Heather
MacLean has been making films since 1992, and they reach all cultures
and economic levels, and can be shown to all ages. MacLean's
films are seven minutes in length, a perfect attention span for just
about anyone.
MacLean,
an R.N. from Saugerties, has just produced her fifth DVD on breast-feeding. Her
films have no dialogue, only music - therefore making cultural translation
easy.
"These
are supportive films. They show breast-feeding in public, and
encourage this because it is natural," said MacLean. "None
of the films ever show a breast, and this is the point - something
this natural can be done in
public discreetly."
Both Benedictine
and Kingston hospitals have several copies of the films, as does
Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck. The film is WIC-approved
and that public service has shown it repeatedly to groups. The
YWCA
parenting program in Kingston is another site that uses the film. Copies
of her most recent DVD are avilable for $27 by calling MacLean at 845-518-5947.
"I
released the first film in 1992 and people still refer to that as
the home-made movie," said MacLean. "Two through
four just sort of happened along the way."
MacLean
said she changed each one just a little because she listened to people's
comments. After the first film, several people said that she
had focused more on the hippie, natural person and not at all on
the hair-sprayed women with diamond earrings. Another comment
was there were on film clips of Asian woman, and that often they
do not breast feed because they feel their breast are too small.
"A
co-worker took one of the older filmshome and showed her husband,"said
MacLean. "Her husband commented that there should be a
clip of a husband coming over to his wife while she is breast-feeding,
look at her adoringly, and kiss her in the next film, I included
that."
MacLean
said the films are just quick shots of a variety of women in all
cultures in a variety of public places comfortably breast-feeding. The
change from film to film resulted in not only improved film quality,
but more of what people felt should be included, and happened because
MacLean paid attention.
"The
biggest change in number five, aside from quality, is that I got
some shots I have wanted," said MacLean. "I wanted
to include a film shot of a big family dinner and someone breast-feeding,
and that is included this time. Another is of a doctor who
takes a break at her desk and breast-feeds her baby when the nany
brings the baby in. That's local as most of my film participants
are."
MacLean
said the teens respond well to this when they are shown the film,
and realize that you don't have to breast-feed in a manner that people
gawk. MacLean says she hates to hear people say that breast-feeding
moms should go feed their baby in a rest room.
"Would
you want to eat in a rest room?" said MacLean. "Do
we really want our children eating in a public restroom?"
MacLean
says she fully supports the support group LaLeche, and describes
the support they provide women as incredible. MacLean says
she has four adult children and six grandchildren, all breast-fed.
"With
my first I was too poor to even get to LaLeche, but I had read the
book," said MacLean. "When I was able to go,
and that was number four, I was amazed at the support that
program gives."
As for the
filming knowledge, MacLean said she took one semester of film class
at Dutchess Community College. However, that was after she
released the first film, the one many call the home-made but are
still using over and over.