Sybil Azur
Co-Director
Executive Producer
SYBIL AZUR is an obsessively focused, occasionally neurotic, socially awkward, yet fiercely loyal mother, wife, friend and daughter. A professional dancer that began her career while still a teenager, she has shared a stage with Michael Jackson, Paula Abdul, Reba McEntire, and Earth, Wind, & Fire, and has appeared on numerous television shows and films. Also an actress for many years, she has co-starred on TV shows such as Nip/Tuck, The Game, and What I Like About You. Azur went back to school and graduated summa cum laude from UCLA with degrees in International Development, Afro-American Studies, and a minor in Geography. In line with her interest in poverty alleviation, she lived in West Africa during the summers of 2009 and 2010. She briefly worked in television production on the Tavis Smiley show and other arbitrary reality shows. Sybil is now a proud and self-elected stay-at-home mom and first-time filmmaker, who is thrilled to have created a project that she is impassioned about.
Linda Cevallos-French
Co-Director
Executive Producer
LINDA CEVALLOS-FRENCH is a passionate artist whose career is extensive and diverse, spanning film, television, commercials, and live performances. Highlights of her work in film includes roles in Rent, Antwone Fisher, and Rock Star. As a dancer, she has performed with numerous artists including Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Babyface, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Reba McEntire, and Smokey Robinson. She has guest starred on numerous television shows, including Big Time Rush and ER. She recently directed Smokey Robinson’s “Don’t Know Why” music video, co-directed and choreographed Brian Ray’s “This Way Up” and “Sucker For Love” music videos and co-wrote and directed Smokey Robinson’s one man show “Words.” Linda began her dance training in San Antonio, Texas and then moved to Valencia, California, to study at the prestigious California Institute of The Arts, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. As a first-time filmmaker, Linda is excited that all of her life experiences have led her to her newfound love of documentary filmmaking.
Brian French
Editor
Co-Executive Producer
Music Supervisor
BRIAN FRENCH is the president of Tempo Entertainment Inc., a company that specializes in Film Production, Live & Studio Music Production and Tour/Production Management including clients such as Bruce Willis, Live Nation, Paul McCartney, Walmart, Rod Stewart, American Express, Yahoo, Kevin Costner and numerous others. Brian has independently produced, directed and edited various films, documentaries, music videos and commercials. Additionally, Brian has been Smokey Robinson’s Production Manager for over 20 years and co-produced 3 of Robinson’s albums, Time Flies When You’re Having Fun, Now and Then and Timeless Love. Brian also is a producer for ALP who specializes in live, multi-camera concerts broadcasts for clients such as Apple Music and The Jimmy Kimmel Show.
PUSHING MOTHERHOOD is a Kickstarter funded, feature-length documentary that examines the growing trend of deferred motherhood. The film is directed and produced by best friends Sybil Azur and Linda Cevallos-French, as they document their own journeys to become mothers later in life. We follow the two women as they unpack the reasons why they waited so long, and discover both the costs and benefits of deferring motherhood into what medical professionals call “advanced maternal age.”
Linda, a 45-year-old married career woman who was once content without children, is now attempting to achieve a pregnancy after her husband decides he wants to be a father. After a few unsuccessful months, the couple begins their journey on the infertility track. Will the pair finally become parents or will they abandon their dream and remain child free?
Sybil, a 38-year-old divorced career woman, becomes pregnant with her first child immediately after she and her boyfriend begin trying. Soon after their son is born, the couple decides to have another baby. Will they be as lucky the second time around, or will she bump into fertility issues now that she is 40?
Their stories are reinforced by the diverse narratives of twenty-three other women; singles and marrieds; those who always wanted and those who never wanted to be mothers; same sex partners on opposite sides of 35; those who got pregnant easily and those who are still struggling; those who have adopted, used surrogates or employed reproductive technology; and those who are childfree due to ambivalence, circumstance or choice.
Pushing Motherhood also explores some of the many options available to women today, including assisted reproductive technology, adoption, acupuncture and holistic medicine, gestational carriers, egg freezing, and egg donation.
By sharing their experiences and the information they’ve learned, Sybil and Linda hope to empower women so that they may take control of their reproductive lives.
