Trailer—The Pregnancy Project

source: The Pregnancy Project

Gaby comes from a family defined by a string of teen pregnancies. Gaby's mom delivered her when she was still in her teens. Gaby's sister became pregnant in her teens. Even Gaby's brother sired a child while he was still a teenager. Because Gaby is an exceptional student, her family members caution her not to throw away her future with another pregnancy. As she considers those family members who became pregnant at such a young age, as well as a fellow student named Tyra who is pregnant, Gaby decides to pursue an inventive senior project in which she will pretend to be pregnant and record what others think of her. Of course, Gaby is ostracized and shamed both by students and teachers. She perseveres in her project, lying to friends, teachers, and even to her brother as she continues to fake her pregnancy. From start to finish, the film did not feel credible. It is obvious that there is a tremendous stigma attached to teen pregnancy. So, Gaby's findings in her project only served to state the obvious about the importance of educating others about their prejudice. The most interesting character in the film was Tyra, the young woman who really was pregnant and was turned into a pariah at the school. The most moving moments of the film were those involving Tyra, who always kept her head held high and remained devoted to the all-important task of welcoming a new baby into the world.

Mature-looking teenager Alexa Vega (as Gaby Rodriguez) proposes an interesting and unusual research project, during her senior year of high school. Her "A Social Experiment – Attitudes Toward Teen Pregnancy" seeks to document stereotypes about pregnant girls in school. She also wants to prove pregnant girls can succeed as well as others, by graduating high school and going to college. Known as a smart and college-bound student, Ms. Vega decides to pretend she is pregnant. Her mother and principal approve the ruse, and boyfriend Walter Perez (as Jorge) agrees to go along. As expected, Vega is the target of rude and insensitive comments at school. People look only at her fake belly and think she's dumb... This good story idea is given a very tepid treatment. Although director Norman Buckley and the crew handle the assignment adeptly, Vega never looks or acts like she's really pregnant – her options are never really explored and she appears too old and mature to be convincing in the role. Not sure where this was supposed to take place, but modern schools are much more accommodating of pregnant students, teachers and staff. One role that does work is Vega's honestly pregnant friend Laci J Mailey (as Tyra), who is the most interesting character in the story. In the movie's best scene, Ms. Mailey performs as if she's discovered Vega isn't really pregnant. Of course, she would know. Alas, this promising development ends there. **** The Pregnancy Project (1/28/12) Norman Buckley ~ Alexa Vega, Walter Perez, Laci J Mailey, Judy Reyes

A Spanish girl, whose family has had a history of out-of-wedlock pregnancies pretends to be pregnant for her high school project. She wants to see the ramifications of an out-of-wedlock pregnancy. She will see how she will be treated by having society view her directly in this difficult situation. From the beginning, it appears that her people are stereotyped for this happening to them all the time. This is not the first time we ever saw this in motion pictures. Didn't Gregory Peck pretend to be Jewish in that fabulous film-Gentleman's Agreement (1947) that would win the Academy Award for best picture. Peck got a first hand taste of what it was like to feel the stigma of anti-Semitism, and similarly our young lady goes through societal reaction to her pregnancy. We see the word spreading rapidly. We hear that it will adversely affect her life. This is also very much a harrowing experience. The picture was well done and I wonder how conservative groups shall react to it.

