synopsis
Looking For My Anchor follows filmmaker Erica Jordan’s quest for mooring as she turns the lens on herself, grappling with grief from the loss of her mother, home, a long-term relationship, and her son’s departure for college. The story unfolds aboard her small boat in a low-income community of artists and maritime workers on the fringes of an affluent California county. Scenes from video journals and home movies flashback to raw and unfiltered experiences of Erica’s life as a single mother. Woven into Erica’s narrative are the stories of three people who face their own challenges while anchored out on the San Francisco Bay: Henry, a seasoned and philosophical self-described 'anchor outlaw,'; Kim, a young advocate battling municipal efforts to banish anchored-out vessels; and Diane, a once-vibrant artist who died alone on her boat. These stories intricately intertwine to explore the pain of loss and the search for a lasting home amidst the serenity and tumult of life on the water’s edge.
The Film's Journey
Looking For My Anchor emerged from a period of significant personal change and introspection. As the filmmaker, I undertook this project with a deep sense of purpose, managing almost every aspect of production—from shooting to sound and editing. This film became a personal refuge, a space where I could confront my own grief and seek meaning amid a turbulent time in my life.
Initially, I set out to examine the theme of home within an increasingly unaffordable world. However, as the film developed, it expanded into a deeper investigation of how personal upheavals transform our sense of identity and belonging. Through this process, it became a reflection of my own struggles with loss and transition, as well as an exploration of how such changes redefine our understanding of stability and place.
Recent loss left me grappling with the question, "How did I get here?" This sense of confusion and displacement mirrored the experiences of the characters in the film. Living on a small boat served as both a practical and symbolic space where I faced the tangible challenges of my life while grappling with the effects of climate change and environmental instability.
Looking For My Anchor represents the power of storytelling to help navigate personal transitions and find connection. By sharing intertwined narratives, I hope to resonate with others who are facing their own moments of change and seeking their own anchors in the midst of life’s uncertainties.
