The Global Search for Education: Exploring Parenthood: An Insightful Conversation with Director Alan Chriest
This month, audiences can screen The Baby Project on the Planet Classroom Network. This film is curated for the Planet Classroom Network by KIDS FIRST! Film Festival.
The Baby Project directed by Alan J. Chriest takes a unique approach to the fundamental question of parenthood, exploring not whether people want children, but whether they should have them.
Through a captivating blend of visuals and audio, this thought-provoking movie immerses viewers in the all-encompassing reality of raising children. It dives into the financial intricacies of parenting, shedding light on the substantial costs involved, and fearlessly addresses the critical issue of child abuse.
The Global Search for Education is pleased to welcome Alan Chriest.
Alan, we love your film. What inspired you to explore the question of whether people should have children?
In this day and age, it most often is a choice of whether you truly want to dedicate your life to raising children. It is an overwhelming commitment not to be treated lightly. It is a choice. Choose wisely. Precious lives are at stake.
What in your opinion was the most important message in your story?
Know what you are committing to. Is having a child simply a tradition or happenstance, or is it a deep desire based on immense love?
The film effectively immerses the audience in the overwhelming reality of parenthood. How did you achieve this immersive experience, and what were your creative decisions in using visuals and audio to evoke these emotions in the audience?
Knowing that time is limited and attention spans are short, it was important to create layered audio and quick cut editing to realize the vast complexity of raising a child. Rather than explain it in storyboard form, it was more dramatic to be dizzy from the amount of issues delivered in a rapid manner.
The Baby Project addresses significant topics like the financial aspects of raising children and child abuse. How did you approach incorporating these themes into the film, and what do you hope the audience takes away from this exploration?
After outlining the responsibilities, it was equally important to list the statistics of poor parenting. Negative, harmful behavior affects the entire family and can cause lifetime issues for the child. All this may be avoided if potential parents would seek mental health prior to starting a family; or deciding that in truth they may not really want to be a parent — and can still have a fulfilling life.
Parenthood is a complex and multifaceted journey. How do you believe The Baby Project contributes to the broader conversation about parenthood and the decision-making process around having and raising children?
The film was designed to engage discussion in an open and respectful environment.
Thank you Alan!
C. M. Rubin and Alan Chriest
Don’t miss The Baby Project, now streaming on the Planet Classroom Network. This film is curated for the Planet Classroom Network by KIDS FIRST! Film Festival.