My mission as a writer/director is to create
films that touch the human heart. "The Mother Tree" is
such a film. Archetypal in nature, viewers seem to respond to the
film on many levels, from the mundane to the profound. "The
Mother Tree" is a tale that speaks to all ages, striking the
universal chord that vibrates the longing for a mother's love.
Created as my student thesis film, this project
was made for fewer than two thousand dollars with a relatively small
crew. For me, it was magical the way the pieces fell in place, from my
outstanding cast of unknown actors to the amazing appearance of a
roadkill deer at just the right moment. It was as if exisistence itself
was supporting the making of this film.
I hope watching "The Mother Tree"
touches you...as much as making it touched me.
About Shaeri Richards
When it comes to talents, Shaeri Richards has
many. Ms. Richards began her career as a broadcast journalist.
She spent 10 years in radio, winning numerous awards for her
radio documentaries. Then she moved to television for a two-year
stint as a morning news anchor. Ms. Richards capped that career
with the completion of A Journey in Friendship: Discovering Citizen
Advocacy. Written and produced by Ms. Richards in conjunction
with Louisiana Public Broadcasting, this groundbreaking documentary
received national attention in the mid-1980’s.
In her spare time, Ms. Richards also managed to
master the drum kit. She spent nearly 10 years as the drummer for
a popular Northern Arizona R & B band. She’s also an
actress, with more than 30 plays and several Independent films on her
resume’. She spent more than five years as the morning DJ on Northern Arizona's number one radio station.. And her voice is highly sought
after for both film narration and commercial work. In
2001, Shaeri Richards wrote, narrated and published an award winning
audio-book for kids called, Maressa & Merlone: A Musical
Fairy Tale.
With the completion of The Mother Tree, Ms.
Richards adds writer/director to her list of talents. She lives
in Sedona, AZ with her husband Jerry Hartleben, a professional
cinematographer. Together they plan to create Independent films
that touch the heart.
