Inspiration

Research on existing products

There were many different influences as to what I had decided to do for my production. I knew straight away that I wanted to do it about adoption because it is a big part of who I am. CACH is very important to me because it helped me realise that there are others in the same boat as I and the reunions were a place to interact with these people.

http://www.cach.org.uk/

Earlier in 2013, at a reunion with CACH, members were introduced to a feature length documentary film called “Somewhere Between” which is about a small group of American teenage girls who were all adopted from China. It shows them answering basic questions about their identity, becoming self-aware and explores the meaning of what it is to be living with a different culture but managing to also fit in.

http://www.somewherebetweenmovie.com/ 
The film is predominantly hand-held footage over the course of about 3 years, from cameras which were given to the girls so that they could document from their own points of view and shedding light on their deepest thoughts.

Linda Goldstein Knowlton adopted a baby girl called Ruby who was from China and the adoption gave Linda the inspiration to direct the film.

She has in total so far been involved in the production and directing of 16 films, predominantly documentaries, including a documentary about Sesame Street.

"All the parents were so wildly generous and trusting, part of that was because we magically all found each other.

From what I'd done before they thought I did quality work, and I'm an adaptive mom.

It was very clear that I don't make reality television.

This is an honest look at the experience.

We always questioned the girls first to develop a trusting relationship.

So fortunate that everyone reacted so positively and welcomed us so warmly all of the time, so Thank You"

This film is about these four girls, and the 79,562 girls growing up in America.  Right now.

The selection process of finding four girls involved contacting families who had adopted and meeting them.

Also, organisations who had connections in Europe got involved.

China Ties Program was used to connect the girls within support groups to travel to China.

The girls also got to meet up with Iris Chin Pang Ti, an author of From Home to Homeland- a guidance and advise book about making a return trip to China.

It took in total 3 years worth of film footage following 4 girls from all over the USA 

and were asked to be honest and open about their experience exploring the question "Who am I?" .

Each girl was given their own camera and asked to do video diaries on tape.

The girls didn't actually get to meet until after the second screening of it, by this time they were 20 years old.

http://vimeo.com/23715504
Made in China: the story of adopted Chinese children from China in Canada from Karin Lee on Vimeo.


This is another example of a documentary, however, it is very much from the parents' point of view. It shows Canadian families adoptions stories of Chinese orphans.