Futurekin
Futurekin
Short film Futurekin follows a group of women who seek autonomy over their own bodies, by creating the ability to bear children outside of the body.
Addressing imbalances of power, Futurekin looks to science as an instrument for exacting gender equality. The idea that gender equality can never be reached until women are ‘unburdened’ from carrying babies, is a concept from author Donna J. Haraway in the essay Cyborg Manifesto. Outsourcing reproduction is not solution driven, rather motivates the urgency and significance of asking impossible questions.
In this post CRISPR* world kids are brought to term and grown in complex, sensitive wombs in a lab. The speculation acknowledges the develop of different/unfamiliar neurobiological quirks, through lack of touch and absence of foetal programming in the womb. By virtue of being separated from pregnancy, science and biotech become in vitro paternal/maternal surrogates. This far-future ‘what if’ replaces abortion with a plethora of incomprehensible, ethical unknowns.
Scientists are accelerating ways to direct our evolutionary path –– powerful genetic engineering tools, such as CRISPR [*gene-editing technology] can fundamentally redesign our species. Be it gene-edited babies or kids grown in artificial wombs, playing with the very building blocks of life, creates terror and inspiration, in equal measure.
Collaborators
Director Lucy McRae
Writers Lucy McRae, Nicole McDonald
Executive Producer Future Sensitive, Inc.
Lead Cast Samantha West, Cathy Cooper, Lucy McRae
Supporting Cast Vijaya Kumari, Rhoda Pell, Audrey Levan, Jupiter Tahash Long, Nectar Tahash Long, Onyx Tahash Long
Assistant Director Scottie Cameron
Director of Photography Ryan Carmody
Drone Operator Daniel Mayfield
Water Cinematographer Aaron Lieber
Editor Nicole McDonald
Music Composer Joep Beving
Costume Designer Lucy McRae
Production Designer Lucy McRae
Art Director Lucy McRae
Assistant Art Director Christian Pepper
Art Department Vivian Charlesworth, Yun Ki Cheung, Miriam Kuhlmann, Ian Wong, Attilio Bonelli
Costume Fabrication Evelyn Garcia
Stylist Aimee Byrne
Hair/Makeup Mike Fernandez
Visual Effects Alexey Marfin
Colorist Arianna Shining Star
Production Producer Nina Tahash Long, Christian Pepper
Post Producer Reef Oldberg
Casting Director Jasmine Albuquerque, Christian Pepper Nina Tahash Long
“LOSAR” Performed by JOEP BEVING
Courtesy of Sonderling B.V.,
Under exclusive license to Deutsche Grammophon GMBH, Berlin
Music Mix Valentine Recording Studio
Audio Post Facility True Peak Soundworks LLC
Re-recording Mixer Shaun Lee
Title Design Nicole McDonald
2022 Film Festivals: LA Shorts Film Festival, Directors Notes.
