Latvian-born Brooklynite moves hundreds with funny film about depression
Transplanted from Latvia, Brooklynite Signe Baumane just might be the only independent animator who is making a feature entirely in Brooklyn. The artist resides and works in Sunset Park and Bay Ridge, and is about to finish her new film, a dark comedy titled “Rocks In My Pockets.”
The feature tackles a sensitive subject, focusing on the lives of five women in Baumane’s family (including herself) who struggle with depression, but Baumane is able to portray her story with humor. While the other four women depicted in the film are ultimately consumed by their sadness, Baumane has lived on to tell their poignant story.
New York State Council on the Arts, The Jerome Foundation, and Women Make Movies all helped to finance the film through the animation and coloring stages. But when the funds fell short for sound and music, Baumane started a Kickstarter campaign to fundraise for these expenses. “Rocks In My Pockets” touched so many people that in just 25 days, the film reached its initial Kickstarter goal, raising $42,800 from 655 backers.