Director's Bio - Mary Durnin Firth

The Giving was Mary Durnin Firth's thesis project for a Master of Fine Arts in Media Arts at The University of Montana. During the summer of 2005 ideas for a thesis project just weren't working, but things changed. Near the end of July, her family drove down to Los Angeles to visit her son's (Jason) birthmother, Danielle. Danielle hadn't wanted to meet Mary and her husband when Jason was born.   Since then she had changed her mind and asked them to visit.  

And so they made the trek from Montana to Los Angeles.   They met Danielle at a park and spent about three hours together.   At one point Mary remembers standing there watching Danielle holding Jason, and Jason snuggling into Danielle's neck. Danielle's chin started to quiver and tears fell down her face. Of course, Mary started crying too.   At this point, Mary was thinking, "I can never repay her for the gift that she has given our family."

When the family returned to Montana, Mary felt the need to do something in some small way to repay Danielle. She decided to devote all of her time and energy to making a documentary on birthmothers. Mary began work immediately and studied other filmmakers she admired.   She was most inspired by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky and their film, "Brother's Keeper".  

Filming began in September 2005 and ended in December of the same year.   Transcription and storyline were completed by January 2006. More pick up shots and final editing were done in February and March.   Post production and musical scoring was finished in April.   The film was completed for the thesis showing at the University of Montana on May 11, 2006.