Not a Support Group
a documentary short film about hemophilia, HIV, and strength in community
Not a Support Group tells a powerful and deeply human story from within the bleeding disorders community.
In the 1980s, a catastrophic failure in the American medical blood supply system led to the inadvertent infection of HIV in thousands of people with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders. Since the healthcare and other institutional systems struggled to meet even their most basic emotional needs, the community were forced to take matters into their own hands.
Patients and families in Northern California came together to support one another through their grief, fear, and staggering loss. Crucial to this story are the empathetic social workers who—without calling them “support groups”—aided in creating safe, welcoming spaces where people could process trauma, build trust, and begin to heal. These gatherings were intentionally framed to reduce stigma, especially for men and others who may have been hesitant to participate. What began as informal, inclusive meetings evolved into enduring circles of care that still meet today, nearly four decades later.
Not a Support Group gives equal weight to the pioneering efforts of the women’s group, Mothers of Bleeders (MOB), and the men’s groups that followed. Women, often socialized to see emotional care as strength, were first to lead. Then, through the courage of a few, men also found space to connect, grieve, and grow together.
Through interviews, archival footage, and expert insights, the film traces the origins of these healing spaces in the late 1980s, what they offered to those who joined, and how they’ve continued (and changed) into 2025—both practically and emotionally. It also explores how these communities turned their pain into advocacy for safer medical practices and greater public awareness of bleeding disorders and HIV.
More than a historical account, this film is a tribute to the power of community, the importance of emotional resilience, and the quiet leadership that helped a generation survive—preserving a legacy of care, connection, and collective strength.
the film team
Sara L. Schwartz - Executive Producer
As faculty in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at the University of Southern California, Sara approaches teaching, scholarship, and filmmaking from a cross-disciplinary perspective bridging social work, anthropology, and visual arts. Sara founded the USC Visual Social Work Graduate Certificate to highlight counter-narrative storytelling using visual methods, including photovoice, ethnographic film, participatory video, visual archives, and textile arts. Her current scholarship examines the impact of historical trauma associated with AIDS, bleeding disorders, social exclusion, and forced displacement blending traditional qualitative interviewing with visual data. Sara serves on the Board of Directors of the National AIDS Memorial and co-founded the Surviving Voices Project, which annually produces short films on under-represented communities impacted by HIV/AIDS.
Michael Bodie - Producer/Director
Bodie is a filmmaker and educator who collaborated as an editor and co-producer on Sara Schwartz’s documentary short film, Gert’s Boys. He worked with Sundance Institute as an executive producer of their online video content for over a decade, and has produced, directed, edited many short films and music videos. As an Associate Professor of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California, his work is focused on film, media, and immersive experiences that explore social and environmental justice.
Dana Francis - Producer/Community Advisor
Dana is a retired social worker who worked closely with the bleeding disorders community for 33 years. He worked with kids, young adults, their parents as well as men and women with bleeding issues. Dana continues to support and advocate for the community and is interested in having it's history recorded for future generations to appreciate and better understand.
Donate today!
Please support our film by making a tax deductible donation via the
Northern California Bleeding Disorders Foundation.