Selected Screenshots:

This video within the series offers a glimpse into the parenting journeys of both Bobie Jo and Vincent, illuminating how nurturing their children's emotional vocabulary has empowered them to navigate life's challenges with grace. With its lighthearted tone and larger ensemble of characters, I embraced a playful, vibrant aesthetic that mirrored the joyful spirit of the narrative.

Lovey’s story highlights the importance of de-escalation in his community as we follow his journey towards ending cycles of abuse in his generation. It was a much more somber video, weaving references to the book of poems A Rose That Grew From Concrete by Tupac Shakur. I included a lot of photo-realistic imagery to the background to push the grittiness of the urban environment Lovey grew up in. I kept only a few pops of colorful elements in the pivotal moments in his narrative.

The entirety of Carmen’s life changed over the course of one summer in her childhood. Through a program designed for inner-city children, she found herself transported from the chaos of urban life to the serene embrace of rural Pennsylvania under the care of another family. They taught her how to swim and bike, and more importantly - express her emotions freely and openly. Carmen grew to lead her own family and future generations towards embracing vulnerability and openness. Her narrative highlights the significance of acknowledging and tending to our emotions, both within our families and within ourselves.

Maria's story deeply moved me, making it one of my most cherished writing experiences. It delved into a poignant chapter of her childhood marked by trauma that still affects her life today. Through her journey, Maria illuminates the profound process of reclaiming shattered pieces of oneself. Her story serves as a poignant reminder of the transformative power of healing, and the commitment to becoming the best possible parents for our children, despite the scars of our past.

Central to Susan's narrative is the notion of embracing the journey of growth alongside our children. Through her storytelling, she underscores the significance of taking moments of introspection, of pausing to navigate the complexities of our emotions with clarity and purpose. Similar to Bobie Jo’s and Vincent’s piece, we went for a more playful aesthetic.

Ivoni initially hesitated to record in English for her video, as it wasn't her native language. However, she displayed remarkable resilience and determination, ultimately crafting a captivating narration for her piece. Her tenacity is the very essence of her narrative — the notion of striving to embody one's best parent self. Ivoni's constant push to step out of her comfort zone sets a positive precedent for her daughter, inspiring her to pursue her own passions.

Tony’s narrative follows his relationship with both his son and his own father. His story resonates with the universal truth that the healing power of forgiveness transcends time and circumstance. Tony’s video was added to the scope of the project much later in the pipeline. In order to keep the project on schedule, I proposed the uses of silhouettes and limited animation to cut the production timeline. Tony’s wonderfully rich narration helped keep the story just as engaging despite the tight deadline.

Credits

Project Director: Craig Bailey

Project Lead: Kathryn Lee & Whitney Sanders

Community Liaison and Co-Lead: Tony Nelson

Creative Lead & Animation Director: Poulomi Mukherji

Supporting Writers: Poulomi Mukherji, Kathryn Lee, Whitney Sanders, Craig Bailey, Marc Brackett

Assistant Editor: Kelli Yamaguchi

Assistant Animator: Vera Berkshire

Parent Leaders & Narration: Bobie Jo Parker and Vincent Hatten, Lovey Brown, Carmen Morales,  Maria Vasquez,  Susan Sarmiento, Ivoni Montes, Tony Nelson

Music: Larry Groupe’ and the Jacob’s School of Music