Director’s Statement

 My first documentary was for wrestlers. This one is for their moms.

I started nonfiction filmmaking with PINNED, a David vs. Goliath story set in the brutal world of high school wrestling. I’m originally from Cleveland so I have a soft spot for underdogs, and I was drawn to the strong individual stories of the wrestlers, coaches, and parents who endure so much for a shot at greatness. Making that film showed me how powerful individual stories can be in starting discussions that impact a community in a positive way.

It also taught me that it helps to have your film’s subject wrestle a bear on national television.

One of the marvelous things about being a filmmaker is never knowing where your stories will come from. I’d never heard of mastectomy tattoos until I came across the subject by chance in an article. I was blown away, and had for the first time the reaction I’ve now seen countless others have: I never knew this existed but now that I think about it, of course it does. It’s incredible, it’s powerful, and I’ve got to tell people about it because it might help them.

I’m fascinated by the profound impact art can have on people. I like to look at old things in new ways. I also love the faces people make when I tell them that my movie’s about nipple tattoos… and the way they immediately want to share the project when I tell them why.

I realized this story could do good, so I told it.

I currently live in Los Angeles where filmmaking is my day job (and my night job). I spent the past few years editing and producing a pretty macho docuseries about the world’s most badass muscle car so that I could afford to spend nights and weekends creating an art film where women reclaim & redefine their feminine identity with mastectomy tattoos. Life is full of funny trade-offs like that. I hope you find this one meaningful.

-Patrick Norman