Hi, I'm a documentary filmmaker and breastfeeding mother. When my first child was born five years ago I got interested in the subject of breastfeeding. How come there was so little easily available information about something so ancient and basic to human existence? When my second child was born, I began researching and developing a documentary that will explore the status of breastfeeding in the US. This message is to update those of you who know about the film, to let others know about it, and to ask for leads on sources that might want to complete the funding. The film, whose "working title" is "What's a Mother to Do?" is for PBS broadcast and videocassette distribution. It's goal is to interest and inform a broad audience and to challenge viewers to rethink the place of breastfeeding in our overall health strategies. To summarize the film very briefly, it will have three parts: First, it will dramatize the inconsistent messages our culture sends about breastfeeding by following the actual experiences of a few mothers from diverse backgrounds over the course of a few months. Second, historical sections will put breastfeeding in the context of social, economic and medical changes which have contributed to the decline of breastfeeding during this century, as well as factors which have helped to revive it. These sections will combine interviews with experts with lively period footage from instructional films for mothers, newsreels, TV commercials, etc. Finally, the film will look at proposals for change. It will also include current scientific information about breastfeeding. The film has, from the beginning, received encouragement and advice from ILCA, LLLI, UNICEF, Wellstart International and the Institute for Reproductive Health, as well as numerous committed individual scholars, health professionals and mothers. In addition to planning the film, I have been systematically approaching foundations, government and private sources for funding. Just recently, my application to the National Institutes of Health/National Library of Medicine was recommended for funding. This would be the first large grant and would cover about 10% of the budget. It is, however, conditioned on my showing that I can get the rest of the money. I have already received small contributions from ILCA, OLCA and many generous individuals. Several grant applications are pending or in process. But, your knowledgeable suggestions are urgently needed and and will be gratefully accepted. Please e-mail me directly with questions, comments or suggestions. Many, many thanks, Vera