Private Project

Tina Tina Bo Bina

While preparing for a live performance where she will iron her belly stretch marks flat, an artist struggles to balance the expectations of motherhood while fulfilling her wild creative side.

  • Jessica McGaugh
    Director
  • Jessica McGaugh
    Writer
  • Jessica McGaugh
    Producer
  • Andrea Dratch
    Key Cast
    "Olivia"
  • Rafael Cabrerra
    Key Cast
    "Matteo"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    19 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    October 1, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Broad Humor Film Fesival
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    August 24, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Coronado Island International Film Festival
    San Diego, CA
    United States
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Jessica McGaugh

Jessica McGaugh is an award-winning filmmaker and a tenure-track faculty member in the School of Theatre, Television, and Film at San Diego State University.

Jessica’s work celebrates diversity and inclusion through her use of underrepresented characters, storylines, and project collaborators. Her films have screened across the globe including the Vancouver Film Festival, Mumbai International Film Festival, Denver Film Festival, NDTV and Rocky Mountain PBS.

Currently in post production, her most recent film, "Tina Tina Bo Bina" follows a fictional performance artist struggling to balance the expectations of motherhood with the expectations of being an artist. Jessica’s project "Womanhood: The Series," a collection of comedic short films, aims to break the taboos associated with women’s bodies and gender expectations. The series is currently screening at festivals, and won awards for “Best Series” and “Best Director.” "Red Pearl," Jessica’s debut narrative feature-film, was released worldwide to film festivals and streaming services. Her award-winning documentary release, "Three Worlds, One Stage," is available through iTunes, Amazon, Roku and Walmart.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

All my recent films stem from the moment when I caught myself hiding a tampon in my sleeve so I could walk to the bathroom at work. It was as if I was ashamed of the bodily function that gave life to my two children, and every other person in the world. After rejecting this self-shaming, I decided to channel my punk rock days where our band would set up in the alleyways of downtown Tucson, playing power chords and not giving a damn.

Tina Tina Bo Bina captures this DIY punk rock spirit. It’s a mocumentary about a woman who pursues her passion for performance art. The challenge is that she’s also a mom and must juggle the conflicting experiences and expectations of motherhood and being an artist.

This film is very personal for my creative collaborator Andrea (the lead actor) and I. It’s a mid-life coming-of-age mocumentary, but we often joke that it is true documentary because it mimics real situations we often experience. In fact, the film’s sound editor called me in the middle of the mix and said, “This scene is my life.”

Our film will resonate with anyone in the audience who has ever pursued a dream; especially dreamers who face constant rejection yet have the courage to keep pushing.