<div><strong>Imagine being sentenced to a life you didn’t choose.</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/91378859_1752501238685095_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div>That’s the reality for thousands of children whose mothers are incarcerated — punished not for a crime they committed, but for the circumstances they were born into.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>We all know the pivotal role a mother plays in a child’s development. From shaping their earliest emotions to building the foundation of who they will become, a mother's presence is irreplaceable. Yet, when she is placed behind bars, her influence — her love, her guidance, her role — is stripped away.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>And what’s worse? There is no national mandate — no standard, no protection — for how we treat these women or their children during incarceration or after release. These children, already at a disadvantage, are often overlooked, forgotten, or worse — funneled into the same broken system that imprisoned their mothers.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>This isn’t just unjust. It’s a generational sentence.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>We are developing a film that dares to tell this story — raw, unfiltered, and heartbreaking. It will walk beside the children left behind, and the mothers struggling to be seen, heard, and humanized. Through their eyes, we will reveal the full, devastating impact of a system that punishes motherhood, dismantles families, and repeats itself over and over again.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Our goal is not just to tell a story — it’s to spark a movement. We are calling for a nationwide, standardized plan that protects and prioritizes the children of incarcerated mothers. These children deserve nurture, not neglect. They deserve justice, not judgment.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>This is not just a film. It’s a call to action.</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>THE SET UP: </strong>
</div>
<div>18 years ago, a journalist captured the only known photo of a shackled woman giving birth inside a California prison. Now, as the cycles of incarceration threaten to claim another generation, he returns to witness whether resilience, motherhood, and love can break the chain.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/91378859_174871891096821_r." width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/91378859_1750195805929123_r." width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>THE FILM: </strong>
</div>
<div>Eighteen years ago, I Mark Allen Johnson was that young journalist with a press badge and a borrowed camera. I was granted rare<strong> </strong>access to the Central Valley’s women’s prison in California — including the usually off-limits ward for incarcerated pregnant women.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>That's where I met Laura - in labor and shackled to a hospital bed.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>It was brutal. Human. Unforgettable.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Against all rules, I took one photo. Just one. Raw and unfiltered, it’s the only image of its kind in the world — and the only photo ever taken of Laura and her newborn daughter, H*****.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>One frame. One mother. One story the system tried to bury.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Laura’s story should have ended like so many others: recidivism, addiction, and systemic invisibility. But somehow, she broke free. Released, re-arrested, and released again, she eventually moved to Texas, got clean, and is now the director of a drug rehab organization. Her daughter, H***** — first raised by Laura’s mother, then by Laura herself — is now an honor student with a full-ride scholarship and a budding modeling career.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Against every odd, they made it. But that’s only part of the story.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/91378859_1748719100287747_r." width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Just last month, Laura took custody of S***** — her former cellmate’s 14-year-old daughter. S*****'s mother, a close friend and fellow survivor of the prison system, is back inside after being caught with a
</div>
<div>handgun and drugs — a violation that guaranteed a return sentence. S*****'s father, like H*****'s, was/is incarcerated. And now, Laura is staring down the same crossroads her own mother once faced — raising a girl teetering on the edge of the system.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>S*****, fresh off living on the streets as a teenager for six months and then a stint in the foster system, has been getting into trouble and is actively flirting with the same path that led Laura and S***’s mom to prison. Laura can barely go to work without fearing what she’ll come home to — or whether S***** will even be there at all?
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>This story raises a critical question: Can love, support, and stability truly rewrite a child’s path? Or are some cycles nearly impossible to escape?
