 2022 with the death of his father. Amid Christian’s mourning, his mother reintroduced him to roller skating, a childhood passion that became a form of healing. The rhythm and energy of the skating community inspired him to pursue cinematography, to document the intergenerational stories of roller skaters who had shaped the sport and those who continued to push it forward.

As Christian immersed himself in documenting the roller-skating community, he realized that his passion extended beyond the sport itself. It was the people, their histories, and their resilience that truly captivated him. This realization shaped his approach to filmmaking, where he seeks to illuminate untold stories and amplify voices that have long been overlooked. Through his lens, Christian strives to preserve cultural legacies, foster understanding, and create space for narratives that challenge, inspire, and resonate.

Christian’s work is a testament to the healing power of creative expression, the importance of community, and the ability to transform personal experiences into powerful, impactful storytelling. His journey from military service to documentary filmmaking exemplifies the idea that the most profound stories often emerge from moments of hardship, personal growth, and unexpected discovery.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

This documentary was born from an unexpected moment—one that started as a simple visit to an old friend and became a powerful story that needed to be told. While traveling to Cleveland for a skating event, I took the opportunity to visit a longtime friend, as I often do when I’m in a city where someone I care about lives. During that visit, she shared that her mother, Ms. Lisa, had been battling breast cancer and was preparing to ring the bell—a symbol of triumph over the disease—just days later.

I asked if I could capture the moment, purely as a personal keepsake. It was never meant to be a film project. But after witnessing the raw emotion of that milestone and watching Ms. Lisa and her daughter reflect on the journey in an intimate conversation, it became clear that this was something bigger. The interview was powerful, deeply informative, and rich with the kind of insight and emotion rarely seen in mainstream portrayals of Black women’s health journeys. Ms. Lisa had also documented much of her experience—from diagnosis through treatment—through personal photos and videos, giving an unfiltered look at the realities of battling breast cancer.

Breast cancer is a disease that affects countless women, yet Black women face higher mortality rates and unique disparities in diagnosis, treatment, and care. Despite this, their voices are often missing from public discussions about breast cancer awareness and survivorship. I remember saying that this felt like an Oprah and Michelle Obama interview—engaging, deeply personal, and filled with wisdom. We knew that this story needed to be seen. It is a testament to resilience, love, and the critical need to amplify Black women’s experiences in health narratives.

This documentary is more than a film—it is an invitation to listen, to learn, and to honor the strength of Black women fighting breast cancer.