A visit from the production crew reveals problems in Hailey and Jason’s relationship.
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In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court gave women a choice. Thirty-seven years later, we're giving them a voice. BUMP+ is a provocative web series from Yellow Line Studio that follows the fictional stories of three women facing unintended pregnancies.
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Katie, Hailey, and Denise have been through so much—so much heartbreak. Each journey has been difficult and painful. They’ve made their decisions; and in that sense, each journey is at an end. But now they have to figure out how to live with the choices they’ve made.
I worry for Katie and John. I [...]
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Bump+ The Conversation Continues
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Bump+ The Show has come to an end – but the conversation it has sparked is just beginning.
When we launched this experiment, the only thing we knew for sure was that the time for a new kind of conversation about the sensitive topic of abortion had come. We hoped that story [...] -
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The creators of Bump+ would like to address several errant media reports. Headlines around the world have said Bump+ trivializes the issue of abortion. Fox News has suggested that Bump+ is an “abortion game show.” It is not. We take the stories of our characters and the choices that lie ahead of [...]
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Lauri Deason – Producer
Lauri responds to the question of creating television shows.
Heck yeah, Hailey! I love that she’s thinking for herself and getting out from underneath Jason’s dominant opinions.
Yes, I sympathize with those who are worried about the negative portrayal of men in this show, but these are distilled versions of real situations. If there were more characters, they could show a greater variety of relationships, but that doesn’t mean these relationships aren’t valid portrayals.
It makes sense to me that if Hailey were unsure about what she wanted that she would defer to Jason’s opinion, but this show is allowing Hailey to make her own decisions in a way that it seems she hasn’t before.
I also love the additional complication for Hailey that she wants to go to school. This is a huge issue for so many women! I can’t tell you how often I talk with my friends who do want children but don’t feel like they can have kids and go to school. It’s so easy to imagine that Hailey would feel she has to choose either a baby or school – after all, that’s what her boyfriend and society are telling her.
Perhaps the producers should encourage Hailey to talk to students in the RN program who have children? That would be interesting!
Keep up the awesome work, Bump team!
Yeah, honestly it doesn’t leave me with any negative feelings of men overall or a stereotype. those kind of men exist, just like those kind of women exist. it happens. and we all know supportive men exist. good show. favorite episode so far.
From the previous shows it obviously sounds like Hailey has had multiple abortions, which I doubt she didn’t feel traumatized by or pushed into by Jason. I really am glad that she got to see what the *baby* looked like instead of just acting like this is going to be another visit to get in and out and the pregnancy over with. She needs to be involved in the reality of her situation – she is choosing whether or not to kill a real baby inside of her.
Personally I’m appalled at this show. I think the producers are pushing abortion more then weighing their options. I hate that they’re publicizing what should be an important choice in a woman’s life and not even *HINTING* at adoption being a choice instead of aborting. Seriously do you people realize how many great couples in stable relationships cannot get pregnant out here? Myself included!
They need to think about getting rid of their jackass partners and if they cannot handle having another child at this point give the baby to someone who actually does care.
Obviously I’m glad to see this is fictional characters, but it still doesn’t take the reality of it all. Women do have a right to decide, but please any one here in a situation where they need to choose think about the possibility of adoption.
Having friends who were adopted, others who went through the foster care system, still others who gave up a child for adoption, and a friend who works in healthcare with mothers who have just given birth, I want to point out that giving up a baby is no less complicated than choosing to raise or abort a child.
The systems trying to find homes for all the unwanted kids already out there are strained. Abuse is rampant in the foster care system. And some women have serious regrets about adoption. For every well-taken care of, well-adjusted adoptee, I know two with issues or who suffered through foster care. That’s not to say there aren’t some wonderful adoptive and foster parents, but is it better to play Russian roulette with the life of a born child who can think, feel, and suffer just so you don’t have to have regrets about ‘ending the life’* of one who can’t do those things?
I seriously doubt that women don’t know or think about adoption when making these choices. My friend in health care relates quite the opposite. They see plenty of mothers giving up children who seem, instead, to have had very little information on the availability and options around abortion.
