IVY GRACE, 13min., USA
Directed by Allie Delury, Mariah Harkey
A Christian, Republican woman from South Carolina makes a challenging decision following a hypoplastic left heart syndrome diagnosis in a post-Roe v. Wade world.

http://www.ivygraceproject.com/
https://www.instagram.com/ivygraceproject

Get to know Executive Producer Stephanie McCartney:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I was motivated to make this film to expose Americans and the world to the real life damage and suffering of women due to anti abortion legislation that has been drafted and passed by people who have never taken a medical course and have zero medical knowledge. The short sighted laws are causing harmful real life implications to women and families in our country. Our country needs to have a reckoning. The people who walk amongst us that are anti abortion would do themself a justice by taking a sex ed course. I am not mincing words because I am angry.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

I approached Jill with the idea when I saw her in Charlotte in late September (23rd to be exact) of 2022. It was an extremely sensitive subject since she had her medical termination, aka abortion and her pain was barely 2 weeks old, so thinking of time to finishing a film was not even remotely on my mind. After she thankfully enthusiastically agreed to do the film, I quickly utilized connections from the music industry, found and put together a team within a few weeks and flew everyone out to
Charleston SC on October 11th. We spent the day filming interviews on October 12th and then we all flew back home October 13th. We spent an endless amount of hours editing and cutting the film to tell a persuasive and powerful story with a deadline to release before midterms which was November 8th.

3. How would you describe your film in two words?

Emotional Torture. Honestly Direct. Powerfully Persuasive. Pro Abortion.
Women’s Choices. Eye Opening. Disturbing Consequences. Tragic Consequences.

Rights Termination. Short-sighted Consequences. Forced Tragedy. Big Government.

GOP Hypocrisy. Uneducated Republicans.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

The biggest obstacle faced when making this film was balancing the sensitivity of Jill and Matt’s situation while also using the footage to invoke outrage in hopes to persuade an audience to vote for prochoice candidates, aka Democrats. It’s a really strange place to sit when you have on one hand this mission to open people’s eyes to the diabolical evil that has entrenched society when it comes to taking away the right of
women being the boss of their own body but also have to navigate the emotional toll that had eaten into Matt and Jill. The fact I even had to be in this situation is just unbelievable and it’s beyond maddening. We cannot function as a society continuing in this direction so we need to move on from trying to control women and families and my film is one of the steps in the right direction.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

It is compelling to see and hear what aspects of the film resonated the most with people, as it's not often something you get when you produce a video and showcase it online. I find this extremely beneficial for future work.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I had never remotely ever once in my life thought I’d make a film. I’m not a film maker, I’m a former CPA accountant turned into a designer and music industry business manager who owns several really successful businesses due to working very hard and aligning myself with good people. I did however realize I wanted to make this specific film when Roe v Wade was overturned by the bias and politically motivated Supreme
Court of which almost half was elected by a twice impeached, one term pussy grabbing former president. The overturn damaged and continues to damage my family and life.

Ask anyone who knows me, when I get angry or want to seek justice for myself or someone I will stop at nothing to achieve my goal. Releasing my film was one step in fighting back the cruel injustice of the Supreme Court overturn.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

This makes me laugh because my husband makes fun of me for watching it so many times but the film is Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar. Not sure this has much to do with abortion or women’s right, but it does have to do with a planet that is dying due to the short sightedness of humanity, which human shortsightedness definitely corresponds and applies to anti abortion laws.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

LA fest could act as a facilitator and host meetings with industry leaders and distributors and offer an in-person option for networking.

9. What is your favorite meal?

baked potato or frankly anything with potatoes

10. What is next for you? A new film?

I may run for office or at the very minimum I will not stop speaking out and
releasing content until politicians remove the word abortion from their mouths forever.