A Little Diddy in HuffPost

I'm so grateful to be included in the Huffington Post article below.  Plus, it's a nice follow up to my documentary, Chill.

Ji Sub Jeong 

‘I Felt Liberated’: How Freezing Their Eggs Changed These Women’s Dating Lives For The Better
by Amanda Duberman

Jennifer Frappier froze her eggs when she was 36. A few years later, she was still single and thinking seriously about using them to become a single parent. She prepared to buy a house with an unused wedding fund and started browsing sperm donors. She figured she wouldn’t have time for dating as a single mom, so she joined Tinder just for fun.

“I thought, I’m going to go on basically my last few dates and get to know people and have fun,” she said. “Maybe if I date with no pressure or expectations, I won’t be so disappointed. It was very freeing.”

And then something completely unexpected happened: She met someone almost immediately.

Frappier’s experience isn’t unique. She’s one of several women who told HuffPost that freezing their eggs changed their dating lives for the better. One dated people who enriched her life but who she never would have considered had she not already secured her access to motherhood. Another felt a weight lift from her existing relationship that she hadn’t even realized was there. All of the women HuffPost spoke to reported feeling a new sense of boldness and levity in their dating lives after freezing their eggs, unburdened of the pressure to settle down and fast. Read on for their stories.

We're the Schneiders!

Man oh man! I keep replaying every magical moment from our wedding last weekend.  I don't even know how to express how amazing it was.  Thank you to Michael Segal Weddings for capturing so many beautiful moments.  Thank you to everyone who shared in the day and made it completely and totally awesome! 

First looks.

Under the Chuppah.

"A Fascinating Mixture between Heart and Science"

When Chill began in December of 2011, I had no idea how it was going to turn out.  As a mater of fact, there were several times I wasn't even sure it would become a completed film.  It took a much longer than I expected, but with continued encouragement from friends and family and what I swear was a divine introduction, we finished it.  When I saw this review on IMDb,  it made me feel super-proud of what we accomplished together.

"CHILL presents us with a fascinating mixture of heart and science. Of how technology revolutionizes the concept of motherhood and family.

Jennifer Frappier is an actor, softball player and festival producer living in the height of her active professional life, however, thoughts of family have made her take the decision to extend her fertility by freezing her eggs. Jennifer takes us through her journey, first by getting to know her and her family background as well as her hopes of having the same chances of having the experience of having a family of her own and then through a more medical and technical approach where we see the science behind egg-freezing in full display. Frappier crafts a documentary that is a mixture of heart and science or more like science in the service of the heart.

World of Women Film Fair Middle East

What a great way to start 2018! Chill is an official selection of the World of Women Film Fair Middle East, March 6-8, 2018, in Dubai.  WOW is a unique showcase of films by or about women, allowing for a different storytelling and giving another perspective of the world through women's eyes.

Oh! And I just had the first fitting for my wedding dress. Today was a pretty good day.

When Fros Collide

This time last year, I had already decided to begin my journey as a single mom.  For me, this meant:  finding a sperm donor, and if I needed to, using some of those eggs I had frozen.

Before this single mom adventure moved forward, I needed to find a new place to live. Somewhere me and my future kid would be comfortable.  As much as I loved being downtown, my loft living situation wasn't conducive to a new addition.  I mean, the only doors in the apartment were the main one and the door to the bathroom.  So I started looking for an apartment with more doors; a two bedroom. 

For those who aren't aware, rent in Los Angeles is completely insane.  During my search for a new pad, I realized renting a two bedroom flat would cost more monthly than a mortgage for a condo or small house.  Seriously.  THEN I added up all the rent checks I've written since moving to LA.  Get ready.  No, really hold on to your hats -- I've paid (or rather flushed) almost $150,000 in rent in the last 10 years.  Are you kidding me?!  I could have equity in a property.  After seeing the numbers, I couldn't deny the best choice was for me to buy my first house.  

