This documentary gives us a more intimate view of Mary Lumpkin through the oral history shared with her great, great granddaughter Prof. Carolivia Herron. The connection between slavery and today's systemic racism and Black women, not unlike Mary, who contend with it is examined. Release 2023
BackBurner Dreams: A Women’s Passion Project, is the story of Carla, Stephanie, and Melanee three women who are prompted to revisit, revive, and renew their long held dreams and passions. This is a story told in two parts; part one introduces each woman to the audience, the reasons why their dreams have been waylaid, and how each one plans to revive and possibly realize their dreams. In part one, not only do we find out why their dreams were put on the "back burner", we get a glimpse of each woman’s dream; Carla performs one of her original songs while accompanying herself on the guitar, Stephanie dons her leotards and toe shoes and gets on pointe in the main hallway of the doctor’s office where she’s employed, and Melanee shares a monologue she wrote.
The women are issued a challenge to bring their dreams to the “front burner” over a nine month period. At the end of the nine months, I visited them again to see if any progress was made in bringing their dreams to fruition. Theirs is a story that resonates with many women, having to put oneself second as "duties' as a mother, wife, employee, take precedence. The film was produced to inspire viewers to one, remember their life goals and passions, and to also empower them to take incremental steps in reaching those goals finding balance along the way.
BackBurner Dreams is my first feature length film project. Host/producer of radio series This Light:Sounds For Social Change since 2010 and rotating host of Sophie's Parlor on WPFW the local Pacifica Station. I desire to produce films that stir the heart, mind, and soul, and foment progressive social change. I dedicated the film to my mother, Gloria Hayes whose dreams I never knew and to my daughter Taylor, who continues to inspire me to follow and reach my dreams.