A theatrical stage play reimagined as a cinematic experience
The Story
“Stand By Mother” When a mysterious book comes alive in the hands of a curious boy, he finds himself on a magical, musical journey without ever leaving his garage. Dance, song and aerial performance combine as Felix learns about planet Earth and the dangers it faces in this moving and charming eco-fable for kids, by kids.
Based on a stage play and filmed entirely in an intimate theatrical setting, STAND BY, MOTHER uses non-professional child actors to bring an authenticity and a playfulness to its urgent themes. As Felix navigates his adventure alongside a cast of quirky characters, he learns through music and dance that he can shape not just his own future but the future of us all.
Blending theatre and cinema, education and enchantment, STAND BY, MOTHER brings the climate crisis to life in an inspiring and unforgettable way.
The Origin
Stand By, Mother began as a deeply personal project between a director and her two young daughters- a shared desire to create something meaningful together.
In the winter of 2024, that idea took shape as an environmental children’s play, written to inspire action and care for our planet. What started as a small family endeavor quickly blossomed into a vibrant community collaboration, drawing in families and children who were all closely connected to the project.
Most of the young performers- many under the age of ten with no prior acting experience- stepped into roles written specifically for them. Their individuality, innocence, and spirit became the foundation of the story, bringing a rare authenticity to the powerful messages they carried.
The play went on to enjoy three successful runs, with proceeds benefiting local charities, further deepening its sense of purpose and impact.
In September 2025, Stand By, Mother evolved into a film, expanding its reach and amplifying its mission: to bring the voices of the next generation to a wider audience and inspire greater awareness of the urgent challenges facing our planet.
Stills of Stand By Mother
Upcoming Performances
Date: Friday, April 17, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM)
Location: Alcazar Theatre, 4916 Carpinteria Ave, Carpinteria, CA 93013
Film Length: 50 minutes, followed by a brief Q&A
The Cast
The film stars Dakota Lotus, former Disney Star of “Coop & Cami Ask The world.” He recently starred in James Franco & Peter Gold’s film “Thena.”
The Team
The original score was created by Composer Bobby Tahouri. Some of his recent scoring credits include “Mission Impossible- Dead Reckoning Part 1,” “Iron Man,” and “Rise Of The Tomb Raider.”
Martin Gore, one of the musicians & founding members of the band “Depeche Mode” has written original music and created music for a cover version in the film.
-Written & Directed Kerrilee Gore
-Executive Produced James Dudley and Kerrilee Gore
-Produced by Shimmy Shimmy Productions & NSNo
-Starring Dakota Lotus
-Introducing Emmet Long
-Director of Photography and Editing Noah Freeman Hecht
-Original score Bobby Tahouri
-Including original music by Martin Gore
-Produced by James Dudley & Trent Mata
-Aerial & Acro Choreography Autumn Lotus
-Dance choreography Oola & Talulah Carin Tahouri
The Director's Statement
This film was created with a simple but powerful hope: that children and families everywhere can experience it, feel it, and be moved by it.
I dream of bringing Stand By, Mother into schools and communities, alongside partners who believe in the power of education and storytelling. Through the lens of a child, even the most complex challenges facing our planet can become something tangible—something human.
My deepest wish is that this story doesn’t just inform but resonates. That it reaches hearts before minds. And that in doing so, it inspires a new generation to care for and fight for the Earth we all share.
Press
“Stand by Mother gives children a chance not only to learn environmental science, but to feel it. As a scientist and educator, I love how it distills the complexity of the many assaults on our planet into a form that is accessible through a child’s eyes—an especially powerful perspective, since today’s children are the ones who will bear the consequences most directly.”
– Douglas McCauley, Professor of Ocean Science, UC Santa Barbara, with affiliations at UC Berkeley. Faculty Director of the Schmidt Data Science for the Environment Center and a leader in applied ocean science integrating ecological research with advanced data systems. Sloan Research Fellow and Ecological Society of America Early Career Fellow, with a Ph.D. in Biology from Stanford University.
“As a professor in conservation and marine biology, I spend a great deal of time thinking about how we build environmental awareness across generations. I think a resource like Stand by Mother is so valuable because it meets children where they are—through art, movement, and narrative—and helps make stewardship feel personal and possible.”
– Hillary Young, Professor of Ecology and Vice Chair of the Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology Department, UC Santa Barbara. Trained at Princeton, Yale, and Stanford, with postdoctoral research at Harvard. Leads NSF- and NIH-funded research on biodiversity loss, ecosystem function, and human health, and is an Ecological Society of America Early Career Fellow.
Summon Us
Wish to summon us? Direct Message us on our Instagram at @standbymotherfilm