The Pregnancy Project follows Gaby, a senior in high school who has straight A's and is without a doubt headed for college. Gaby comes from a family of teen pregnancy, her sister Sonya having a kid at the age Gaby is now. For her senior project Gaby decides to fake being pregnant, only letting her boyfriend, her mom, and few others in on her secret. But what starts out as an understanding of statistics turns into an social experiment about stereotyping that opens Gaby to a entirely different world. The film is based off a book and the real life experience of its main character Gaby Rodriguez. Like from any point of view of a teenager there's a lot of fresh insight but also a bit of naivety. Gaby is ignorant to the fact that having a baby is a naturally hard job, stereotype or not, and it's not with you for only eighteen years as you are a parent the rest of your life. But her message triumphs her ignorance as she's able to make it clear. No one gives Gaby a chance the second they find out she's pregnant, as soon as it's out to everyone else her life is over. No college, 'get in line for welfare', are among the expectations for her. Though she's 'pregnant' Gaby hasn't changed, she's still the smart girl who wants to go to college, but no one else sees it. Acting is good, Alexa Vegas is convincing as Gaby, she's able to turn her emotions on whim for the odd hormonal toll Gaby went through. Judy Reyers is also good as her mother who supports her throughout the process, but also reminds her that Gaby is only experiencing things at surface value. The rest of cast is in general background noise, having either negative reactions to the pregnancy or those who support her. The cinematography for the film is quite good for what I expect of a Lifetime film, but from the message boards I heard it didn't quite capture the true spirit of the school and town Gaby is from. The Pregnancy Project is not about teen pregnancy, its a reflection on how we as society see people and how we too often pass judgment. The film like another of its kind, Juno, will warrant a lot of negativity as it doesn't portray teen pregnancy in that nature we tend to expect (i.e. crying mothers, abandoning boyfriends, college dropouts), in other words it doesn't confine to the stereotype. In that I think the film speaks for itself.

Given this is lifetime, my rating might be a bit harsh, but the reason is that while it is, as you expect, predictable and kitsch, it unfortunately completely fails to grasp its main premise - stereotyping pregnant teenagers. At the end of the movie when Gaby reveals to the school that she is not pregnant and throws off her fake belly on the floor, everybody, including herself, cheers that fact, as if pregnancy was indeed a nightmare from which the protagonist and those around her can wake up relieved. Except for the girl who is really pregnant. So, I can pretend to be part of the stereotype in order to experience compassion, but I am so glad I'm not that stereotype. There is absolutely no redemption or recognition of the value of human life, the miracle of pregnancy, which is the position the real pregnant girl attempts to take but is eventually reconciled with her inferior position to the overachiever who, of course, would never get pregnant at 17.

source: The Pregnancy Project

Gaby comes from a family defined by a string of teen pregnancies. Gaby's mom delivered her when she was still in her teens. Gaby's sister became pregnant in her teens. Even Gaby's brother sired a child while he was still a teenager. Because Gaby is an exceptional student, her family members caution her not to throw away her future with another pregnancy. As she considers those family members who became pregnant at such a young age, as well as a fellow student named Tyra who is pregnant, Gaby decides to pursue an inventive senior project in which she will pretend to be pregnant and record what others think of her. Of course, Gaby is ostracized and shamed both by students and teachers. She perseveres in her project, lying to friends, teachers, and even to her brother as she continues to fake her pregnancy. From start to finish, the film did not feel credible. It is obvious that there is a tremendous stigma attached to teen pregnancy. So, Gaby's findings in her project only served to state the obvious about the importance of educating others about their prejudice. The most interesting character in the film was Tyra, the young woman who really was pregnant and was turned into a pariah at the school. The most moving moments of the film were those involving Tyra, who always kept her head held high and remained devoted to the all-important task of welcoming a new baby into the world.

A Spanish girl, whose family has had a history of out-of-wedlock pregnancies pretends to be pregnant for her high school project. She wants to see the ramifications of an out-of-wedlock pregnancy. She will see how she will be treated by having society view her directly in this difficult situation. From the beginning, it appears that her people are stereotyped for this happening to them all the time. This is not the first time we ever saw this in motion pictures. Didn't Gregory Peck pretend to be Jewish in that fabulous film-Gentleman's Agreement (1947) that would win the Academy Award for best picture. Peck got a first hand taste of what it was like to feel the stigma of anti-Semitism, and similarly our young lady goes through societal reaction to her pregnancy. We see the word spreading rapidly. We hear that it will adversely affect her life. This is also very much a harrowing experience. The picture was well done and I wonder how conservative groups shall react to it.