Erin Kearns and Michael Buxton in Baby.

Mikaela Philleps dreams of having a baby.

After witnessing a tragic hit and run car accident involving a pregnant woman, Mikaela, a young woman with Down syndrome, decides to set in motion her life’s goal of having a baby.

After falling pregnant with Eric Charles, a fellow resident at her group home, fate intervenes and sets a course for the future of their child.

Here, director James Di Martino, writer Llewllyn Michael Bates, and co-producer Daniel Facciolo write about the making of this touching new short film.

James Di Martino

James Di Martino (Director and co-producer)

Baby is a very unique project that combines the incredible talents of actors with disabilities in a dynamic film that features action, drama, and comedy.

The two leading actors of this film, Erin Kearns and Michael Buxton, are both amazing actors from Australia. Off the bat, there was a lot to be excited about with this project. Llewellyn Michael Bates’ script hits the ground running with a spectacular car crash sequence that not only delivers in spectacle but also in character motivation, as it is the driving motive of Mikaela’s dream to have a baby.

A very important aspect of this project was to show the beauty of people with disabilities. This was heavily discussed in pre-production alongside the director of photography, Alexander Naughton.

The music in the film is pop Japanese idol, LMYK, and her song ZERO, which closes out the film in the fantasy-like setting of a street party that is inspired by the ending to Federico Fellini’s stunning Nights of Cabiria (1957). Doubling as the lead producer, I kept my creative vision focused and did not compromise on any shot, finding the resources to push through and stick to my overall creative outlook.

I wholeheartedly believe this was a story that needs to be told and ensured there would be nothing that would hinder that creative vision.

Llewllyn Michael Bates

Llewllyn Michael Bates (Writer and co-producer)

To me, growing up with dyslexia has always been very hard. When I was a child, it was much harder to understand that I was different because of my disability, and as a result, I had to go about learning in a different way. My family was poor, and the schooling I was provided meant I was diagnosed much later in life.

With the inability to read until I was much older, I was deemed a slow learner in primary school and was placed in remedial learning with my only friend, Hayley. She has Down syndrome, and her dream was to have a child.

She would endlessly talk about it every chance she got; however, it is unlikely she will ever have one, and if she does, she will not be able to look after it independently of her parents. When you have a disability, there is a clear distinction about how you are different from others, and when you’re younger, there is a longing for something that you can’t have or is just out of your capacity.

I wanted to explore through film society’s biases against people with disabilities and their desires and capacity to follow their dreams or simply live life on their own terms.

Daniel Facciolo

Daniel Facciolo (Co-producer)

Baby is a short film that deals with two Down syndrome people and their desire to have a child. It is an Australian story at heart that focuses on very real ideals and dreams. It is a story about having a baby against all odds and the fate that stands in the way.

Thus, the producers felt it was a story that needed to be told. The film tackles head-on the reproductive rights of people with disabilities in a non-judgmental way and is a candid snapshot designed to create empathy and relatability with our main characters.

Raising the funds was all done through private investment. The film was cast with the strongly talented Michael Buxton (Thomas Rides in an Ambulance, Comic Can’t), Yiana Pandelis (Unsound, City of Salt, Songbird), Daniel Reader (The Faceless Man, Spiderhead), Albert Goikhman (The Faceless Man, Nathan Loves Ricky Martin), and the fantastic Erin Kearns in her short film debut.

Behind the camera, the producers selected director of photography: Alexander Naughton, Stunt Coordinator: Russell Frost, Steadicam Operator: Luis Puli, Film Editor: Camille Van Wessem, and Sound Designer: Doron Kipen to ensure the film would be finished at the highest standard.

Meet the Cast

Erin Kearns

Erin Kearns

Erin Kearns is been part of the Art Matters Soapbox Theatre and Shake and Groove Productions appearing in The Business at various festivals and events. Erin is an Actor with Back To Back’s Theatre of Speed program and enjoys the ensemble theatre work. Erin has recently appeared in Theatre of Speed’s short film The Whale, directed by Miranda Nation, and as a dancer in Truck, Kat Pengally’s multimedia, cross-artform theatrical experience at the 2022 Nati Frinj Festival.

Michael Buxton

Michael Buxton

Michael Buxton has starred in a number of stage productions and short films over the last 20 years. In 2022, Michael starred in the short film, Thomas Rides In An Ambulance, which premiered at the St Kilda Film Festival. Michael also starred in the short film, Comic Can’t, which came second at Tropfest.

Yiana Pandelis

Yiana Pandelis

Australian actor Yiana Pandelis has been working in the field for fourteen years. Yiana trained at Stella Adler in Los Angeles, as well as 16th Street, TAFTA and several other schools. In 2019, Yiana made her debut as a leading actress in Unsound, on which she was nominated Best Oceania Actress in Amsterdam for the Septimus awards Film Festival. In 2021 Yiana was the lead actress in short films City of Salt and Songbird.

Baby will premiere at Slamdance Film Festival on Friday, 19 January 2024.