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Birthright
60 minutes | Teen | 1989 | 
United States of America
Dramas / IndieFlix Official Selections / Sci-Fi & Fantasy / Thrillers
The story of a rebel with a cause, this dystopic art film takes place in a future where humans have become drones in a decaying post-industrial hive.
SynopsisBirthright, the story of a rebel with a cause, takes place in a future where humans have become drones in a decaying, post- industrial hive. Natural childbirth is forbidden. Childhood is sacrificed to regimented training, education, and socialization, completed by the age of six. Only then may a child be assigned a mother, who looks after his/her practical needs and no more. Thirty-two year-old Sarah Jacobs does not fit into this society. She’s no flag-waving revolutionary, but her very nature keeps her out of step with what passes for life in this dehumanized environment. She is haunted by home-movie memories of her childhood before such activities were banned. She is fertile, while the norm is barrenness, and she dreams of bearing and raising a baby naturally. Sarah soon comes under the cold scrutiny of Dr. Steiner, more a machine than a man, who is Head of the Asylum where social deviants are reconditioned.
Director's StatementBirthright's futuristic settings are especially effective. Production Designer, Chuck Iffland and his Art Department transformed an unused psychiatric ward of a VA Hospital into the Asylum, the primary set of the film: "We wanted a post-industrial decay type feel to the film, so we decided to paint and age the locations to create a barren world that seemed to be collapsing in on itself."
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Directed by
Lynn Wegenka -
Written by
Lynn Wegenka -
Produced by
Cathy Sarkowsky
Written by: Lynn Wegenka
Produced by: Cathy Sarkowsky
Cast
Sarah Jacobs: Deborah OaksErin Miles: Megan Cole
Dr. Steiner: Steven J. Bernstein
Laundry Foreman: Anthony Lee
Steiner's Assistant: Mary Kae Irvin
Nursery Guard: Gordon Carpenter
Worker 1: Sheila Scott
Worker 2: Charlice Poortuliet
Renegade: Eric Hagerman
Security 1: Roger Tomkins
Security 2: Mike Murphy
Security Guard: John Gliessman
Security Guard: David Drummond
Security Guard: Christine Deaver
Chief of Security: Michael Santo
Attendant: Michael Rogers
Disposal Guard: Farzad Keshvadian
John: Todd Jefferson Moore
Renegade Woman: Jerri Lee Young
Crew
Director of Photography: Don BonatoEditor: Linda Mitchell
Music: Jeff Greinke
Production Designer/Art Director: Chuck Iffland
Costume Designer: Phyllis Ritting
First Assistant Director: Shiho Ito
Second Assistant Director: Elisa Sansalone
Script Supervisor: Barbara Brown
First Assistant Camera: Steve Itano
Gaffer: Marty Bosworth
Best Boy: Peter Vogt
Key Grip: Tom Fightmaster
Dolly Grip: Mark Lorge
Grip/Electric: Peter Hirsch
Grip/Electric: Boma Cho
Sound Mixer: Adam Liberman
Boom Operator: Gavin Guss
Set Decorator: Loretta McCarthy
Set Dresser: Annie Fergerson
On Set Prop Master: Melissa Mathies
Head Construction/Painter: Andy Gerber
Art Department Crew: Blaine Dollard
Art Department Crew: Galen Young
Art Department Crew: David Saltzman
Art Department Crew: Ken Hinch
Art Department Crew: Phil Hemminger
Art Department Crew: Susan Zaccola
Art Department Crew: David Russell
Art Department Crew: Billy Warner
Art Department Crew: William Moore
Art Department Crew: Mike Draper
Wardrobe Supervisor: Annie Mulkahey
Makeup Artist: Vickie Kramer
Production Assistant: Sheba Burney
Production Assistant: Lynette Goto
Production Assistant: Janis Wildy
Assistant to the Producer: Elizabeth Russell
Friend of Production: Will Berliner
Assistant Editor: Charlie Beesley
Apprentice Editor: Ben Buchanan
Casting: Alison Roth
Video Casting: Sheree Galpert
Caterer: Mike Petragallo
Video Casting: Eric Chard
Post Production Mixer: Jim Burgess
Birthright was written by Lynn Wegenka in 1985. In 1988, Cathy Sarkowsky came on board as Producer. Birthright was financed through donations from family and friends, and grants from the Washington State Arts Commission, Allied Arts Foundation, and a Western Media Fellowship from the NEA. The filming of Birthright reunited Director of Photography, Don Bonato with Director Wegenka, who had filmed her award-winning short, Fallen Dreams. Birthright was completed in an amazing 15 day schedule with a cast of 19 and a crew of 30. The film premiered at the Seattle International Film Festival in 1989.
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Director
Lynn Wegenka
