Primal Wound: Support Adoptee Representation through Film

The story of adoption is a ghost story, full of fantasy, mystery, and missing persons, who, for the most part, are “as if” dead, unlike respectable ghosts, who are unambiguously dead. These ghosts spring from the depths of the unresolved grief, loss, and trauma that (the adoption triad) has experienced. They represent the lost babies, the parents who lost them, and the parents who found them. Too dangerous to be allowed into consciousness, they are consigned to a spectral place I call the Ghost Kingdom. - Betty Jean Lifton, Ph.D

Short Summary

Primal Wound is an independent short film project spearheaded by a group of independent artists who are passionate about the power of storytelling. This fictionalized short screenplay jumps between the past and present, exploring an adoptee’s experience as he tries to find closure by forging a connection with his birthmother to make sense of his identity and to reconcile his abandonment issues (copyrighted).

We all know the importance and power that comes with seeing one’s own experience and community represented on the screen. To help bring this vision to life and to bring visibility to the often-overlooked adoptee experience, please support this project. Contributing to this campaign ensures that we are equipped to tell this story with the quality, care, and love that it deserves.

Meet the Team

Director, Screenwriter, & Lead Actor, Jonathan Clark, received an MFA in Creative Writing from the prestigious Louisiana State University. Here, Clark won the Ruth McClain Screenwriting Award, which was selected by the decorated filmmaker, Shanti Thakur. Clark's most recent screenplay, Primal Wound, was Officially Selected by the Hollywood International Indie Awards. He has also taught creative writing at the collegiate level, placed his first feature-length screenplay in the Quarterfinals at the Austin Film Festival, and collected more than 20+ publications across creative writing genres. As an adoptee, Clark’s writing explores identity, the construction of blended families, and the ghosts that the adoption triad carries from their pasts.

Executive Producer, Evelyn Anderson, is an oil painter and Pushcart-Prize nominated poet with a BA in Arts Practice from Stanford University. She is the author of Sweetfires (Palooka Press, 2020), which was the recipient of the Palooka Press Chapbook Award. Anderson developed the first Artist-in-Residence at Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, where the program facilitated hands-on art experiences for more than 50,000 people across the Bay area. She is currently working on a poetry collection exploring a sister's struggle to make sense of the impact a brother's mental illness has on their family.

Director of Photography, Vivian Wang, is a Bay Area-based multimedia artist who earned her BA in Cinema with a minor in Animation from San Francisco State University. She was the recipient of the 2016 CAAMFest Awards and finalist for the CSU Media Arts Festival. Wang is currently working on a personal project inspired by her own journey of self-discovery: a melancholic photography series exploring themes of loneliness and solitude. Follow this project on [email redacted].the.cyborgs

Troy Bourgeois is a Louisiana-born film composer whose work is characterized by immersive sounds and evocative, moving music. He has worked on Grammy winning albums, and created compelling music for artists over the years. Troy has a passion for story-telling through music, creating soundscapes that enhance the artistic experience. His approach has made a significant impact on a variety of projects, resonating creatives from all spectrums. Working with artists and filmmakers, Troy brings their vision to life through collaboration, understanding the importance of cultivating authentic art.

Keep an eye out as we share more information about the rest our award-winning team members.

Why We Need Your Help

Though our team has some filming equipment, we need your help acquiring additional professional gear, such as: a camera, lenses, filters, a steadicam, and lighting. Your contribution will also support expenses such as: travel, transportation, food, and one filming permit for our team during production in the Bay Area.

The Impact

Did you know that approximately 1-3% of the US population is adopted, meaning that approximately 5 million Americans today are adoptees? According to the Adoption Network, 2-4% of American families have adopted a child. However, many adoptees face grief, shame, questions about their identity, and PTSD without the support of community or representation in media.