I enjoy sharing interesting things via this blog. This Stay at Home Dad Project (at it’s infant stages) certainly sounds interesting. I might be an even bigger advocate if it were written by an at-home dad, but it sounds like Priscilla Obermeyer gets the involved father role. Either way, check out the pitch below, and stay tuned in the future to what becomes of Daddywood: A Daddy Project:
“My name is Priscilla Obermeier. Together with my husband, Markus Obermeier, I am part of the proud parent team of a 9 month old baby boy, named Indy. Next to being a mom, I work as a screenwriter and developer of creative content for television from West- Hollywood, Los Angeles. My husband and I are also in the process of setting up an own production company.
In the last months I wrote the screenplay and tv bible for “Daddywood”, a sitcom about The trials and tribulations of a Stay at Home dad in Hollywood who tries to create a dynamic equilibrium out of his household, personal relationships and acting aspirations, while dealing with full diapers and Men’s toilets without a baby changing built-in, attending “Mommy and me” events, being a baby’s hero, becoming the next “Matt Damon” and maintaining his testosterone level at the same time.
“Daddywood” is based on my personal life and the stories of the existing generation of men (growing in its population) who CHOOSE to play a larger role at home and raise their children according to their own standards outside of the umbilical box, proofing that a proud dad doesn’t need to be a second mom.. My dad was a Stay at Home dad, my husband is a true hands on dad who wakes up in the middle of the night, changes diapers in the middle of the street if he has too, carried our son through New York, Europe and L.A. in a Baby Bjorn, one of the actors on Daddywood is a Stay at Home Dad of a 5 year old son (I also based the character he plays on him). I also have been fortunate to meet proud dads (Stay at Home or not Stay at Home dads, famous dads and not famous dads, athletic dads and not athletic dads, gay, straight, biological, step- and adoptive) who give their children all that a mother can’t give: dad’s view on the world.
Why did I write “Daddywood”? My husband went through a devastating law case with his ex-partner who denied him access to his two children. My husband always wanted to step back and spend more time with his children, but his ex-partner was of the opinion that children need a mom more then a dad. I witnessed my husband’s trial for two years and did a lot of research to the rights of dads around the world. What I read on different dad forums was painful. What I heard from dads going through similar experiences as my husband too. The Stay at Home dad who plays a supporting role in Daddywood now goes through a divorce in real life. While he has been the main caretaker of his son, knows all his cries, was the one who fed him, stood up in the night, went to doctors, playgroups, etc., his wife, a successful career woman, claims 100% custody. To show the world the actual role a father can have in a child’s life and the importance of this role, to show the village he creates for his child to be raised from (it takes a village to raise a child), that’s why I created Daddywood.
In a time where high divorce rates create father like roles for men with children who are not their biological offspring, where cultural diversity in familial arrangements highlights new, nontraditional definitions of fatherhood, where asexual reproductive technologies have muddled traditional notions of fatherhood, men’s emancipation should focus on men’s role as caretakers. “Daddywood” focuses on what we don’t know about dad and takes the male – child relationship out of its institutionalized framework, redefines traditional parent roles and shows dad’s point of view on the phrase ‘all men and women are created equal’.
In collaboration with Director Danny Green (Mr. Sophistication with Tatum O’ Neil and Robert Patrick), proud father of a 9 year old daughter and owner of production company “Mr. Smoothie Productions” a theatrical pilot will be shot. A nationwide radio station has offered promotion and interviews after having heard of the “Daddywood” project. I would like to cast an A – list actor as the lead.
I want this to be a project of dads for dads and am now looking for promotion and investors to fund the pilot. I am approaching dad groups nationwide to seek their help in putting Daddywood on the small screen. It has been inspiring up till now to share this project with other dads. The stories of the dads I met are in “Daddywood” and I would like to continue to write those stories down. Dads can be (featured) extras on the show. “Daddywood” has nothing to do with the portrayal of repressed househusbands. It is about men who value being a dad. It’s not a retribution to traditional role patterns. It is a positive approach on fatherhood to hopefully create a new balance in family systems and a legal system…. or at least provide the world with more information about the role of a dad, when dad is given the freedom to be one.”
Wow this is sooooo inspirational. Very proud of you Pris!
Getting there!
Terrance – actor.
You speak from your heart. Keep going from that place, and you’ll get there!
I heard actor Terrance N. Crawford is slated to play a supporting role as one of the dad’s in this coming comedy…Much success!
Josh Epstein
NYC
I am so looking forward to seeing this! About time Men who step up to the plate get some POSITIVE recognition. Inspiration to involved dads, a lesson on how to be a DAD to the absent men and what they are missing out on, and an eye opener to the public on how much involved Dads do for their children and impact their lives.
Thanks for recognizing this Pricilla.
Daddywood is a great title for a movie or a series to watch on tv. Being a daddy is not easy. Plus a daddy has to be hard as wood dealing with so many problems with the ex-wife. She only thinking of herself not even caring on how her wrong dealings hurt and affect the children. Yes alot of people would learn alot from Daddywood as a series on tv to watch.
I agree that while in general, more and more women seek a fuller place in the business world as a career, more dads are stepping up to the plate as parents. Their story deserves to be told in a medium such as yours. I’ve got a good feeling about this pilot being picked up!
Lots of succes! But don’t forget to mention the MISTAKES Stay at Home dads sometimes make, to the ones they really love.
Sorry Pris.
Your Dad.
What the real life actor is going through sounds like a similar case that I know.The wife being a school principal took custody of the child even though the dad stayed at home to take caree of the little boy and was his main caretaker.