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>**** The film will go beyond Laura’s story to highlight a range of ethnically diverse female perspectives. It will also explore broader issues such as parole, probation, and the systemic cycle of incarceration that impacts countless lives.</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/91378859_1748718125384226_r." width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>WHY NOW?</strong>
</div>
<div>This film is unfolding in real-time — with high emotional stakes, deep access, and an extraordinary archive stretching nearly two decades. With women being the fastest-growing population in U.S. prisons, and
</div>
<div>intergenerational incarceration rising, *Shackled Roots* is a story America urgently needs to see.
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/91378859_1748718685172500_r." width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/91378859_174871870543479_r." width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>WHAT THIS FILM EXPLORES:</strong>
</div>
<div>* The intergenerational cycle of incarceration
</div>
<div>* Motherhood inside and outside prison walls
</div>
<div>* Systemic trauma, addiction, and redemption
</div>
<div>* Nature vs. nurture in real time
</div>
<div>* The unseen impact on children of incarcerated parents
</div>
<div>* The personal role of the journalist-filmmaker in long-form observation
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/91378859_1748718875321110_r." width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>ACCESS:</strong>
</div>
<div>As the original photographer and journalist, I have built trust over nearly two decades with Laura and her family. I have access to never-before-seen images from inside prison — and access to document
</div>
<div>Laura, H*****, and S***** as their futures hang in the balance. I’m also working with other women—both currently incarcerated and formerly imprisoned—who gave birth behind bars and are now fighting to reunite with their children or raise them alone, often without support, as their loved ones—their primary support structures—remain incarcerated.
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/91378859_1748718315160639_r." width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/91378859_1748718338667186_r." width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/shackledroots?igsh=aGk5ZWNrbjducWs0&amp;utm_source=qr" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OUR INSTAGRAM</a>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>ABOUT THE TEAM:</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/91378859_1750195891445725_r." width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div><em>THE FILMMAKER / JOURNALIST</em>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Mark Allen Johnson is a director, journalist, producer and entertainment executive whose work spans major networks and publications including TIME, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, National Geographic, BBC, Netflix, FOX and DISCOVERY. His 2024 documentary Sentenced, released on Peacock and co-produced/narrated by NBA star and 4X champion Stephen Curry, explores America’s illiteracy crisis. His upcoming 2025 projects include an immersive investigation into intergenerational trauma on Navajo and First Nations reservations.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><a href="https://www.relentlessphoto.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Filmmaker website</a>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>____________________________________________________________
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/91378859_1750260096393122_r." width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div><em>﻿PRODUCER </em>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Alexandra Hitchcock is a writer, director, and producer who works across both narrative and documentary film. Her work has premiered at festivals like Sundance and aired on platforms such as Hulu, Apple TV, Paramount+, and Nowness. A jack of all trades and a quick study, she thrives in high-pressure environments and brings a fearless approach to every project. With a sharp creative instinct and a knack for making things happen, Alexandra is the kind of producer who gets it done, no matter what it takes.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>____________________________________________________________
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/91378859_1750196302375315_r." width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div><em>EXECUTIVE IN CHARGE OF PRODUCTION</em>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Billie June Sturtevant - With over 20 years of experience. She has produced and overseen all genres including Unscripted, Scripted, Documentary, Shiny Floor, Game Show, Digital, Live Events, International Travel, Environmental Marketing, Touring, and Special Events. She's proficient in managing teams, operational infrastructure, P&amp;L, cash flows (in excess of 150 million per annum), budgeting, cost reporting, and achieving revenue objectives.
</div>