*clarification of definitions there: While I’d agree that an embryo/fetus/unborn baby is alive, I don’t consider it to have a life. A life is made up of one’s experiences, something that a fetus can’t even be theorized to have until the brain develops past a certain point.
Why are the producers making these assumptions that the guys are tools and the women are helpless before them? The producer tries to convince Denise to leave her husband – is she being abused? Maybe. Or maybe she’s emotionally disturbed (remember in her intro all she talked about was her love of red candy?). Certainly its right if someone suspects someone is being abused to try to help, but it seems unfair based on what they have actually seen to jump to that conclusion, so much that they are actually pressuring Denise to have the abortion, swoop up her kids and ditch Buzz on the spot. And here again we see the producers seeming to be sure that Jason is a jerk, who is bamboozling Hailey into a decision she doesn’t want. Maybe Hailey has changed her mind, or maybe she’s now being swayed by the producers. I’m just saying, these producers are awfully judgmental and intrusive.
They’re not making the assumptions – they have proven themselves in the episodes if you watched all of them. Hailey has had multiple abortions and I highly doubt she has been on this decision on her own. Why else would they separate the two of them to see his response? Notice how he seems to always want to be “there” for her? Denise actually did have a huge bruise covered in the pilot show and never honestly answers the question is she being abused. She says she would never allow any one to hurt her children, NOT herself. I’m sure the bruise on the neck proves Buzz’s guilt there.
But see, you are making the same assumptions they are. You “highly doubt she has been on this decision on her own” Why would they separate them? Because the producers are acting under that same assumption. It seems to me he always want to be “there” for her because he wants to be on camera, and she is the focal point. You are “sure the bruise on the neck proves Buzz’s guilt” okay, yeah, in a Lifetime movie of the week, that would be an accurate conclusion. But let’s pretend these are real people. Is an unexplained bruise on someone’s neck really enough to say “you should get an abortion, grab your kids and ditch your husband, right now. RIGHT NOW!!!!” I guess we will see how it plays out. I personally think its a big tease by the film makers and that those assumptions will prove wrong. But I still say, that if this were a real documentary, these producers should be hanging back a lot more.
Wait a second I thought that ultimately the direction of the show was going to be built on the audiences discussion? If this is true then how come one of the scenes in this particular episode was used in the beginning credits since the trailer? Did you all foresee how the discussion would take place before we even began talking?
The direction is being shaped by input. Every scene is not.
Actually-that was a question I had too..how many of the episodes have already been written and how much is the input considered? Obviously, there has to already be some sort of main story line, but we are over half way done with the series and we are just getting to clips of the trailer so we are clearly still in the pre-written portion…
I believe I read that they filmed many possible scenes for a variety of story directions, and will do some further filming, and they edit the episodes together based on the discussions and stories shared here.
CCG is right, they did say somewhere that they filmed possible scenes for different directions to the stories, but I don’t remember where I read it!
However, Lauri Deason, one of the producers, responded to someone on another thread, and part of her response sheds light on the fact that there is more filming to be done, and they are still editing scenes already shot.
That comment might be helpful to you. It is on the thread Blog:Surprise! and here is the header to her entry (you will need to scroll down a bit):
lauri says:
February 20, 2010 at 3:32 PM
I sure don’t envy them having to figure out how to wrap all these stories up based on all this feedback!
Sorry to be so late in answering this question – although thanks to those who chimed in to provide assistance. CCG, MS, and Sister Mary Agnes are all partially correct. To be more specific -
1. We did have a main storyline – which is still being followed. However, we shot nearly 50 hours of footage for what will end up comprising less than 90 minutes of screen time. The original footage included several alternate storylines and five possible endings…leaving ample room for audience input in shaping the story during editing and post-production. As you are no doubt aware, most film and television projects are shaped primarily in editing. So how far ahead are we? Although primary shooting had ended by the time the second episode aired (keep reading for more on that), the editors typically deliver a rough cut 4-5 days before each episode airs. They continue to re-edit in response to producer notes and viewer feedback until 24 hours before each premiere. So far, the closest we’ve come to the deadline is 3 hours. That’s not at all typical, and it’s been an enormous challenge. Our editors are amazing.
