FILM TYPE:

Short

SYNOPSIS

In seed plants, the ovule is part of the ovary that contains the female germ cell and, after fertilization, becomes the seed. The word 'ovule' translates to 'egg.' For millennia, people have worshiped the womb as the sacred portal from which all life comes. The womb is a seat of deep wisdom and a creative power center. This micro-short explores the theme of the womb as a portal with an emphasis on transformation. 

DIRECTOR BIO

J. Eliza Wall (Joy Elisabeth Waldinger) is a Philadelphia artist, writer, filmmaker, and art educator. Her work explores various topics—the human condition, family dynamics, relationships, nostalgia, connection to nature, and mental and physical health—in an attempt to restore connections in a fractured world. She believes that art is a powerful tool that can generate change and healing on a local and global level. Her short films have won awards in national and international film festivals and she has been published in a variety of literary magazines. In 2020, she published Like the Sun Holds the Moon: A Children’s Book, which addresses themes of separation and divorce, and for the May 2022 Lunar Eclipse, her book Like the Sun Holds the Moon: A Novel was published by Little Creek Press. Her newest children’s book (TRASH CRAB) comes out Earth Day 2023.

DIRECTOR STATEMENT

It starts with the big bang, the portal to all life on our planet, and ends with a vulnerable first-person account of the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) process. Due to some of my underlying health conditions, I recently underwent the IVF process, so my husband and I could collaborate with a Gestational Carrier/Surrogate who would carry a biological baby for us. Woven throughout this piece is the image of a fern, a deeply symbolic plant representing magic, new beginnings, and hope for future generations. Ferns filled prehistoric forests and were the favorite food of some of the most legendary dinosaurs. Over time, leaves from the tropical vegetation would fall into the mud and be buried, and as the mud turned to rock, the leaves left imprints in the form of fossils. Fern might also develop into our future child's name. This piece works with the themes of fertility, transformation, and parenthood and is inspired by the work of Richard Linklater, Michel Gondry, and Charlie Kaufman. This project was made for: Collaborative Filmmaking (A PhillyCAM & Termite TV workshop). The final show will be presented on PhillyCAM and also exhibited at Cherry Street Pier, as part of Termite TV’s 30th Anniversary show.