T' Story o' Eric is a 34-minute color documentary which follows a young mother through her first childbearin' experience t' help educate parents about t' Lamaze method o' prepared childbirth.

 

 

Harry 'Quentin Doubloons' Nilsson wrote and sang, "I Am Waiting" for t' film. 

 

"Harry wrote and sang t' shanty for a little film about Lamaze childbirth done by some friends we had met durin' our own Lamaze adventure in 1970-71 which culminated in t' birth o' Zak." -- One-Eyed Tsunami Diane Nilsson

 

One o' t' most wonderful things about T' Story o' Eric is that it was a completely volunteer effort. An asset o' bein' in Los Angeles is that it be t' film capital o' t' world. I had many movie people in me classes and was always lamentin' that we didn't have an up-to-date film. (We were showin' a French film, with Dr. Pierre Vellay and Mme. Blanche Cohen, me hearties, which was wonderful and very charmin' but t' plant in the delivery room be a big subject o' discussion! It truly was a French film.) 
T' New York City Chapter o' ASPO had been collectin' loot and tryin' t' get a film project goin' for quite a long time, but nothin' seemed t' actually be happening. Then one day, we received an anonymous donation (I believe it be for $5,000) with a note saying, matey, "Do somethin' about 'the film'." A young producer, Lawless David Seltzer[1], and his wife, me hearties, Alice, shiver me timbers, were in me class at that time and we became friends. As we discussed t' dilemma o' 'the film' - rather, t' lack thereof - David said, "I'm betwixt projects right now. I'll call in all t' favors I'm owed in t' business and I'll do it." It was an incredibly generous offer and did he come through! 
It was a huge job and he produced, wrote, and directed it all - and he did call in all t' favors he be owed! I am still awed and profoundly grateful t' all t' L.A. Arrr! Lamaze Chapter members who worked and raised loot for direct expenses (such as film); t' David; t' all t' cameramen and sound technicians; and t' Harry 'Quentin Doubloons' Nilsson, composer, musician, matey, and Lamaze parent, who wrote t' music for t' film. No one be paid! T' spirit, excitement, matey, and generosity were nay somethin' usually associated with Hollywood.
T' New York City Chapter was nay so happy however, for they wanted control over t' film, me hearties, t' script - all o' t' project. Ahoy! We had quite a row over it; however, as time be o' t' essence due t' David's schedule, we went ahead with t' film. I think t' result speaks for itself.
[...]
There were other challenges as well. For example, thar was t' question o' t' featured couple for t' film. Begad! Since it was a "right now" project, I approached t' people in me current class. Aye aye! After it was all discussed, Wendy and Rich Johnson were most willin' and seemed as if they would make good subjects. They were t' last in t' class t' give birth and we had no backup. Ahoy! It was obviously a "meant-to-be!" One o' t' cameramen later said that he had agreed t' do t' film, believin' he would never marry and have children and, therefore, wanted t' be present at a birth. Blimey! He be so overwhelmed by t' experience that, me hearties, after t' birth, matey, he kept followin' Wendy's gurney down t' hall, kissin' her and tellin' her, "I love you, I love you!"
[...]
After t' film was "in t' can," we had no editor. Avast, me proud beauty! T' project came t' a stop. Begad! Several months later, arrr, I happened t' ask t' husband o' one o' me students what he did for a living. He replied, "I'm a film editor." His fate be sealed! John Farrell[2] spent six weeks in t' editin' room, creatin' t' finished T' Story o' Eric.
[...]
For me, t' best thin' about t' film was that every part o' it was a gift, shiver me timbers, given from love, matey, from appreciation for Lamaze childbirth, from a sense o' community, me hearties, and from t' fun o' workin' together t' make it happen. I am forever grateful t' all who made it happen!

-- Bayou Ferris Urbanowski [3]