2. The quick images you see in the main titles are, indeed, from scripted footage shot throughout the first two (primary) filming cycles. (Good eye.) The scenes themselves were used in episodes through #12, which aired Monday. (Actually, some of the main title footage does not appear in the actual series.) That’s partially a function of the main storyline issue explained above; however, you should know that we also shot and edited a few trailers you never saw, as well as the pilot episode and key scenes throughout the series for the purpose of attracting investors and getting audience feedback from focus groups. We conducted man on the street screenings at a number of public venues, and also solicited feedback at various universities in the Southern California area. Those were the first “audiences” to have direct input in the show and the early scripts. For the record – we were funded by media investors, not donations; and those investors were the only ones who were NOT allowed to shape the story. They fully understood and supported our vision to let the producers and audience make all story decisions; and we lost (or turned down) investors who would not agree to that condition.
3. Finally, we also left ourselves the option to re-shoot. We have exercised that option on two pivotal episodes based on feedback from the audience. Yesterday, we completed a final re-shoot that changes the direction of the episode airing Thursday in which the women reveal their decisions. We deliberately did not begin a discussion of outcome of each storyline until last week, and we spent a good portion of that meeting discussing the audience input, with special consideration given to stories contributed by people who have been personally affected in some way by abortion. A preliminary decision on the ending was made Sunday to allow for the reshoots and a rough edit. Frankly, there is room for it to change yet again in the next 48 hours, but I doubt it will. I can tell you that all of the endings are different than the creative team envisioned in the beginning – some, radically so.
In the end, there was no vote – and the final decisions were based on a number of factors. Our goal was always to give a voice and perspective on the creative team to the audience members who participated in the true spirit of the conversation, and to provide “decisions, but no easy solutions”. It has been a challenging process, but we hope we’ve been able to do that. We are excited to see the viewer response, and we are also working on an idea for the finale to give representatives from our core audience a final opportunity to comment in a way that is even more direct than this website.
I hope that answers the question, and gives you an interesting look into our behind-the-scenes process. Keep watching – we’re still listening!
Lauri Deason
BUMP+ Producer
I’m proud of her – she knows its a baby and I think she wants to keep it. He doesn’t. Hailey also wants best for her boyfriend. He (jason) on the other hand seems to want what’s best for him. I will continue praying for their relationship, and their baby …..
abi, you do know that these are fictional characters, right?
The fact that the show producers are willing to help hem out doesn’t have any bearing on her decision. I think she is just using it to justify her chagne of heart to her boyfriend when really she is just coming to realize how wrong an abortion would be for both her and the baby.
Now here’s something interesting. Hailey is feeling pressure to abort from her boyfriend. This is an aspect of abortion that is not often discussed–far from being a woman’s “choice”, abortion is often something women feel forced into under pressure from the “dudes” (I hesitate to call them men) in their lives.
Something to think about.
That is an interesting comment you made, Florentius. A while back, I did a research paper on the history of women’s choice, and I found that most feminists during the 1800s had a different stance on abortion. In fact, many of the women feminists of the 1800s stood up AGAINST abortion in order to prove they would not be manipulate or controlled by men. This is because many wives during that time were forced by their husbands to have abortion.
In essence, that sort of thing still goes on today. Women are still forced by their husbands or boyfriends to have abortion.
I had already posted this within the body of another point I was making to Melanie on Feb. 3rd, but since you brought it up I thought I would copy and paste that part that is consistent with what you just said about the early feminist’s movement.
We just past what would have been the 190th birthday of one of my favorite feminists, Susan B. Anthony. She and her movement pushed the doors of political life open for women. She also saw the connection between human rights of all people, consistently rejecting the notion that one person’s fundamental rights could come at the expense of another’s. She stood for the rights of every human being – especially the most vulnerable.
She was an abolitionist: property rights could not be built upon the broken backs of slaves. She believed in women’s rights: political power for women should be used as a hedge against abuse of women.
And she believed in the right to life of the unborn child: women’s rights could never be built upon the broken bodies of unborn children.
Not surprisingly, many women’s groups tend to leave that fact out. But it’s true!
She was an anti-abortionist and a true feminist.
