“This is a film I feel like I've been preparing for my whole life even though I didn't know that I wanted to make it,” said Director Mariska Hargitay who was only three years old when her mother, Hollywood icon Jayne Mansfield, died in a car accident. “By the time that I decided to make this film I all in and ready to go.”

Hargitay’s documentary, My Mom Jayne, navigates Mansfield’s public and private legacy through interviews, and a collection of never-before-seen photos and home movies as Hargitay sought to know, understand and embrace her mother for the first time. The film had its world premiere at the 78th Cannes Film Festival where it was nominated for the L’Œil d’or.

On April 30, following a screening that was jointly hosted by the Eastern Region Special Projects Committee and the Focus on Women Committee (FOWC), Hargitay and her longtime collaborator, Producer and DGA Member Trish Adlesic, engaged in a Q&A about the film and their past collaborations moderated by Director Lisa Cortés (Little Richard: I Am Everything).

During the discussion Hargitay revealed her preparation to tell such a highly personal story. “When I first decided to do it in 2020 during the pandemic, I knew the work that I had to do internally just to make sure that I could come at it from an objective clear point of view but not as an injured person. So, I took seven years to work on my issues because you can't make a movie like this if you're not through it on the other side. As a filmmaker you have to be objective. This process cleared so much out of the way for me. It was an extraordinarily organizing film to make, organizing for me personally, organizing for my family, and organizing for me as an artist. So, I think there was a fearlessness component, and I was just ready. I was ready to tell this story. I was ready to go on this search. I was ready to do the archaeological dig but, also, I was deeply genuinely disciplinedly curious. I think as a filmmaker; to make a good film, you have to really want the answer and I did. And that was extraordinary because something got cleared out. I could see my mother was fearless and she went for it. And I went for it, and I had an extraordinary partner in this film and an extraordinary team.”

Prompted by a question from Cortés about the Producer’s role as protector, translator and collaborator, Adlesic answered, “I played all three of those roles. I've known Marishka for almost 28 years and she’s a dear and trusted friend. When she told me she was ready I knew exactly what she meant, and I was protective on many levels. I wanted to collaborate and help her support her vision as a Director. Being a proud DGA member for 25 years you learn ‘how can I best sustain and empower the Director's vision?’ There are many ways to do that, and you have to be able to think on your feet under enormous pressure at times quickly and to also bring in the most creative talented people that will enhance that vision.”

Best known for her long running acting role as Olivia Benson in variations of the Law & Order series universe, Hargitay’s other directorial credits include multiple episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She has been a DGA member since 2014.

Adlesic’s directorial credits include the documentaries A Tree of Life and I Am Evidence (both co-directed by Geeta Gandbhir and produced by Hargitay). Her UPM, Assistant Directing and Location Manager credits include features such as Gus Van Sant's Finding Forrester and Kevin Hooks' Black Dog; as well as episodes of The Morning Show, House, Three Brothers and nearly 400 episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order. A DGA member since 1998, Adlesic has served as a member of the Eastern AD/UPM Council.