What do you do if you're battling doctors while dealing with your intimidating, doctor-hating, 73 year-old mother who was just diagnosed with stage-four cancer? How about opening up a bottle of Kahula and mixing it with a gallon of vanilla ice cream? THROUGH A DAUGHTER'S EYES shares the funny, yet emotional, roller coaster ride 49 year-old Natalie faced while caught in the wake of her terminally ill, obstinate mother who is in denial of her condition. Natalie's conflict with her mother is matched by her battles with medical professionals who insist on performing tests that do more harm than good on her ill mother. Natalie ultimately resolves to channel Opal Jean's bulldog personality to protect her mother's dignity the cancer so wants to take away. By doing so, Natalie finally understands Opal Jean and discovers it's okay to feel what you feel. The result is a story of a mother and daughter, filled with laughter, wisdom, and courage, that defines them both...through a daughter's eyes.
A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Natalie graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor's degree in Education and Music. She furthered her studies at NYC's Hunter College completing courses toward a Masters in Social Work. For over 30 years Natalie has worked passionately offering aid to children and families for communities in Indiana, Ohio, New York City, and now Los Angeles. Always one to combine her love for social work and the arts, Ms. Manns engaged the youth she worked with by coaching and directing them in choirs and plays. An avid composer, songwriter and vocalist, she also flexed her own performance muscles touring nationally in two Broadway musicals and singing in exclusive New York City jazz clubs including Sardi's, Tavern on the Green, and B Smith's. Ms. Manns' first feature screenplay, "Truth", was submitted into the 2002 Sundance Feature Film Project competition where it reached the final round of competition. After moving to California in 2004, Natalie became educated in the art of digital video editing, and found a passion creating actor's performance reels. Natalie has created and edited over 200 demo reels including America's Next Top Model, Nijah Harris, and the LA County Department of Public Health who published a Community Services reel on their website she helped create. In 2007 Natalie and her husband created and co-founded MannsMade Productions, an independent film production company focused on fostering creativity and positive expression. Natalie made her film directorial debut with MannsMade Production's first comedic short, "Before and After", which she also wrote and received a "Best Comedy" nomination at the 2008 San Diego Black Film Festival. They went on to write and produce three additional short films that found successful runs in over 25 festivals. MannsMade Productions won the 2010 DV Award for Outstanding Achievement in Digital Video Production for their drama "Somebody's Gonna Pay". Their documentary, "The Five Acres' Digital Storytelling Experience", a piece written and directed by Natalie about her work with foster children, won Best Documentary Short at the 2014 Los Angeles Cinema Festival Of Hollywood. Currently employed with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Ms. Manns works to reduce individual and community problems through creating and monitoring evidence-based programs designed to promote the health and well being of more than 10 million Los Angeles County residents.
