THE SURROGATE, A MORAL DILEMMA PART II: with stars Jasmine Batchelor and Brooke Bloom

This week we continue our conversation about the moral dilemma, THE SURROGATE (2020 SXSW Official Selection). J

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 PART II with the cast 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 Brooke Bloom:

Theatre credits: Cloud Nine at Atlantic Theatre Company (2016 Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play), You Got Older with Page 73 (Obie Award Winner & 2015 Drama Desk nomination for Best Actress in a Play)...I’m Looking For Helen Twelvetrees at the Abron Arts Center, Somewhere Fun at Vineyard Theatre, Lungs at the Studio Theatre in D.C. and Barrington Stage, Becky Shaw at the Wilma, The Grown-Up at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, Marie Antoinette at ART, as well as A Feminine Ending, Completeness and Hamlet all at South Coast Rep.
Film: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Ceremony, He’s Just Not That Into You, Gabbi on the Roof in July, Swim Little Fish Swim (SXSW 2013) and She's Lost Control (Berlinale 2014). Television: Series Regular roles on Netflix's "Gypsy" and "Amazon's Alpha House," guest appearances on the USA series "Falling Water," "Louie," "The New Normal," "Person of Interest," "Law & Order: SVU," "The Good Wife," a recurring role on "CSI: Miami" and various pilots for NBC. The recipient of the 2012 Barrymore and 2013 IRNE awards for Best Actress, Brooke also received a 2013 Elliot Norton nomination.

And, finally, the star of THE SURROGATE Jasmine Batchelor sits with us to discuss filling the shoes of Jessica and what life has been like for her after her first big film role:

Jasmine Batchelor currently stars as Jess in THE SURROGATE, a feature film written and directed by Jeremy Hersh. She is an actor, writer, producer, and teaching artist residing in New York City, and an alumnus of The Juilliard School. She has been seen on stage at The Public Theater, Playwrights Realm, Manhattan Theatre Club, Two River Theater, and Baltimore Center Stage, among others. She is a major Lorraine Hansberry fan.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR:

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.

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