Mama Bears (work-in-progress)
Mama Bears is a feature-length documentary work-in-progress about the many ways in which the lives of conservative, Christian mothers are radically transformed when they decide to accept their LGBTQ children.
Interview with Director Daresha Kyi
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I was so deeply inspired by the radical change Kimberly Shappley underwent as she transitioned from a Tea Party Republican to a fierce LGBTQ activist that I started making a feature film about her and other mothers like her whose love for their children caused them to change their conservative, Christian views on sexuality. When the ACLU put out the call for films about transgender rights, I pitched Kimberly and Kai's story and they loved it. I consider Texas Strong a proof of concept for my feature documentary, Mama Bears.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Texas Strong is an incredible testament to the power of love. It is deeply gratifying to see how completely transformed Kimberly is by her love for her child and that child, Kai is such an exceptional, inspirational being. I can't tell you how many people have come away from the film with a deeper understanding of the issues at stake for the trans community after watching this film.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
For me, there is no distinction between the personal and universal. I'm always looking for what connects us all, what we have in common so that I can tell stories that move everyone closer to deeper understanding and compassion of each other.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Texas Strong was originally only supposed to be five minutes long but the story was so strong the ACLU decided to extend the length to 18 minutes. I have since continued to shoot with Kimberly and Kai, who are lead characters in Mama Bears, the feature I'm crafting.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Over 1.7 million people have seen Texas Strong on Youtube. The most gratifying feedback has been from people who saw the film on Conde Nast's LGBTQ platform "them" who said they had started watching the film with skepticism but were blown away by the story and had come away with a much better understanding of what it means to be trans and why the bathroom issue is so important.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
What surprised me were the number of people who still insisted on identifying Kai as a boy and saying someone should call child protection services on her mother. Although those types of comments were in the minority it was still discouraging.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I just want more people to know and understand what's at stake for trans people, especially children.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Although Texas Strong is owned by the ACLU, I am repurposing the raw footage for my feature film and am looking for buyers, distributors, and sales agents for it.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I would like Texas Strong to educate those who are ignorant about trans rights and trans children, and to uplift and inspire the trans community as well as any parents who are struggling to accept their children.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Do you think a child can know they've been assigned the wrong gender as early as 3 years old?
Would you like to add anything else?
Here's the link on Youtube.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I have completed principal photography on Mama Bears and am entering post-production with the goal of finishing the film by the end of the year.
Interview: March 2019
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
Mama Bears
Mama Bears is a feature-length documentary work-in-progress about the many ways in which the lives of conservative, Christian mothers are radically transformed when they decide to accept their LGBTQ children.
Length: 1:30:00
Director: Daresha Kyi
Producer: Laura Tatham
About the writer, director and producer:
DARESHA KYI is an award-winning writer/producer/director who works in narrative & documentary film as well as television in Spanish and English. In 2018 she directed Texas Strong, a short film for the ACLU and in 2017 she co-directed Chavela. She has numerous produced features and shorts as well as TV programming for FUSE, AMC, OWN and many other networks.
Since making the move to film production, LAURA TATHAM has worked on a number of social justice projects. She is currently co-producing Mama Bears and has previously served as the associate producer for two feature-length documentaries—Chavela (which had its world premiere at the 2017 Berlinale) and Dispatches from Cleveland (which partnered with Color of Change for their 2016 #Voting WhileBlack viral campaign).
Looking for: sales agents, distributors, journalists
Facebook: Mama Bears, Daresha Kyi
Twitter: @MamaBearsDoc, @Daresha11
Hashtags used: #Mamabearsdoc #Freemomhugs #Loveisthemovement #Loveislove
Instagram: @ mamabearsdoc, @dareshakyi
Website: www.mamabearsdoc.com, www.dareshakyi.com
Other: IMDb
Funders: Indiegogo, Southern Documentary Fund, Firelight Media Next Step Fund, IDA Enterprise Award, Chicken & Egg Eggcelerator Program, Creative Capital, A Blade of Grass, Arch & Bruce Brown Foundation
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? It's a work-in-progress that will be completed in October 2019 at the earliest.