Carpe Diem,
Just remember to take everything in the context of history. The founding fathers were strong supporters of all human rights but were heavily involved in slavery. I am sure that everyone (generally) agrees that the founding fathers would have a different opinion on slavery today.
Just as there have been differing opinions in the past on abortion and its morality. Obviously, I do not dare speak for Susan B. Anthony but considering most of her stances, I believe that there is a good chance that her position on abortion may be different in today’s era.
Even in her time she was NOT a big supporter of OUTLAWING (yes that is right abortion was legal in the US for some time before it was made illegal) abortion, she was a bigger supporter of giving women the right to refuse sex with their husbands and practicing responsible birth control (which at the time consisted of abstinence). This was a huge issue at the time and she was trying to help woman from unwanted pregnancies and help them take control over their own destinies.
Anon,
While your points (below) are duly noted and I respect, completely, your belief that there is, as you said, “a good chance that Susan B. Anthony’s position on abortion may be different in today’s era”.
I, however, beg to differ, because she was first and foremost consistent in her efforts to protect ALL human rights, including, but obviously not limited to, the unborn. I don’t think the passing of time or even the prevalent influence from a post-modern, relativistic societal mind-set would cause her to violate those deeply held convictions. And although, abortion was not an issue, in and of itself, to which Anthony devoted much time, we can find her stance on abortion was one integral expression of her commitment to undue gender oppression. Anthony and our other feminist foremothers, recognized that abortion is a symptom of our society’s failure to adequately meet the needs of women.
In her writings, she opposed abortion (which at the time was an unsafe medical procedure, endangering their health and life). She blamed society in general, but specifically men, laws and the “double standard” for driving women to abortion because THEY HAD NO OTHER OPTIONS. In 1869 she said, “When a woman destroys the life of her unborn child, it is a sign that, by education or circumstances, she has been greatly wronged.” She believed, as did many of the feminists or her era, that only the achievement of women’s equality and freedom would we end the need for abortion.
ARE WE THERE YET? I think not! While I think we have made great strides to really help women who find themselves in a “crisis” pregnancy, much more is needed. For one thing, society as a whole needs to believe that there are far WORSE THINGS than getting pregnant out of wed-lock, and the societal pressure and shame many in that situation feel is sometimes what forces them in the direction of… that worse thing.
While it is true that she did not push for abortion to be made illegal -precisely because she understood that in that era, if it had been illegal it would only punish the wrong people. She argued, “Much as I deplore the horrible crime of child-murder, earnestly as I desire its suppression, I cannot believe…that such a law would have the desired effect. It would only be mowing off the top of the noxious weed, while the root remains. We want prevention, not merely punishment. We must reach the root of the evil, and destroy it.”
While it is not completely out of the question to speculate that if Anthony, or any of her counterparts, were here today they would vigorously champion women’s right to make nonviolent choices regarding their bodies and lives. Still, one has to admit that no one knows with absolute certainty what any person from the past would say and do today.
Come to think of it, perhaps you are right that there is a good chance that her position on abortion may be different in this era. Perhaps she might now be championing the rights of the unborn even more passionately?
Thank you for your thought provoking post. It has caused me to go back and review the history! Which is always a good thing to do!
Not just the ‘dudes’, young girls can be pressured by mothers (and fathers), etc. The issue of force is definitely part of the conversation.
Women who felt in some way coerced into getting an abortion tend to have the poorest outcomes emotionally as well. Those who don’t regret their abortions, usually chose them freely. Pro-choice is about non-coerced choices…which means not being forced to abort, nor being forced to gestate an unwanted child.
If Hailey wants to keep the baby she should. As for Jason, to me they are portraying the stereotypical American early adult male. To defend him a little bit, I think he is trying to process a lot of new information very quickly as he clearly thought they had already decided to terminate. Who knows he may end up being a great guy, or not…
Either way, if Hailey keeps this baby she will have to be ready to pretty much go it alone because at this point she clearly cannot rely on Jason. It is great for the show to cover expenses for the first year-that could definitely be her turning point in this decision.
