Oscar-nominated cinematographer Rachel Morrison celebrated Female Filmmaker Friday by sharing an important message about pregnancy.
After becoming the first woman to earn an Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography and recently finishing production of Against All Enemies at eight months pregnant, the Black Panther cinematographer took a moment to clear some misconceptions about working through pregnancies.
"There’s a common misconception that likens pregnancy to some kind of disability—the idea that women who are pregnant shouldn’t be active and can’t go about their normal lives," she wrote in an Instagram post that has since gone viral. "While no two pregnancies are the same, I just want to say that for many to most women this isn’t the case at all. I just wrapped a feature Against All Enemies at 8+ months pregnant. Now I’m on to a commercial and I plan to keep shooting for as long as anyone will hire me knowing in a few weeks I may have to replace myself if I go into labor on set."
Despite her productivity, Morrison made a point to say she is not a superhero and argued that women should be given a choice about how long they continue working while they're pregnant.
"Pregnancy and motherhood in general is not a disadvantage and the craft doesn’t suffer as a result," she continued. "If anything the added experience and enhanced empathy has made me a better cinematographer and filmmaker."
Morrison's message quickly spread on social media and hundreds of women responded with supportive comments like, "Coming from a woman who held a conference call during labor... I agree! Not every pregnancy is the same. I couldn't run a marathon but my body and mind were still strong AF."
Echoing Morrison's experience, another follower added, "I am an ICU nurse, I was 8 and a half months pregnant when I stop working at the bedside, doing patient care and on flu season. Crazy days, but being pregnant and working I felt I was on my best. Great work!"