After working with a super-awesome realtor, Shannon Shue, and looking at what seemed like a hundred houses, I finally found my home!  A cute bungalow:  2 bedrooms with a den, garage, a grapefruit AND lemon tree in the backyard.  I moved in Dec 9, 2016.

Whatashort Independent International Film Festival

I've received a handful of emails from women in New Delhi asking about egg freezing and where they can see Chill. Well, guess what?!  I'm proud to share that Chill is heading to India for it's International Premiere at the Whatashort Independent International Film Festival, July 8-9!  

2016 Spotlight Documentary Film Awards

I received an exciting email today:

"After reviewing thousands of films this year, our team has compiled a list of the best independent films of 2016.

Congratulations!  We are thrilled to announce your project has been selected as one of the top films of the year, and our jury is honored to have awarded it with a Silver Award."

How cool is that?!  Chill, a Silver Award Winner at the 2016 Spotlight Documentary Film Awards!

My Irish Guardian Angel

By the end of the yesterday, I was emotionally exhausted and my heart was aching.

My car was parked a few blocks away.  I was hoping the stroll and fresh air would help clear my head.  I noticed a short, white-haired man carrying a camouflage backpack walking ten feet in front of me.

On the other side of the street, there was a group of young guys doing skateboard tricks and hanging out.  The white-haired man said hello as he passed them, glanced back at me and continued moving forward.

As I reached the street corner, he looked back again.  I was about a foot away from the skaters dudes when the white-haired man asked, “You okay?”

“Yes”, I answered.  I was so touched by his kindness that I immediately felt a lump in my throat and my eyes started to burn.

Women's Independent Film Festival

I couldn't sleep so I was be-bopping on my laptop, checking email: Chill has been selected for this season of Women's Independent Film Festival and awarded First Place Documentary!

If you're in the LA area and would like to attend the screening, click here to get tickets and more info.

• When: Saturday, October 29, 2016 
• Where: The Complex Hollywood in the Dorie Theater (Q&A to follow)
• Time:  11:00 am - 1:00 pm, Block 1

Imagine This Women's International Film Festival

We're on a roll!  Chill is an official selection of the first annual Imagine This Women's International Film Festival in Brooklyn, NY.

If you're in the NYC area and want to check out the screening, click here to purchase a ticket. *Unlimited popcorn included with all admission prices.

• When:  Sunday, November 13, 2016
• Where:  Wythe Hotel
• Time:  12:45 pm - Short Doc Program 1

This means Chill will be screening on the east and west coast on the same day!

7th Annual ITSA Film Festival

I'm excited to share that Chill has been chosen as an official selection for the ITSA Film Festival in Sonora, CA.  Yahoo!

The screening will take place on Sunday, November 13, 2016, during Session 1 (from 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm). Short Q&A will follow.

Twin Cities Black Film Festival

Guess who's going to St. Paul, Minnesota?  This girl. Chill is an official selection of the Twin Cities Black Film Festival!

The screening will take place on Sunday, October 9, 2016, at the Minnesota History Center at 3:00 pm. Click here to purchase a ticket and to find out more about the Twin Cities Black Film Festival.

Women's Only Entertainment Film Festival

I'm really psyched to share that Chill has been accepted to the Women's Only Entertainment Film Festival.  Currently, the event is only viewed by judges.  The winners will be announced this month.  Thanks for supporting women in film and congrats to all the filmmakers!

World Premiere at the Mixed Remixed Festival

After four years of blood, sweat and tears Chill is finished! I can't believe it. I'm super excited to share it with you!

The World Premiere will take place on Saturday, June 11th during the Mixed Remixed Festival at the Japanese American National Museum.  The screening will begin at 1:00 pm and will be followed by a Q&A session.

It's been a long ride, but I'm so grateful for your support and encouragement during this journey.  I look forward to seeing you on June 11th at the Mixed Remixed Festival for the World Premiere of Chill!  Yay!!