As for Hailey coming into her own, I do applaud her for this, although I am skeptical of the others applauding her for this. I get the distinct feeling that if she was still convinced she should terminate and Jason wanted her to keep the baby, she would be vilified by most of the people currently supporting her on this discussion board. This is why I am pro-choice…I think that Hailey should make this decision for herself and if that means carrying to term and raising the baby, then I support her fully, just as I would if she decided to terminate.
Hailey’s issue also seems to be fear – fear of responsibility. She seems to have repressed her true feelings about all her abortions. She keeps repeatedly getting pregnant, but is totally unprepared to deal with the consequences of her actions. As for nursing school, please don’t portray that as an absolutely non-negotiable hang-up for having a baby. My wife just completed nursing school alongside several remarkable young women, some married, some single, who successfully completed a community college nursing course with brand-new babies – a couple of the women had twins – using child care, family, and friends to help support them through their schooling. They are all now successful Registered Nurses and mothers, contributing positively to our community and their own families, and didn’t let anyone tell them they couldn’t graduate from nursing school and take care of newborn babies at the same time. A truly empowering ending for Hailey would be to have her realize that she needs to take responsibility for the new life she’s set in motion, AND for her career – and that she can do both of these things at the same time.
Oh, and Jason just needs to man up. Seriously. I sincerely hope that the producers at least portray Denise’s husband as a kind, sensitive, forgiving, and courageous man, because so far we’re at 0 for 2 on the men in this series.
Roger,
Why do you just keep repeating the same thing over and over on each blog? Just wondering?
Oh, sorry about that – I can see how that might be annoying to read. My wife and I came late to the series, composed some initial thoughts, and didn’t know whether we were posting them in the right places – we eventually assumed no one had read what we posted earlier, because those conversations were “stale” by the time we posted. It won’t happen again.
Thanks for asking, though.
Roger, I also wondered how often people went back and read comments from previous episodes. I generally watch two episodes at a time and read through comments of of those two episodes and the one before it. Peoples’ watching/reading/posting habits could affect their perception of the show and their fellow commentors. So many things make this project tricky!
You mean, you’re not in control anymore.
What a jerk!
Oh, that’s it. I see where this is going. She wants to keep her baby.
I think she should. She should never have to be forced into it.
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I wouldn’t be surprised if she kept it. She’s been offered alot that wouldn’t be offered under normal circumstances. Covering the first year expenses? Getting job interviews for her boyfriend? Its great they (the producers) are trying to help her, but it doesn’t really happen like that. Its also sad that she contemplating keeping it because her life is ‘boring’ as she says. I hope she realize there are lots or responsibilities with having a child.
Wow! This was an amazing episode…I wish they were longer though..;)
I wish they were longer too. Somehow, I think the editing of the episode just rushes through everything, doesn’t give the audience the time to know the characters.
This kind of fast-pace style works for “The Office” because it is a comedy (comedy has to be quick). This is a more serious topic, and the episodes should reflect that.
wow. Finally hailey is acting like a normal person with FEELINGS AND having her OWN thoughts. I feel for so many women that don’t get to express their feelings or thoughts because of fear.
Amazing episode. I’m so hooked.
I just cried. Seriously. Because I saw the lightbulb go off in her head during the ultrasound episode and now she’s actually dealing with reality. She’s really understanding what is going on. And now we get to see Jason’s true feelings. This was a great episode. I like where the producers are going.
Really well done episode, the actors and story are just getting better and better with each show.
Really nice seeing Hailey come into her own
Hailey REALLY looked like she had morning sickness! I believe that Jason IS a j—a–! Realistic characters and excellent acting. Well done.
It’s nice to see Hailey the person emerging from Hailey the appendage of the boyfriend. It really makes you wonder how many people decide to “make it go away” and do so quickly without examination of what they’re doing and how they really feel about it, and how different those numbers might be if they had the opportunity to spend a few weeks considering, thinking, re-evalutating. Maybe the way to achieve Obama’s stated goal of reducing the number of abortions is mandated counseling (of substance, not just in name), review of options (and making sure there are some!), and looking at the ultrasound. Just think what could happen if we put the energy of all the angry rhetoric into real programs that provide real solutions. Maybe we could keep social security afloat after all!
She nailed it – he’s a jackass.
I wish these episodes weren’t so short!!