In THE SURROGATE (2020 SXSW Official Selection),Jessica (Jasmine Batchelor) a 29 year old web designer for a nonprofit in Brooklyn, is ecstatic to be the surrogate and egg-donor for her best friend Josh (Chris Perfetti, "Looking") and his husband Aaron (Sullivan Jones, Slave Play). Twelve weeks into the pregnancy, a prenatal test comes back with unexpected results that pose a moral dilemma. As they all consider the best course of action, the relationship between the three friends is put to the test.
We are joined this week for the start of a two part discussion with the cast and crew behind this moral drama that brings up conversations surrounding race, sexuality, class and activism while taking a glimpse into the down syndrome community.
In this first part, writer/director, Jeremey Hersh, introduces us to cinematographer, Mia Cioffi Henry.
Mia Cioffi Henry is an award winning American cinematographer who lives and works between New York City and Pescara, Italy. She travels all over the world to shoot feature films, commercials and music videos which have premiered in major film festivals such as Sundance and Berlinale. With a background in dance and still photography, Ms. Cioffi Henry is inspired by Sirkian Melodrama, the world of William Eggleston and fantastical light in everyday life. Ms. Cioffi Henry received her MFA in Cinematography at NYU Tisch's Graduate Film program where she is now a current faculty member.
Jeremy Hersh is a New York-based filmmaker whose first feature, The Surrogate, was an Official Selection of the 2020 SXSW Film Festival. His 2015 short, Actresses, screened at Sundance, SXSW, BAMCinemafest and the New Orleans Film Festival, where it won the audience award for best narrative short. Jeremy’s undergraduate thesis short, Natives, premiered at SXSW in 2013.
THE SURROGATE is available on VOD September 1st.
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