Together we are fighting for the inequality adoptees face every day. As a filmmaker, I lean into stories that can create ripple effects of empathy as well as bring awareness to issues that affect change. I love the power storytelling has to connect with people of all different backgrounds.

"I mean some of the best people on the planet are adoptees because we just... we just love a little bit differently"

- Diana Hingenbottom 

 

Love Differently is both a platform and a love letter. Diana, an adult adoptee residing in Wisconsin, speaks her truth through a balance of reality and hope. She tells her unique yet relatable adoption story and how her trajectory was changed when she became a part of a large community of adoptees. After a twisty turn of unfortunate yet pivotal events during a lifelong search for her identity, Diana is in pursuit of real change. Rightfully so, she wants to make sure no other "Diana's" have to go through what she went through. 

 

What happened to Diana can be prevented. This documentary will highlight the ways identity shapes purpose and the importance of knowing where a person comes from. We will hear from Diana's newfound family, adoptee rights activists, and a DNA "Search Angel". It will also highlight the intricate damage that is done to a person who has restricted access to their information and the controversial history on why the laws were established. With DNA tests now available at our fingertips as well as adoptees going as far as hiring private investigators, do the old laws in Wisconsin even hold up? Currently, Wisconsin is 1 out of 22 states that have compromised laws that unjustly limit the rights of adult adoptees to obtain their own original birth certificates. There are only 9 states that have unrestricted access. 

 

• What does it take to know your name? •

 

 

When I first heard Diana's story in January of 2020, I wanted to help give her a platform to share her advocacy work. Originally we had Diana's interview slated in March of 2020 and well... we all know what happened there. We temporarily paused production until we felt it was safe to continue. Even with everything that happened, we still felt this story was an important and timely one to tell. September, I safely gathered a small crew of two and shot her interview portion. Although I am not adopted, her testimony and drive to make a difference spoke to me in unmeasurable ways and reminded me why I got involved in the first place. 

 

 

As a team, we value the experiences and voices of women and think Diana has a voice that can make waves of change for adoptees across Wisconsin. Following the COVID-19 state guidelines, our crew remains small but mighty with only having the essential members socially distanced on set like we did prior. We are excited to get back to production safely and shoot the remaining interviews. Once completed we plan to submit it to film festivals across the state and the U.S. We are optimistic about the potential impact this could have for the adoptee's rights movement. 

 

Please join us on this journey!