Adoption & Identity Intertwined Documentary ‘15

Hi, I'm Mei. I'm a Chinese adoptee and an ETHS alumni. Through the Senior Studies class at ETHS, I was given the opportunity to do a project on something I was interested in or passionate about. I've always been curious about how other adoptees process their adoption and develop their identity. In the school year of 2014-15, I did research to prepare myself for the documentary by reading articles, books, watching documentaries, and interviewed professionals in the adoption field to better educate myself. I was also inspired by the film Somewhere Between and DANakaDAN's documentary to create Adoption & Identity Intertwined. I wanted to bring up different questions and topics in a similar way that the film Somewhere Between did. I also found DANakaDAN's documentary as a model for my film because it wasn't a Hollywood production, but still had the quality and context of one. All of the research I did influenced the questions I asked the interviewees and how I understood each adoptee's story. I interviewed 12 adoptees in the Evanston community and through that process, I learned more about each adoptee's perspective on their adoption story. The documentary has snippets from all the interviews I did to show the diversity of their stories and perspectives.

I worked on the film with Susan Hope Engel and the music is by DANakaDAN and Steve Rashid. I want to thank all the adoptees that let me share their personal stories through the documentary. Please enjoy the film.

- Mei Kelly

Taken April 29, 2016 at premier of adoption & identity intertwined documentry

Trailer

This is a trailer for the "Adoption & Identity Intertwined" documentary. We are doing this documentary and interview series with Mei Kelly. The documentary will include adoptees from the Evanston community.

Credits: Directed & Produced- Mei Kelly Interviewees: Amy Aaronson Levine, Lucy Bowser, Katie Borg, Benjamin Drake, Eva Darow, Fiona Egan, Linwan Lewis, Meryl Davis, Lia Kelly, Isaac McCrary, Miles Porter, and Lia Stewart. Equipment- Mr. Jenkins & Ms. Wideman Supporters- Ms. Walker, Susan Hope Engel, Senior Studies, & The Cradle

The Film

THIS IS MEI'S DOCUMENTARY, ADOPTION & IDENTITY INTERTWINED, THAT SHE CREATED FOR THE CRADLE AND SENIOR STUDIES. THE FILM INCLUDES 12 ADOPTEES FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ADOPTION AND IDENTITY. I WAS VERY HONORED THAT THESE ADOPTEES LET ME SHARE THEIR PERSONAL STORIES WITH THE COMMUNITY.