Experiencing Interruptions?

You Were Chosen ~ Sizzle reel

Adoptees voice their experiences of being adopted, with Prof Shurlee Swain explaining the laws, the effect that has on adoptees, how the entrenched narrative is still being enforced via pro adoption advocates and the damage that is causing

  • Heather Waters
    Producer
    You should be Grateful, The Lost Souls
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    4 minutes 58 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 29, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    7,000 AUD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    4k
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography

Separated from my mother at birth, I was adopted shortly thereafter, into a closed adoption. I was raised an only child with my mother, after my father left at the age of 4.
Being introduced to performing at a very early age, set the stage for a path of creativity. From performing arts, to Photography and more recent years, film. In 2012 Waters Productions was founded, launching the short film The Lost Souls. This film was based on the senate enquiry for forced adoptions and later, leading to the Federal Apology in Australia.
Multi award winning documentary, You Should be Grateful, followed several years later and more recently, You Were Chosen.
Both You Should be Grateful and to come, You Were Chosen were adapted to books which include all the content from the interviews.
Twelve years on, the passion has not faded. The creation of film and sharing awareness of adoption go hand in glove, which is a road that will continue for years into the future.

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Director Statement

Adoption is a global problem in that largely, it does not address the needs of the child but rather, focuses on the desires of the adults. Adoption is damaging, on many levels, to a child who will then need to live with the effects of that decision for the rest of their life. I strongly believe the first achievable step is respect for the individual; to keep the child's identity as a whole, intact. Their name, medical history, ancestry and relatives all need to be open and accessible to them at all times. Working towards less damaging ways can help development, which leads to a more whole human being and healthy adult. That children who find themselves in such a position, should be afforded the choice for themselves, once they reach a mature age, whether they would like permanency with the family they are with, or not.