Expecting Covid ~ A Documentary Film
Expecting Covid
Who: 39-week-pregnant-filmmaker Emily Railsback and video journalist Pierre Kattar are co-directing Expecting Covid, a documentary film about pregnancy during the Coronavirus pandemic. Emily began making video diaries as a way to cope with all the new restrictions and unknown fears related to her impending due date in a hospital that might soon be overrun by COVID-19. Pierre, at the front lines of the crisis in Rome, suggested we make this a global story by asking women all over the world to participate in our video diary documentary (It’s totally social-distancing approved!)
What: We’d like you to be a part of this historical storytelling project by documenting your life in short Video Diaries shot on your smartphone/tablet or any recording device. This invitation is for all pregnant women, their partners, families, healthcare providers, midwives & doulas. What is your life like? What struggles and fears do you have? What will you have to overcome? Do you have the care you need?
When: Now and as long as your life is affected by this crisis.
Where: Worldwide!
Why: By sharing our stories, we can create a global network of support and give hope to pregnant women around the world.
How: Shoot your video diary horizontally. Tell us your name, the date, tell us what your life is like, and show us your world.
Email us at expectingcovid@gmail.com if you’re interested or have questions!
If you agree to participate, we’ll send you a picture release form to sign and return.
About the Filmmakers
Emily is an independent film director, screenwriter, producer, and editor who teaches Cinema and Television Arts at Columbia College Chicago. She shot, directed, and edited “Our Blood Is Wine”, a feature-length documentary on an iPhone 6, capturing intimate portraits of rural winemakers reviving 8,000 year old traditions in the Republic of Georgia that were nearly lost during the Soviet rule. The film premiered at the Berlinale International Film Festival in 2018, and was distributed theatrically by Music Box Films (US), Magnet Film (Berlin), and Uplink (Japan). Railsback’s prior work consists of narrative short films, music videos, visual arts and international studies. While teaching kids living in Peruvian slums, she created an award-winning photography and painting exhibit “A Juxtaposition of Peruvian Life,” documenting quality of life among the poor in cities versus the Peruvian countryside.
Pierre is an independent video journalist and documentary filmmaker. In 1999, he began working at The Washington Post’s website where he was hired as the web developer for the Post’s pioneering multimedia section, Camera Works. He became captivated by the nacent video journalism being produced by his colleagues and found his calling. For the next 10 years, Pierre produced award winning new stories for the Post on subjects like national politics and the election of President Barack Obama, environmental racism, his own kidney donation and more. In 2010, he left the Post and began freelancing. He now works with clients like The New York Times, PBS Frontline, NPR, The World Bank and others. He has worked on a number of independent documentaries in roles like cinematographer, editor, director of photography, producer and director. He enjoys working on projects that peel back the layers of prejudice, racism and ignorance that, to some degree, we all hold within us.
Photo Credit Francesco Thilo Silj