Click here to reserve your seat and register for the Festival!  

Chill & Motiio

A huge thank you to Motiio out of Washington, DC for creating Chill's new logo, Twitter header, updated blog design and last, but definitely not least -- a new promo.  I never thought I'd get to see myself as a cartoon, but they made it happen and I love it! Check it out!

Chill Promo from Jennifer Frappier on Vimeo.

Awesome, right?  If you like their work, be sure to follow them on Twitter @MotiioMedia

Front Page of the LA Times!

My eggs were on the front of the LA Times!  How cool is that?

Let's Discuss Egg Freezing -- Pass the Wine
by Mary MacVean

If you peeked in on a recent party at the Viceroy Santa Monica, you might have noticed that the guests, almost all female, were chatting quietly, hesitantly, in pairs or trios. This wasn't a group of good friends — Prosecco and hors d'oeuvres aside.

The women were there to consider an investment: spending thousands of dollars to retrieve and freeze their eggs in case they need them one day to try to become a parent.

Egg-freezing parties — this one called On Ice — are a thing now. The idea is that not enough women are thinking about this procedure and are not thinking about it soon enough.

"Everyone who can afford to freeze their eggs should freeze their eggs. Women should take this seriously," Dr. Vicken Sahakian said at the Viceroy hotel party. "The older you are, the more eggs you need. The older you are, the fewer eggs you produce."

Egg freezing, or oocyte cryopreservation, is neither a sure thing nor cheap — running $10,000 or more a cycle, not to mention hundreds of dollars a year in storage fees, and rarely covered by insurance or employers (Facebook and Apple being among the exceptions). And there is plenty of cultural debate over whether egg freezing takes advantage of women desperate to have a child or is a way to empower them.

But doctors and women who've done it call it insurance; women say it enables them to establish a career, travel or find the right partner before becoming a parent.

"It will be absolutely the greatest gift you can give yourself because it will give you the opportunity to create the family of your dreams, and you will never regret it," Dr. Carrie Wambach said at the Viceroy, where there was a raffle for free medication needed for the process.

At the Viceroy, and at parties on other nights at Boa Steakhouse on the Sunset Strip and in the Beverly Wilshire hotel, doctors explain the procedure and answer the nervous questions: I'm 39 — or 37 or 35. Is it too late? 

Welcome Pam Wise!

It seems time has gotten away from me and it's been quite a while since I've posted.  My excuse?  Good things are happening with the film and it's been busy.

I'm happy to say that Pam Wise has joined the Chill team as editor!  I'm sure you've seen her work.  She edited these award winning flicks:  Secretary, Transamerica, Dark Matter, Then She Found Me and Dancemaker.  Not to mention Pam's an A.C.E. Eddie Award Winner for Best Edited Documentary for Dancemaker.  Pretty freakin' cool!

Good News

I'm excited to share that I received fantastic news yesterday: 

"Congratulations! Your project Chill has been accepted for fiscal sponsorship with Artspire, a program of the New York Foundation for the Arts. We are excited to begin our relationship with you, provide technical assistance to support your project’s growth, and ultimately watch Chill come to fruition."  

How cool is that?!

Follow-Up

     For the last two weeks, I've been congratulating myself on producing the eleven eggs retrieved.  Today was my final medical appointment for the egg freezing process.  Before signing the papers confirming how many eggs are going to the freezer,  I'm given a new total.   Unfortunately, two eggs didn't mature enough to be frozen.  Bummer.  This makes my total nine. Considering I've been high-fiving myself about the number eleven, I feel a little disappointed.

Egg Retrieval - Part Two

The darkness lifts as they wheel me out of the OR.  I hear voices, but I can’t tell if they’re talking to me or about me.  I attempt to speak and lift my head, but quickly resign.  I really don’t have anything to say.  Plus, my head feels like it weighs a thousand pounds.  Hilari lightly touches my left forearm and says, “They got 13 eggs.”  I smile and drift into slumber.