Theresa Is a Mother

Synopsis

Theresa McDermott has chased her “ideal” life as an urban-dwelling, punk(ish) singer-songwriter to the very end of its possible existence. She is broke, options have run out and she happens to have a few kids she is raising on her own since their dad split a year ago. Facing eviction and nowhere to go, Theresa packs up her children and what is left of her life and moves back to the small rural town, childhood home and parents she deliberately ran from a decade ago. Her parents’ mutual misery and depressingly gloomy lives were a “downer” she felt had no place in her fun city life. Yet from the moment Theresa drives back up her old driveway, it is clear that there have been some major changes. Her parents, armed with a plethora of hobbies, a hot tub and a new philosophy, are not exactly the old folks she left behind. Theresa needs a job, her parents need their space and a painful family history needs some closure. Old wounds, unattainable dreams, and some “other things” are exposed as a fractured family works to become whole and a woman with a few kids learns to become a mother.

Music

Music plays a major role in Theresa is a Mother. The Theresa is a Mother sound track features an eclectic array of music from Garage Punk to Merengue to Crooner to Southern Fried Honky Tonk. The main theme, “Summer Child” written and composed by 14-year-old cast member Schuyler Iona Press (plays role of Maggie McDermott), was arranged and recorded by pianist John Ferrara. Another song written and composed by Schuyler Iona Press, “No Words,” was arranged for the guitar and recorded by student Grammy Award Band member Gabe Schnider. “No Words” is used throughout Theresa is a Mother as a main part of the film score. The Theresa Is A Mother Soundtrack features original music from: The Two-Bit Terribles, Frank Lamphere, Honky Tonk Union, Rumba Con Son, The Dave Sammarco Band, Karu, and Schuyler Iona Press. An official soundtrack has yet to be released.

Awards and nominations