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When David’s feature script, Vivian, came across our desks at CWA, I was floored – first, because of the carefully crafted, compelling story itself and second by the fact that I had never heard about the harrowing life events that Vivian Gordon lived through.

Like Vivian, I am a woman, mother, artist and businesswoman – and I know first-hand about the challenges of juggling not only a career and family, but often the challenges of navigating a misogynistic world. Thankfully, there has been much progress for women since the 1920’s, but Vivian Gordon’s story should never be forgotten. Her fight for custody of her daughter in a system that was infamously corrupt at that time in New York City is one that later benefited us all in pivotal ways, almost a century later. Yet it did not come without a heavy price.
Vivian’s struggle, as portrayed in our film, is at once enraging and inspiring. Her tenacity in the face of persecution, of a mother’s devotion to her child, and of a woman who would not take no for an answer still resonates today. Not until now are we hearing about her story – first through David’s script and most recently as the subject of two biographies published earlier this year. I hope when seeing our film that you are as moved, enraged, and inspired by this story as I am. We are grateful to have the opportunity to share it with audiences. In doing so, we hope Vivian’s spirit continues to live and that her brave legacy will inspire women and men everywhere.

Heather Waters is the Founder and Producer of the Richmond International Film Festival (RIFF), now in its 14th year and one of the largest in the mid-Atlantic region. Her early years were spent as an actress and singer until shifting to directing, writing and producing for television and film in 2001. As a consultant over the last twenty plus years, she has developed hundreds of film projects and also directed/written/produced several award- winning films. Her passion is bringing narratives to the screen that challenge our perceptions and inspire audiences. When not directing herself, she also works to champion artists and dedicates her time to advancing the careers of others through her media enterprises RIFF, The Indie MIX, Creative World Awards, and the RIFF Arts Institute.

When David’s feature script, Vivian, came across our desks at CWA, I was floored – first, because of the carefully crafted, compelling story itself and second by the fact that I had never heard about the harrowing life events that Vivian Gordon lived through.

Like Vivian, I am a woman, mother, artist and businesswoman – and I know first-hand about the challenges of juggling not only a career and family, but often the challenges of navigating a misogynistic world. Thankfully, there has been much progress for women since the 1920’s, but Vivian Gordon’s story should never be forgotten. Her fight for custody of her daughter in a system that was infamously corrupt at that time in New York City is one that later benefited us all in pivotal ways, almost a century later. Yet it did not come without a heavy price.
Vivian’s struggle, as portrayed in our film, is at once enraging and inspiring. Her tenacity in the face of persecution, of a mother’s devotion to her child, and of a woman who would not take no for an answer still resonates today. Not until now are we hearing about her story – first through David’s script and most recently as the subject of two biographies published earlier this year. I hope when seeing our film that you are as moved, enraged, and inspired by this story as I am. We are grateful to have the opportunity to share it with audiences. In doing so, we hope Vivian’s spirit continues to live and that her brave legacy will inspire women and men everywhere.