You Are Not Alone
A journey of heartbreak over the loss of a child and the joy as one woman finally gives birth to her rainbow baby.
Interview with Director/Producer Lyndal Redman
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
In late 2017 my husband and I found out that we were pregnant for the first time. We had discussed adding to our family for 6 years and finally had reached the stage where it was a reality.
Excitement was understatement, we told our families and friends early (or what many say is early) and as we waited for our 12 week scan everything seemed ʻnormalʼ and we couldnʼt wait to see our child. Our scan was like any other day, however it would change our lives forever. We were told in that scan that we had a ʻnon-viableʼpregnancy, and that in fact we had not progressed past 9 weeks. After we had gone through the medical procedure - a D&C - I tried hard to get back to normal life.
Being open and talking about our loss helped me get through that time, but what it also did was opened my eyes to how many others had gone through what I was experiencing. I thought we needed to be able to discuss this openly and honestly. To break down the stigma that is still attached to miscarriage. The blame, the hurt, the misunderstanding that women and men go through. To be able to properly invest in this storyline as a filmmaker, I think it was important to have gone through it personally, to be able to be empathetic and understanding to those who were willing to share and be part of the project.
In May 2018, I released a video on my Facebook page which was an interview telling some of my story. The video reached over 13,000 people and had more that 8000 views. The swell of support from those who watched the video was truly amazing and went to show that this project was important for those who are part of the documentary and those who are likely to experience the loss and grief in the future.
You Are Not Alone was created to tell the stories of those men and women who have experienced their own losses. Little did I realise that my own story would become an integral part of the documentary series, something that I struggled with, but with the help of my supportive husband we began the journey.
I approached my co-producers Caroline Winter and Lauren Hillman to come on board and help create You Are Not Alone. I was absolutely honored to have both accomplished broadcasters to help produce this series.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
If you've been through a loss it can help to know that you aren't alone, if you know someone that has gone through a loss, then it can help understand what they are going through. If you haven't been through one, its an amazing, heartbreaking journey to motherhood for one of our couples. It may be a series you need to hold some tissues, but it certainly has heartwarming and funny moments.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
This was an extremely personal journey and project to complete. If I was going to ask others to come on camera and open up about their losses then it seemed that I too would have to be a part of the process. When we fell pregnant for the third time I knew I had to record elements of our journey to motherhood. It was hard to completely bare my soul and my relationship to the public, but if it helped one person then I knew I was doing something positive.
So many couples go through early pregnancy loss and its important to talk about it so that we, when we are going through realise we aren't alone, that yes our grief is our own, but the more we talk about it the more we break the silence around the loss of our child through miscarriage.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Originally we started to develop a broadcast hour long one of documentary but after a trip the AIDC (Australian International Documentary Conference) in Melbourne and a very important meeting with Screen Australia we began the process of creating an episodic version and eventually the web series it eventually became.
After the conference we applied and was lucky enough to secure funding from Screen Australia, initially development funding then principal funding, then we was honored to also receive funding from The South Australian Film Corporation.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
All the feedback we have received so far has been overwhelmingly positive especially by those that have gone through an early pregnancy loss. Comments like "I wanted to thank you for your documentary. It is so real and relateable! " and "Congratulations on all you have achieved with this incredibly important documentary."
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I think one of the things that surprised me was how many people after the web series was released came forward to talk about their losses, those that haven't opened up about it before. It was amazing how many people
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
To help share this important message that you aren't alone in going through miscarriage and pregnancy losses.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Film Festivals, Journalists, it would be amazing to even find a VOD to host the series, or the 35-minute compile version..
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I want it to break the silence around the topic of miscarriage and pregnancy loss. Let's make it okay to say, you know what, I was pregnant but we lost our child. We know from experience that from the moment that positive test is in your hand, you are already thinking of that child, it doesn't matter how far along you are.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
The topic alone is one that would spark debate to anyone that has watched it, the whole idea of the series was to allow people to realise it's ok to talk about it, and we need to be able to talk about it.
Would you like to add anything else?
There are some amazing men and women who truly opened up for this series, shared their relationships, both positive and heartbreaking, without them this series wouldn't have been the series it became. Honestly I was overwhelmed by their stories, and myself and my co producers Lauren and Caroline can not thank them enough.
I want to thank Screen Australia and South Australian Film Corporation for their funding and support through the process..
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Myself and one of my producers are working on another project that is currently in a very early development stage, so we don't want to say too much. But I'm always exploring peoples stories, we all have one, and it's just trying to come up with a concept that allows those to shine.
Interview: October 2021
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
You Are Not Alone
Length:
14:30
Writer
Caroline Winter is an award winning radio and television journalist and radio presenter/producer who has worked with multiple broadcast media organisations across four states, spanning 16 years. She is currently a reporter for the ABC’s respected radio current affairs programs AM, The World Today and PM and is involved in training the next generation of reporters at the public broadcaster. Caroline has also worked as a political media adviser politics and public relations communication specialist. She has a passion for telling important, genuine and ethical stories and being involved in projects that promote social awareness and real outcomes for real people.
Director
Lyndal Redman, is an award-winning documentary maker, producer, editor and camera woman who runs her own media company Redman Media. Her web series You Are Not Alone on miscarriage, was recently recognised internationally through film festivals winning Best Series at MOM Film Festival, Best Documentary at the Women's Film Festival San Diego as well as Best Current Affairs/Feature for the 2021 SA Media Awards. She has worked on a range of crime series for UK based FirstLookTV, and regularly works for other broadcasters through Australia and internationally.
Producer
Since 2015, Lauren Hillman has been leading the team at Channel 44. During her time as GM she has been responsible for campaigning and lobbying the Federal Government resulting in recently securing a 2 year free to air broadcast licence extension for Community TV nationally. Prior to this Lauren’s TV career has spanned over 12 years, highlights include; Series Producer of the Channel Nine Easter Appeal, first event of it's kind in SA in over 30 years.
Lauren was a Producer/Director at ABC TV credits include; Restoration Australia, Poh’s Kitchen and many more. In 2014, Lauren wrote, directed and produced her own commissioned series for ABCIview, The Daters. In 2016, Lauren produced sold out Adelaide Fringe show, An Evening with Annabel Crabb at the Festival Theatre, which was awarded ‘Best Event for 2016’ in the Adelaide Fringe awards.
Key cast:
Lyndal Redman, Jamie Smith, Kristy Place, David Moore, Kate Nottage, Libby Parker, Janeanne, Lori Bell, Sam Payne, Dr Heather Waterfall, Jade Bilardi
Looking for:
distributors, film festival directors, journalists
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/youarenotalonedocumentary/
Instagram:
www.instagram.com/youarenotalonedocumentary/
Twitter:
Hashtags used:
#breakthesilence #miscarriagematters #youarenotalonedocumentary #youarenotalone #miscarriage
More info: