The Parent/Teacher team currently consists of all women, all in key positions. As we continue crewing up and begin casting, we vow to maintain at least an 80/20 female crew, and further inclusion in terms of age, class, race, sexuality, ability and otherwise, in front of and behind the camera.

 

 

 

 

 

Hector discovers the ways in which his actions affect both the woman he sexually harasses and his 7 year-old daughter in one transformative evening.

 

 

Through Hector’s story, Parent/Teacher explores the impact that patriarchal structures of power and harmful group mentality infiltrate all areas of our lives - even those we hope to keep sacred. Hector learns that when we dehumanize others, we dehumanize ourselves, and when we dehumanize ourselves, the cycle continues. True power reveals itself when we acknowledge our wrongdoings and take accountability for our actions.

 

 

Here are some camera angles, movements, and lighting setups we'll be using to highlight visual metaphor and emotional progression of our characters throughout the film. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We often see women's stories told by male directors. Seldom do we encounter a man's story of transformation told from a woman's perspective. As someone who has been the target of an array of objectifying and dehumanizing behavior from men, I’ve often been left wondering - who are these men who feel the need to belittle others in this way? And why do they do it?

One day, I decided to investigate. During my search I learned there is not one, simple, concrete answer. But there is a common denominator. At the root of this behavior are patriarchal structures of power that form a system in which these actions are not only tolerated but taught. 

 

Hector feels the need to assert power over women because of a deeply ingrained feeling of inadequacy that is kept alive systemically and through group mentality. This presumption that power can act as a substitute for the full range of human emotion prevents Hector from being confident and from raising a confident daughter. 

Hector wields power as a defense mechanism to conform to and perform toxic masculinity (the societal norms which equate masculinity with control, aggression and violence and that label emotion, compassion and empathy "unmanly"). He does this to avoid revisiting traumas he’s suppressed throughout his life, and the "unmanly" emotions which they may stir up. 

By telling this story I hope to help others better understand why people like Hector do the things he does, and more importantly, I hope to help those who may be like Hector better understand the impacts of their actions.

I promise to pour myself into this film in hopes of inciting questions and fueling conversations which may help us better understand each other. 

Thank you for helping make this vision a reality.  

 

 

 

 

 

Parent/Teacher focuses on themes of power, acceptance, honesty and forgiveness in the #MeToo era. Over the past couple of months, we've been gathering information and conducting research to better inform our filmmaking and storytelling. We take the storytelling process seriously, especially given the heavy nature of this particular story.

 

If you're interested in learning more about the inspiration for this project, here are the resources we've been drawing from visually and thematically:

 

BOOKS:

The Will to Change by bell hooks 
Not That Bad curated by Roxane Gay
Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit
Feminists Don’t Wear Pink (and Other Lies) curated by Scarlett Curtis
Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay
Down Girl  by Kate Manne

 

FILMS:

The Mask You Live In (2016)

North Country (2005)

Heavy (1995)

Short Term 12 (2013)

Moonlight (2016)

Cheer Up Baby (2017)

 

VIDEOS: 

How to Break the Cycle of Toxic Masculinity (TED Talk) by Eldra Jackson
Why I’m Done Trying to Be “Man Enough” (TED Talk) by Justin Baldoni
#MeToo, Now What? (On Amazon Prime) - Season 1, Ep. 3 - Masculinity in Crisis?

 

Thank you again for your interest in Parent/Teacher! We are so excited to bring this story to life.

Any questions? Feel free to email us:  [email protected]