In June, I learned about “The Story of Penny,” a short film about childlessness. Written by Victoria Prescott, a fellow childless warrior, Penny was crowdfunding to raise money for production. Passionate about raising awareness for our tribe, I donated to the film and watched to see if Penny would get the “green light” for production. It seemed uncertain but pulled through at the last moment! I was so relieved…
I had contacted Victoria about an interview, wanting to share details about this amazing film with our Not So Mommy… community. At the end of July, Victoria and I were able to chat. After speaking with her, I am even more excited about the possibilities for “The Story of Penny.”
My Chat with Victoria . . .
Goal #1 for Penny: Nourish People…
At the beginning of our conversation, Victoria explained that she views filmmaking as a way to “nourish people.” Her desire is to “nourish” the soul, imagination, and creativity of not only those who watch the film, but also those working on the project. What an absolutely beautiful goal…
Goal #2 for Penny: Tell Victoria’s Childless Story…
When Victoria realized about five years ago that she would lead a childless life, she felt very isolated. According to her, she didn’t even realize that she should reach out for support. Like so many, she was unaware that there is actually a large childless tribe, ready to offer encouragement and help raise awareness. Initially, Victoria decided to share her “I can’t have a baby” story. Through the process of crowdfunding and connecting, however, Penny has now become so much more…
Goal #3 for Penny: Tell Others’ Stories…
According to Victoria, she is no longer simply telling her individual story, but other people’s stories, as well. She has connected with the childless tribe, as well as the childfree and trying to conceive communities. Victoria says she is extremely grateful for the opportunity to not only connect, but also to share, to “nourish…”
Goal #4 for Penny: Create Energy…
Additionally, Victoria is thankful for the chance to raise awareness about childlessness, as she believes “awareness helps build energy around the issue.” And her energy, combined with the energy of others in our tribe, has the ability to make a BIG impact…
Details about The Story of Penny . . .
Filming, Viewing, and Funding…
So, when will we be able to view “The Story of Penny” on the big screen? Well, Victoria (the executive producer), Caroline Duncan (the director), Lenore Marks (the producer), Jamal Solomon (the director of photography), and the rest of Team Penny are hard at work to make that happen!
When I spoke with Victoria, they were casting for Penny, which is scheduled to be filmed in mid-September. They have secured locations for filming and have enough funds for their three-day shoot.
Victoria would love for Penny to be available for screening this December 2018 and hopes to show it at festivals in 2019. For this to happen, however, more funding is needed for editing and producing.
Future Goals for Penny…
Ultimately, Victoria’s dream is for her short film, “The Story of Penny,” to be turned into a feature film so that the characters’ stories can be explored even deeper. How amazing would that be?! To have an authentic representation of what it really means to be childless shown in theaters… Well, that is more than a good thing! That would be a phenomenal thing!
Fabulous one, if you’d like to help get “The Story of Penny” on the big screen, please email thestoryofpenny@gmail.com for details about how to make a secure donation. No donation is too small. When we each do a little, it adds up to BIG things!
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Featured Photo provided by “The Story of Penny”
