ON Screen Experts

"Kin Makers” (working title) is a streaming reality series that seeks to make (a) real life speculative famil(y/ies) based on making good relations and non-natal/non-biological kin.* This project seeks to explore and document alternative forms of kin making.

"Kin Makers" is seeking trained professionals (NY-based experts in family psychology and counselling, community mindfulness, family legal and health, gender and womens studies, and non biological kin making and more) to join the "Kin Makers" team. Experts in family and community psychology and kin making are invited to apply in order to assist the cast on camera in exploring what the future of family can be. As cast members embark on a journey to form a family of their own with their fellow cast members, experts will facilitate the process by facilitating on screen exploration, including group discussions. With the help of family experts, the cast members will carefully get to know and learn from one another, as well as unpack their own psychology and group dynamics.

Not only can trained specialists bring important safety measures to the emotional journey of forming a family, but also, their knowledge will help increase the family’s success as a unit and bring important fact-based knowledge to the series’ mission to bring visibility to alternative forms of kin making. Ideally one main psychologist will have a recurring on screen role which helps guide the family from beginning to end, including informing the casting process. Additional/supporting experts may appear in episodes to lead cast member exercises, share knowledge with viewers and cast, and even weigh in on the family’s progress. On screen frequency of supporting experts may be equatable to that of Dr. Frankie Bashan, Psy.D. on “Are You the One?”

*referencing the work of scholars/theorists Kim Tallbear, Donna Haraway, Sophie Lewis and more.