Andrea James ’89 returned to Wabash in October to discuss her film Alec Mapa: Baby Daddy, but that’s only the starting point for a wide-ranging conversation on this week’s Wabash On My Mind podcast.
Taking time out from meeting with faculty and students, the writer, director, producer, and activist discusses the creativity behind film making, advertising, finding her voice as an advocate for transgender issues, and her unique Wabash experience.
“I’m really grateful for my Wabash experience,” says James, who was a script consultant for the Academy-Award-nominated Transamerica, among many film credits. “I think that understanding the homosocial bonds that men have when they live together and work together as they do here is a pretty time-honored tradition in the military and in monasteries. There have been a lot of great things that have come out of institutions that were set up like that. I love that Wabash is diverse in that sense.
“And by learning how men interact with each other I came to realize that gender stereotypes affect men, too. It’s all part of the same oppression that women face.”
James’ documentary, Alec Mapa: Baby Daddy employs comedy in its focus on a gay couple who adopt a foster child.
“Comedy is the canary in the coal mine,” James says. “It redraws the lines in society.”
“But through the process of making this film, we learned that there are 400,000 children in foster care right now, and of those 100,000 need permanent homes. There are so many gay and lesbian couples who would love to have a child, but in some states it is legal to discriminate against them and not let those children have a child.
“I think that’s a crime.
“I was adopted myself, so making this film felt like I was paying it forward.”
Listen to the complete podcast here.
