Oscar-Nominated Cinematographer Rachel Morrison on Working While Pregnant: ‘This Should Be Left Up to Us’
Rachel Morrison, whose work on “Mudbound” made her the first woman to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography, is celebrating Female Filmmaker Friday by talking about working while pregnant. In an Instagram post, the “Black Panther” lenser writes that she just wrapped production on “Against All Enemies” at eight months pregnant and, despite the common misconception, pregnancy is not “some kind of disability.”
“The point is I am NOT a superhero,” Morrison writes. “I am just going about my life doing the thing that I love for as long as I can because the more I work before baby the longer I can take off after. Which should also be MY choice and no one else’s.”
“Physically speaking I could have gone back to work within a week of having my son,” she adds. “At the time, I lost many jobs because people were nervous to hire me so soon after the birth but again I say this should be left up to us. Pregnancy and motherhood in general is not a disadvantage and the craft doesn’t suffer as a result.”
Morrison’s work also includes “Dope,” “Fruitvale Station,” and “Cake.” “Una” helmer Benedict Andrews directed “Against All Enemies,” which stars Kristen Stewart and is scheduled for release sometime next year.
