"Gift cards are so impersonal!" says mom who plans to recreate adult son's birth in live action short film
CALGARY, AB—When Cheryl Sanders started asking her grown son Brett what he might like for Christmas this year, he told her he'd be happy with a gift card or something simple. However, this answer did not sit well with Sanders. "I know that my son is past the age where he wants me buying clothes for him, and I know he'd find a gift card to Loblaws or the Apple Store useful, but I still just feel gift cards are so impersonal." That's when Sanders realized she could gift her son something so personal he'd never forget it.
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"As parents, there comes a time when we have to accept our adult children are grown and don't need us in the same way anymore. Luckily, there is one thing I can still give my son that no one else can. Brett may have a wife, but last time I checked, only one woman was responsible for bringing him into this world."
Sanders then relayed how she's decided to recreate the moment she gave birth to Brett in the form of a live action film. It will be her most personal gift to date.
Thankfully, my original midwife was available and immediately signed onto the project.- Cheryl Sanders
Sanders launched her project by first securing a shooting location and competent crew. "When you're recreating a water birth, you need experienced people," Sanders shared. After the crew was assembled, there was still the tricky issue of nailing down the cinematic style. Sanders considered going with a documentary style, thriller, and even rom-com before settling on a Wes Anderson-inspired motif.
But the issues didn't end there.
"Believe it or not, it was casting a newborn Brett that proved to be the most challenging," she explained. "He had a very distinct hair curl pattern at birth. Thankfully, my original midwife was available and immediately signed onto the project. She looks exactly the same, as she's been totally gluten-chemical-and-animal-product free for 20 years."
After just 72 hours on set, the film entered into post-production. Sanders credits her editor with adding a much-needed authentic touch to the film by splicing in real footage from Brett's birth in between the recreated shots.
In the end, it was Brett's reaction that made it all worth it. "I gave him his present a week early because I simply couldn't wait," Sanders exclaimed. "After he stopped crying and heaving from the graphic footage, I think he was really able to see the beauty in what we had made."
When asked if she has anything in mind for next year yet, Sanders noted she didn't want to give away any surprises but did hint that, "We're working on tracking down the rabbi who performed Brett's bris!"
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