Andrea James

News

Alec Mapa Wants Help Bringing His Real-Life Gay Parenting Story to the Screen

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04/29/2013

BY ANDY TOWLE

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Comedian Alec Mapa (Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty, Alias, Friends, Roseanne) is hoping to bring Baby Daddy, his one-man show about gay parenting, to the big screen.

“The documentary will include his stand-up special as well as behind-the-scenes looks at how Alec’s life has changed since he and his husband adopted a child through the foster care system,” according to his Kickstarter campaign.

It’s not the first time Mapa has been through the kickstarting system. Last year, he and his husband Jamison Hebert and their adopted son Zion starred in Family Restaurant a children’s film for gay and lesbian parents, which is on the festival circuit now and was produced via Kickstarter funds.

Said Hebert: “Last year, we had such a great response to fundraising through Kickstarter for ‘Family Restaurant.’ We wanted to do something even more ambitious this year while continuing to spread the message of foster and adoption by gays and lesbians not only to our LGBT community, but also to the wider world. We know there are many people who want to support a film like this and its timely message.”

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By Andrea James | April 29, 2013 | Random thoughts |

Captivating Kate

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BY SUNNIVIE BRYDUM
APRIL 23 2013

In researching the role, Del Castillo sought training from actress Calpernia Addams and her business partner, filmmaker Andrea James, two trans women who advise Hollywood on transgender portrayals through their production company, Deep Stealth. (Addams and James also counseled Felicity Huffman when she portrayed a transgender woman in Transamerica.)

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http://www.advocate.com/print-issue/current-issue/2013/04/23/captivating-kate

By Andrea James | April 23, 2013 | Film and media news |

The Brutal and Beautiful Kate del Castillo

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BY SUNNIVIE BRYDUM
MARCH 19 2013

Did you do any research on transgender identities before you started filming?

Yes, I did. I did as much as I could, on the Internet, and now you can do so much. And I remembered that amazing movie, Transamerica. So I tried to contact Felicity Huffman’s vocal coach there [Calpernia Addams and Andrea James] and I did, so she helped me a lot.

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http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/film/2013/03/19/brutal-and-beautiful-kate-del-castillo

By Andrea James | March 19, 2013 | Film and media news |

World of Wonder book release party

I was honored to be included with Calpernia in the World According to Wonder, a book chronicling the work from World of Wonder’s first 20 years!

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Photos from the release party:

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By Andrea James | December 13, 2012 | Events and Appearances |

Day in Gay America: November 9, 2012

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BY ADVOCATE.COM EDITORS
DECEMBER 14 2012

2:30 p.m., Los Angeles: Producing partners Jamison Hebert and Andrea James in the Eagle Rock neighborhood mailing out DVDs of their children’s film,Family Restaurant. “We made the film because there are very few shows out there specifically for kids of people in our community,” says James. “I wrote the film after Jamie and his husband, Alec Mapa, adopted their son Zion, and their family stars in it as the heroes who save the day.”

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http://www.advocate.com/day-gay-america/2012/12/14/day-gay-america-2012-photos-our-lives

By Andrea James | November 9, 2012 | Activism, Family Restaurant |

Family Restaurant, Film Celebrating Kids With LGBT Parents, Debuts Trailer!

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10/31/2012

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Short version: Family Restaurant is a media project for young children whose parents are lesbian or gay. It features cute puppets and real children of gay or lesbian parents. My producing partner Jamie is a gay dad, and he and his family appear as the heroes who save the day.

 

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By Andrea James | October 31, 2012 | Family Restaurant, Film and media news, Thought Moment Media |

“Family Restaurant” debut: Children’s film celebrates kids with gay and lesbian parents

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 22, 2012

“Family Restaurant” debut: Children’s film celebrates kids with gay and lesbian parents

LOS ANGELES, CA – Thought Moment Media has launched “Family Restaurant”, part of a new transmedia project celebrating children whose parents are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT).

Set in a magical family restaurant where the table items come to life at night, this heartfelt live-action film features puppets and children of LGBT families. The story revolves around a grumpy toothpick dispenser named Picky, who learns a lesson in friendship when his new neighbors and a young customer must help rescue him.

Executive Producer Jamison Hebert voices many characters and appears in the film with his husband Alec Mapa and their adopted son Zion. Jamison said, “As a gay father in today’s political climate, I want to show the world that families like ours do indeed exist. Our children and their parents deserve the same respect all other families receive.”

Writer/director Andrea James was inspired when Jamison and Alec adopted Zion from foster care. Andrea said, “This film is a love letter to all young children who live happy and healthy lives in LGBT households. I believe that seeing real children and their families will help change attitudes about this important issue.”

The film had a sneak preview in July at Outfest Family Day. “There are only a handful of works where these young children can see their own families reflected on screen,’ said Andrea. “We wanted to add to that with something fun and entertaining for all families with young children.”

Jamison attributed the realization of the project to successful Kickstarter crowdfunding and “our amazing circle of artists and activists, all of whom volunteered time and talents to make this better than we’d ever hoped.”

The producers plan to create an “It Gets Better” type campaign where the film’s characters interact with children of LGBT families, to show the diversity of these young people and their parents. Future plans also include additional episodes and clips, as well as a book.

Thought Moment Media was co-founded by Andrea James and Jamison Hebert in 2012. Both producers focus on progressive issues and media. The two worked together previously on the 2010 documentary Bullied, about school bullying of LGBT youth. Visit thoughtmoment.com to learn more about their work.

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Contact:
Andrea James, Co-Founder: andrea@thoughtmoment.com
Jamison Hebert, Co-Founder: jamison@thoughtmoment.com
http://www.thoughtmoment.com
Phone: (323) 380-8662

By Andrea James | October 24, 2012 | Family Restaurant, Thought Moment Media |

Afternoon Palate Cleanser: Family Restaurant

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Oct 22, 2012

Jay Barmann

Here’s a trailer for a new film for children called Family Restaurant, which is geared toward kids with gay or lesbian parents. It features restaurant objects come to life, like talking ketchup and mustard bottles and a grumpy toothpick dispenser named Picky, and it’s available for purchase for $10 here. It was made and produced by Jamison Hebert and Andrea James of Thought Moment Media, and it also stars L.A. drag queen Coco Peru.

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By Andrea James | October 22, 2012 | Alec Mapa: Baby Daddy, Thought Moment Media |