Fresh off the NRB convention, I boarded a red-eye flight to Los Angeles, exhausted but energized for what lay ahead. Our production team, scattered across different flights, converged late at night at our lodging, preparing for an early morning start. The road ahead was long—both literally and figuratively—but the work we were about to do made every mile worth it.
As we drove through the mountains of Lake Elsinore toward San Juan Capistrano, we were struck by the raw beauty of California’s landscape. The lingering scars of wildfires marked the hills, but just beyond the burnt remnants, the world opened up in breathtaking ways. At one point, we found ourselves above the clouds, overlooking a scene that seemed almost mythical—the lake below, the ocean in the distance, the mountains rising in every direction. It felt like standing on Mount Olympus, a reminder of both nature’s power and resilience.
Of course, California traffic didn’t share our poetic sentiment. Our planned route stretched much longer than expected, but we had accounted for delays, and despite the obstacles, we arrived on time for our first shoot: an interview with Dr. Lauren Rubal at her practice in San Juan Capistrano.
Dr. Rubal is a fertility specialist with a unique perspective. After years of persuing in vitro fertilization, she made a profound shift toward restorative reproductive medicine—treating the root causes of infertility rather than bypassing them. Her insights into the ethics and effectiveness of both approaches will be invaluable for Cradled in Glass.
From there, we met with Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, a bioethicist whose work explores the profound moral and philosophical questions surrounding human embryonic research. His expertise shed light on the direction scientific advancements are taking and the potential consequences of treating embryos as research material. His interview was a thought-provoking challenge to the status quo, and we look forward to bringing that conversation to the screen.
The next day, we traveled to San Clemente for a deeply emotional interview with Leigh Ann Woznica, a woman who endured four IVF cycles without a single live birth. Outside, surrounded by blooming roses and lemon trees, she shared her journey of grief, hope, and ultimately, the decision to pursue traditional adoption. Filming outdoors introduced a new set of challenges—the shifting sunlight, the unpredictability of nature—but it was worth it. The setting itself became a poignant metaphor: roses, beautiful yet thorned, reflecting the painful beauty of her story; lemon blossoms, delicate yet resilient, embodying both the bitterness and the unexpected sweetness of life’s turns.
Our final stop was a major milestone: Family Fertility Cryobank in San Diego. There, we interviewed the president, chief operations officer, and lab manager to understand the logistics and ethics of long-term embryo cryostorage. This was an extraordinary opportunity—not only did we gain insight into the financial and technological realities of preserving embryos, but we were granted rare, exclusive footage inside the cryogenic tanks. Watching the liquid nitrogen fill the storage chambers, seeing the embryos stored in their suspended state—it was a haunting and powerful visual, one that will leave an impact when viewers see it in the series.
As we boarded our flights home—each of us returning to different corners of the country—our minds were heavy with everything we had learned. This trip was not just about capturing footage; it was about uncovering truths, challenging assumptions, and giving a voice to stories that deserve to be heard.
We are committed to seeing this project through, and we need your help to continue. If you believe in the importance of exposing the realities of IVF and embryo research, consider supporting our work. Lucidity Media Corp. currently has spots open for investors, and we would love to share how you can be part of this mission.
Thank you for being on this journey with us. More to come soon.