SYNOPSIS
“unBRCAble Spirit” follows filmmaker Jen Fodor as she transforms a BRCA1 gene mutation into a powerful story of resilience and hope.
Tested while her mother fights stage 4 cancer, Jen faces up to 72% lifetime risk of breast cancer and 44% risk of ovarian cancer. Her solution? Preventative surgeries to lower her risk. But nothing goes as planned, her surgery is cancelled during the LA wildfires, and recovery brings multiple infections that halt her active lifestyle.
When life refuses to cooperate, Jen leans into one of her greatest gifts: learning how to pivot. Rejected from a large studio directing program, she's now directing the most important story of her life.
Through intimate footage of her own journey and her sister's unexpected breast cancer diagnosis, the film creates a multigenerational portrait of families confronting hereditary risks. With raw honesty and unexpected humor, we're flipping the script on genetic storytelling, celebrating life and family bonds while bringing light to the reality of women's healthcare and what it means to be a "previvor."
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
My hope for this documentary is to help people learn how to overcome rejection, believe in themselves, and ask for help. I'm creating a film that breaks the silence surrounding hereditary cancer risks through comedic narration that transforms a deeply personal experience into a universal story. By finding humor and connection in life's hardest moments, I'm crafting something that embodies everyone's journey through impossible choices. My goal is to reach others facing similar challenges with a powerful message: you're not alone, there's light, even laughter, in the darkness.
This project aligns with Wedgwood's mission by offering audiences truth and beauty through an unexpected lens, finding humor and hope in a hereditary cancer journey. By addressing genetic health risks with honesty and levity, the film serves the common good, teaching viewers how to navigate adversity, trust themselves, and reach out for support when facing life's most difficult decisions.
DISTRIBUTION PLANS
Our distribution strategy begins with submitting to prestigious documentary festivals including Sundance, SXSW, and Hot Docs, followed by targeted screenings at medical institutions, BRCA awareness events, and women's health symposiums. We'll pursue broadcast and streaming opportunities with platforms that prioritize meaningful content, while implementing a community screening program targeting BRCA support groups, genetic counseling centers, and cancer communities. To maximize our documentary's reach and influence, we'll bring on a dedicated Impact Producer who will coordinate specialized screenings and cultivate vital connections within the medical and genetic advocacy communities. Our digital strategy leverages my outgoing personality to create engaging social media content that makes genetic health discussions accessible, complemented by partnerships with health influencers and advocacy organizations. Kevin Healey's industry connections and medical partnerships will amplify our message through traditional media and specialized health platforms.
TEAM
Jen Fodor, Director/Producer
Michigan native turned Los Angeles filmmaker Jen Fodor brings over a decade of production experience to her projects. From working with director Spike Jonze to producing MTV's MADE, Fodor has honed her storytelling expertise across multiple platforms. Her work includes television specials "Back That Year Up with Kevin Hart & Kenan Thompson" and "Celebrity Prank Wars" on E!. Her award-winning PBS documentary "The Dancing Man of L.A." received Los Angeles Times coverage and showcased her talent for capturing compelling human stories. She's an active member of the Recording Academy and host of the "I Love Music" podcast.
Kevin Healey, Executive Producer
Emmy-nominated producer Kevin Healey brings his award-winning vision as Executive Producer. As former co-head of HartBeat Studios, he pioneered content ranging from documentaries to social experiments, mastering both scripted and unscripted storytelling. His recent successes include executive producing Netflix's "Kevin Hart & Chris Rock: Headliners Only" and the groundbreaking series "Daring Simone Biles." A Critic's Choice and NAACP Award winner, Healey's talent for transforming authentic human experiences into compelling television makes him an invaluable leader for character-driven projects.
Scott Sheppard, Producer
Award-winning filmmaker Scott Sheppard brings his expertise in medical and human interest documentaries to the project. His work spans major platforms including Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max, with notable credits like "Magnolia's Hope" and "For Love and Life: No Ordinary Campaign," where he tackled complex medical narratives with sensitivity and depth. As co-director and editor of the PBS documentary "The Dancing Man of L.A.," which earned three Telly Awards, Sheppard demonstrated his talent for finding extraordinary stories in everyday lives. His work has been featured in The LA Times, The Today Show, and People Magazine.
Eleanor Winkler, Line Producer
Eleanor Winkler brings 16 years of production expertise across US and Australian film, TV, and digital content. Currently producing under the Hartbeat Studios banner, she oversees Kevin Hart's animated series "Lil Kev" for BET+ and produced his MasterClass. Her versatile experience includes serving as Co-EP and Line Producer for "Mother Mary" (PopTV/CBS Studios) and showrunner for "Hot Date" (PopTV). As co-founder of Bus Stop Films, she provides film industry training for underrepresented communities, particularly those from the disability community.
Josh Tyron, Cinematographer
Cinematographer Josh Tyron brings his signature warmth and intimate storytelling style from Grand Rapids' SideCar Studios to our Michigan sequences. His expertise with warm tones and thoughtful composition creates inviting environments for vulnerable documentary moments. A longtime collaborator with Jen Fodor, Tyron's blend of technical excellence and emotional authenticity adds a distinct Midwestern perspective to our family's narrative.
Paulo Padilha, Editor
Documentary editor Paulo Padilha brings over two decades of storytelling expertise, from NYU's Tisch School of Arts to Netflix productions. Mentored by documentary legends including Lewis Erskine and Jean Tsien, he contributed to Emmy and Peabody award-winning PBS documentaries. His international portfolio spans the US and Brazil, earning a Cannes Lion for Vice's Creators Project and an International Emmy for TV Globo's "Doce de Mãe." His latest work, "How To Rob A Bank," premiered on Netflix in June 2024.
Peter Davis, Music Supervisor
Music Supervisor Peter Davis brings his three-time Guild nominated expertise to the project. From shaping iconic shows like MTV's "The Real World," "The Challenge," and E!'s "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" at Bunim/Murray Productions, to founding Tunestrone, his music supervision enterprise, Davis masters the art of enhancing storytelling through sound. His recent work includes “Plainclothes” (Sundance 2025), Bravo's "Dancing Queens" and the award-winning soundtrack of "F.L.Y." (Best Soundtrack, FilmOut San Diego 2024).
Christopher Stoudt, Consulting Producer
Christopher Stoudt is an award-winning editor and director based in Los Angeles. He is co-creator of the Webby-award-winning 60 Second Docs, which is the #1 publisher of original doc content on Facebook. His short Camp ALEC was co-produced by The Kennedy/Marshall Company and acquired by Disney+. His short Four Seasons Total Documentary -– about the disastrous Guiliani press conference –– premiered on MSNBC and was nominated for a 2022 Critics’ Choice Award. His latest short, The Orchestra Chuck Built, has screened at over 75 film festivals and was recently acquired by Conde Nast / The New Yorker. His latest feature edit — A Photographic Memory — was named a New York Times’ Critic’s Pick and received the 2025 Truer Than Fiction Independent Spirit Award. It will be distributed by Zeitgeist Films / Kino Lorber for a Summer 2025 theatrical release.
We are excited to serve as the Fiscal Sponsor for the film, unBRACable Spirit. Please consider making a donation below via credit or debit card. If you'd prefer to donate via check, you can make your check out to The Wedgwood Circle and write "BRCA Doc" in the memo line and mail it to us at:
The Wedgwood Circle | 109 Center Street N. | Suite #102 | Vienna, VA 22180
