Father’s Day Video: “Thanks, Dads”

Director Hieu Tran put together this video just in time for Father’s Day.

Although the family here is portrayed by actors, the sentiment reflected is real nonetheless for plenty of kids with gay parents.

Happy Dad’s Day!

From the Director’s Statement:

There is a saying I learned in my college parenting class: Biology makes babies, but it doesn’t make parents.

Thanks, Dads was a spontaneous idea that was inspired by my father and some gay couples I know. It is a video to thank all dads – gay or straight – all over the world for doing their best to raise their children.

I believe parenting is arguably the toughest job in the world, a lifelong commitment with no vacations and constant on-call duty. I saw the struggles of my parents as they raised four children, especially my dad’s countless night shifts and overtime hours just to make ends meet. Yet, he still managed to have the energy and time to teach me math, how to ride a bike, read, and reviewed my homework. I owe him – and my mother too – a huge debt of gratitude.

This video makes me think about my own future. I am turning 25 years old soon and when I scroll on Facebook, many of my friends from college are getting married and welcoming their newborn sons and daughters. When my partner and I have kids, I hope we will work together to be good and proud parents, just like my own parents. I want to guide our future children to reach their potential and love them unconditionally. I want them to be better versions of us.

In a run-and-gun mode, we shot this video in less than four hours. Post production took three days with color correction, editing, recording music and doing the voice over. Funding for this project was covered in full by revenue generated from Squared (2013) sales, which paid for actors, props, and a super fast memory card.