Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Shepherd.
Hi Justin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I pursued acting and comedy in LA for over ten years, while my wife (Dr. Kristina Uban) studied the long-term health outcomes following prenatal alcohol exposure at the Developing Brains Laboratory with the University of California, Irvine. In December of 2019, a group of parent advocates for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, or FASD, asked my wife to help ignite a rapid social awakening for FASD. FASD is more prevalent than Autism and Down Syndrome combined yet is less supported due to stigma around this invisible disorder. When I heard this, I offered to make a short awareness campaign video for FASD through my experience in directing and producing. Then the pandemic hit. The awareness campaign slowed and we all went into lockdown. Months later, the RAND Corporation came out with a study in summer of 2020 documenting pandemic drinking: a 41% spike in alcohol consumption in the US following unprecedented deregulation of alcohol sales, mixed with the unusual lockdown. Upon hearing this statistic and my wife’s concern that pandemic drinking could mean a spike in the future FASD, it was clear that FASD needed a film more than ever.
Our team of dedicated FASD advocates quickly grew to form a round table of co-producers. This team planned a series of interviewees comprising individuals living with FASD, parents parenting FASD and professionals working with FASD. They also fundraised, with hundreds of grassroots donations to support the production of this film equaling $20,000. My brother, Jeff Beals, left his job to join our two-person film crew, and we filmed 46 interviews in two weeks back in November 2021 amidst pandemic spiking. Upon returning, we edited the interviews into a 16-minute documentary. This short film is designed to rapidly educate anyone about FASD so that upon watching the film, they can enter into a higher level of conversation on FASD and become part of the rapidly growing awareness of FASD that has been so deeply needed. Almost one year later, after making the decision to make this film, The FASD Project, we have premiered at three film festivals (one win), one non-profit fundraising event, and one FASD-specific national conference (Proof Con), and we are just getting started. Another short film has been filmed and is currently being shopped around at major networks, so stay tuned as we all learn how FASD truly impacts us all.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
This has not been a smooth road, particularly given filming in the pandemic. It is common for people living with FASD to have immune system compromises. Avoiding COVID while filming was the main priority. My brother and I wore masks and face shields, staggered interviews, and tried to create airflow when possible by filming outside or with open windows, which definitely created a lot of unwanted background sound and the occasional stranger walking through. My wife was able to develop an effective COVID mitigation protocol from her experience as a Public Health Assistant Professor. None of the 46 interviewees, eight site organizers and two person crew members interacted with COVID during the filming of The FASD Project. As for submitting this film to film festivals, the outcome has been surprising. Given that this film was made for spreading awareness and not to enter the film festival circuit, we weren’t sure what would happen, so we picked 12 festivals to submit to. We thought maybe the disability and mental health specific festivals would premiere The FASD Project. We were completely wrong! The disability festivals have rejected us, but the festivals focused on awareness and impact have run The FASD Project. This collaborative grass-roots film even won an Impact Award at The Most Impactful Films festival in Las Vegas in summer of 2021.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At the moment, we have filmed a pilot for a Docuseries about FASD, but this time, with a more evolved perspective that starts where The FASD Project ends. The six-part Docuseries will highlight the complexities of FASD, including illustrations about how far the FASD spectrum really goes, what are the types of supports people living with FASD benefit from, what the experience of the caregiver is like, why we incarcerate so many people with FASD, why so many people living with FASD are never diagnosed and often misdiagnosed, and other extremely complicated issues. My production company is called Make It Better Productions (makeitbetterproductions.com) that I co-run with my brother Jeff Beals and producers Jennifer Wisdahl and my wife Dr. Kristina Uban. Our production team is passionate about using film as a vehicle for rapid awareness that motivates change.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
As a father, I value my family and my relationships above all else. In the end, these are all that matter. Seeing firsthand how FASD challenges both of these, I am extremely focused on bringing FASD to major network television. To support The FASD Project, you can join our listserve of advocates at www.thefasdproject.org and watch the film for free on YouTube (The FASD Project – 16min run time).
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thefasdproject.org
- Instagram: thefasdproject
- Facebook: thefasdproject
- Twitter: thefasdproject
- Youtube: The FASD Project
Image Credits:
Justin Headshot by: Dennis Apergis @ simplyheadshots Movie Poster photo by: Kathy White Photography other images: self
