We live in a nation where a home, a loving partner, and children are the quintessential pillars of happiness. It’s also a country where one signature, one untruth, can shatter everything. Parents can see their lives upended, stripped of their homes, rights, and, most devastatingly, their children. This isn’t just a tale of faceless millions; it’s the harsh reality many American families confront daily, including an alarming number of children growing up fatherless or motherless.

I had the privilege to add my voice to this film and shared my story during an in-depth interview in the summer of 2021. These filmmakers traveled the nation, speaking with alienated parents, and I was one of the many among those who successfully navigated the labyrinthine family court system. I was proactive, strong-willed, determined and was unwavering in my resolve to ensure that my children would always have more than just an ‘every-other-weekend’ relationship with me, a situation that unfortunately defines the paternal experience for far too many fathers. Ultimately, I secured a shared parenting agreement with my ex without sacrificing a penny in child support.

This documentary is dedicated to piercing the veil of a deeply flawed Family Court System, unveiling the entrenched corruption perpetuating this agonizing cycle. It reveals how child support has morphed into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise, how parental rights are systematically eroded, and how the genuine needs of children are alarmingly disregarded.

A flicker of hope remains in the shadow of this overwhelming adversity. The resilient parents featured in this film refuse to be crushed by despair. Many are at the forefront of a transformative movement to abolish the corrupt financial incentives that poison the family court. They’re advocating for a straightforward, humane remedy: the presumption of 50/50 equal shared parenting.

The Family Court System in America needs to be revised. Parents like me are committed to our mission for a complete overhaul, and you’ll hear about the remarkable progress we’ve made despite our struggles. I can’t wait to see how the filmmakers have assembled these stories—narratives that may well be the catalyst for reforming a broken system.

About the filmmakers:

Mike’s an Emmy, Addy and Telly Award winning Director and Cinematographer who prides himself on his ability to actively collaborate with clients to bring his brave and progressive vision to the project. Mike is great at fleshing out creative concepts with clients and also flawlessly executing their provided creative direction. When not on set, Mike is usually working on experimental film, fishing, or exploring outdoors with his kids.

Elizabeth is a Telly Award winning and Emmy Nominated writer/producer who specializes in designing a production plan and efficiently seeing it through to the final debriefing. She builds on over a decade of experience leading large-scale commercial productions, creative teams, and managing studio operations. Unafraid to challenge convention, Elizabeth is also a skilled writer, able to capture the adventure and humanity in a story and adapt it for film and video.

For more: https://gatewayfilmcenter.org/movies/we-the-parents-2023/

Clayton Craddock is a devoted father of two, an accomplished musician, and a thought-provoker dedicated to Socratic questioning, challenging the status quo, and encouraging a deeper contemplation on a range of issues. Subscribe to Think Things Through HERE, and for inquiries and to connect, email him here: Clayton@claytoncraddock.com