On the Pulse of Life
ON THE PULSE OF LIFE, a short experimental documentary, documents the birth justice moment in Alameda County, California, and celebrates new motherhood for Black women. Centered around Black mothers in Oakland, ON THE PULSE OF LIFE, shares the intimate moments that lead up to the first breath of life. In collaboration with the BElovedBIRTH Black Centering, a perinatal program by, for, and with Black people — this film shows that there is an answer to this current maternal health crisis in America. It is in the first few breaths of life that can make our futures equitable — when will we choose to make this a reality?
This film was made in collaboration with BElovedBIRTH Black Centering and is a part of the Futures exhibition at the Smithsonian Arts and Industry Museum, and was executive produced by The Alliance for Media Arts + Culture.
PRESS & AWARDS
PAST SCREENINGS
FUTURES exhibition | Smithsonian Museum - Arts and Industry Museum | Available for public viewing: November 20, 2021 - July 6, 2022
April 11, 2022, Black Maternal Health Week Film Screening Party - Oakland, CA
June 3, 2022 - Lighthouse International Film Festival (Shorts Block #6) - Long Beach Island, NJ
June 10, 2022 - Greenwood Film Festival - Tulsa, Oklahoma
September 4-10, 2022 - Black Femme Supremacy Film Festival (Defining Femme Short Film Block) - online
September 17, 2022 - Lane Doc Fest - Jackson, TN
September 18, 2022 - Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival (Black Heritage Shorts) - Cleveland, OH
September 19 - 23, 2022 - Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival (Black Heritage Shorts) - online
September 23 - October 2, 2022 - Imagine This Women’s Film Festival - online
October 30, 2022, Oakland Museum of California (Beyond Roe: Reproductive Justice Now) - Oakland, CA
November 1 - 4, 2022 - North Dakota Human Rights Film Festival - Fargo, ND
August 26, 2023, Idlewild International Film Festival, Detroit, MI (in-person & virtual available)
October 9, 2025, Black Film: Unscreened & Unstreamed collection (Fabio Center for Social Justice)
CREW
Director & Editor | Jessica Jones
with BElovedBIRTH Black Centering, a program of Alameda Health System & the Alameda County Public Health Department
Producer | Jay Gash
Executive Producer| The Alliance for Media for Media Arts + Culture
Director of Photography | CB Smith-Dahl
Colorist | Natacha Ikoli
Sound Mix | Cheryl Ottenritter
Featuring
Jyesha Wren of BElovedBIRTH Black Centering
Amber Franklin
Breanna Pannell
Trina Thierry