A new approach to filmmaking: Prioritizing family on set
A fresh perspective on postpartum depression
Indie film productions often face numerous challenges, but writer-director Nora Fiffer was determined to create a family-friendly environment for her debut feature film, Another Happy Day. This comedic drama delves into the complexities of postpartum depression and the myriad challenges that accompany new parenthood. The film, now available on VOD from Gravitas Ventures, follows a new mom (played by Lauren Lapkus) as she navigates feelings of isolation, strained friendships, a partner who doesn’t fully understand her needs, and the profound exhaustion that goes beyond mere tiredness. Despite these being universal experiences for countless women, they are rarely depicted with such raw honesty on screen, which is why Fiffer felt compelled to bring this story to life.
The hidden struggles of motherhood
Fiffer’s inspiration for the film stemmed from her own experiences with motherhood. “I was absolutely blindsided by not only the workload of motherhood, which is the best-kept secret, but the identity shift as well,” she explains. “I had no idea how much I would change internally, and how the perception of me would change by becoming a mother. It took a while to figure out who I was, and because I hadn’t seen any representations of new motherhood on screen, it was such a vivid time for me.”
A personal connection to the story
Lauren Lapkus, a mother of two, was drawn to the project even before she had children. “We had been talking about this movie for years,” she recalls. ”When Nora first sent it to me, I had not had children yet, and I loved the script. It spoke to me even then, but I look back and I’m so grateful that it actually took as much time as it did to get this movie made because when I had a kid, I was like, ‘Oh, I relate to this in a totally different way.’ It was so helpful for me as an actor to have real experiences to draw from. This movie really makes me cry, just removing myself from the equation. It’s such an important subject.”
Creating a family-friendly set
In her commitment to supporting mothers while making her art, Fiffer aimed to make the set more accommodating for families. She implemented 9-5 shooting days and provided childcare on set. Fiffer believes that any Hollywood production can follow suit and prioritize the needs of parents. “It really is a matter of priority,” she says. “I think to say that something is a priority … The only way to really mean it is to write it into the budget, because then you say, ‘Hey, this is so important that we have this line item here and it means that we can’t afford this over here.’”
Budgeting for family needs
Fiffer emphasizes the importance of budgeting for family needs just as one would for other production elements. “We prioritize all kinds of things in a budget,” she continues. “‘Oh, we want a gorgeous set. Oh, it’s period costumes. It’s the CGI we need.’ If it’s childcare, then it’s childcare. If it’s eight-hour days, it’s eight-hour days. What that meant for us — because this is an independent film and there wasn’t an endless supply of financing — it was a set of priorities. If we can build it into the budget, that’s how we make the change.”
A welcoming environment for parents
Lapkus notes that she had never worked on a set that was so welcoming to parents. “What Nora did by prioritizing eight-hour workdays for us as a crew was amazing,” she says. “This was a movie that was unlike anything I’ve ever done, and it was so nice. My baby was one when we shot this movie, and to be able to say goodbye in the morning and see her in the evening made it feel like I was just having fun for eight hours. You’re able to go and give yourself up to the project and not feel like you’re being drained — ‘Oh my God, I can’t ever get a break.’ It felt like Nora made this movie so doable for everyone.”
Supporting all caregivers
The accessibility extended beyond just the actors. Lead producer Jessie Holder Tourtellotte also had a baby and was pumping on set. Fiffer believes that moving away from the grueling 12-hour-plus days can still yield great films and make the industry more appealing to parents who have much to contribute. “The hope was to support everyone, whether people have parenting responsibilities, other caregiving responsibilities, or just want a healthy work-life balance to make the workplace accessible,” she says. “That grind by the system is inaccessible to parents, and of course in society, it does typically fall to the mother. To change the system would be the ultimate goal, so that you send a message to people that this is an environment where we want parents to work, we feel like parents have a lot to give. I feel like I was a pretty productive person before becoming a parent, but my goodness, since becoming a parent, what I can do in an hour is quite remarkable. The pressure and preciousness of time for parents is a real asset.”
Watch the trailer
Check out the trailer for Another Happy Day below.
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