Eliana Axelrod

kingsley echlin

Anonymous

Anna Absher

James Martin

Shackled Roots Film: When childhood begins behind bars

platform

Platform is iOS

Android

Adyen Google Pay Development Audience

$opt_dummy_attribute

English only

Deprecate Stripe Legacy

dyn_template_ids

Adyen V6 Bene Transfer & MyMoney Campaign Organizers - test01

Bene transfer V6 and AdyenV6MyMoney Campaign Organizers - production

OneTrust next-app audience

fundCountryCode

NextDoor Share Option Users

Fundraisers with Reactions feature capability

fundCurrencyCode

US + Non-charity COs Only

locale

fund country is US and user language is English

personId

comms-internal-person-ids

Enhanced Story Experience Users

Suggested Goal Experience Users

user language is English and fund country: US, AU, DK, FI, IE, NO, SE, CA, GB; 

Poster share - new funds eligible (newest 9/18)

Streaming widgets beta user

paymentProcessor

3DS payment method

user language is English and fundCountry: US, AU, DK, FI, IE, NO, SE, CA, GB; 

currencyCode

Money Box Donation List Prompt Experiment Audience

GoFundMe Employees

ipAddress

Mark Rieth IP Address

Version 9.2.0 and above

Fund is in English speaking country

desktop

Android v12.11.0 and above

Platform is Android

paymentMethodType

checkoutType

Payment method type group to be vaulted on success

admin pr kit prod

EUR Donation Upsell

Share Text generation Skip Fundraiser

(prod) new funds eligible for amp12 (UGC gallery)

fintrac_cad_idv_form_v2 audience

paymentProcessorAccountId

fallback mode accounts

proCampaignId

p2p legacy startfundraising page

AMP24 New Funds Only PROD (DO NOT MODIFY)

Eligible for Profile Share Badge

countryCode

charityId

UKCharities

Federated Search Internal Testing

route.pathname community

US Donation Upsell audience 

Auto Thanks Feature Audience

Supporter Comments Eligible Funds

International Only

fundId

braze fundraiser group 

Payment Identity Transfers ATO Risk Check (Targeted) - Production

Fundraiser Saved Payment Method Rate Limit Bypass (Production)

leaderboard-partner-id-audience-givepanel

Version 9.2.1 and above

AUD Donation Upsell audience

fundraiserCountryCode is US/EN

Active Fundraiser - Smart Default Cadence

DAF Internal

Vault on success card payment method

Platform is iOS v11.0.0 and above

Desktop users

Person ids

United States (US) users

allow yuno fundraisers for test

Mexico country code

Posters INTL

NPO Profile Opted-In

iOS at or above 12.4.0

non-US recurring donors

Canada Campaign Owner Group

Fundraiser Without Meta Link

Scheduler payment tester gorup

charityCommunityId

Charities allow to be claimed unclaimed (PRD)

Canada (CA) users

UC Tipping v20250115 International

pymk_production_xplr_fe_team

Android at or above 12.2.0

Profile photo entry point audience

smart goals (fundraiser/manage) on test01

Activity Tracking v1 Beta Testing

start gfm intl allowed locales

Platform is iOS v11.2.0 and above

NPO upsell education category

unclaimed charities

prod_ach_audience

AI Chatbot Audience

amp13 only new funds (prod) (anyword auto)

UC Flow Enabled (Prod)

Payment Identity Beneficiary Verification - Production

shared notification bell audience

Custom users

ach frontend audience

Android v11.0.0 and above

Users Receiving Payments Paused Notifications

smart goals test01

Manage Coach - US English Organizers Only + new funds only

Team EGG - IP Address list

NPO recommendations prod

Fundraiser Without Instagram Deep Link

Native 11.4.0 and above

UC Tipping v20250107

Users Receiving Braze KYC Validation Failed

ai_title_page

anyword

openai

control

manual_entry

userEmail

template_id

userId

fundUrl

isCharityCo

email

appVersion

shouldBucketIntoExperiment

isEligibleForProfileBadge

partnerId

donationCadence

isActiveFundraiser

isPartner

isMobile

npoProfileOptIn

fundIsLinkedWithMeta

hasSessionDonation

categoryGroup

isCampaignOwner

fundHasInstagramDeepLink

Native 11.3.0 and above

Native 11.4.0 and higher

New funds eligible - Video Sharing (PROD)

GB Donation Upsell audience 

Auto Thanks V3 Rollout Audience

Thank you V3 testing whitelist

isRecurringFriendly

Is Recurring Friendly

Excluded funds - Video Sharing

NPO upsell animals category

NPO upsell disaster relief category

Logged In Users

CH Donation Upsell audience

Android v10.6.0 and above

NPO upsell essential needs category

NPO upsell medical category

userCurrencyCode

Localized Currency

NPO upsell cancer category

v11.5.0 and above

testAudience

pathname

Survicate

appVersion is at or above 12.8.0

Non-charity fund

isChallengeFundraiser

challenge-fundraisers

Payment Identity Launch Verification - Production

New funds eligible - Posters v2

CAD Donation Upsell Audience

Braze Email Tester

NPO Profile Opted-Out

iOS App Version

hasKnownDonors

PYMK has donors

iOS v12.3.0 and above

Shackled Roots Film: When childhood begins behind bars

Still $8,950 to go. Help us build momentum.