Discussion My best friend took his life last year, so I made a film to spread awareness

[OldGod]

The title is 'Born Into It'.

Featuring raw interviews and stories coming straight from actual sufferers of mental illness. The goal is to increase awareness and shed light on stories that may otherwise have gone unheard. They can no longer be swept under the rug. They need a voice.

Here is the trailer:




I was inspired to start this project after the tragic suicide of my best friend. I felt that I needed to do something other than just mourn him. I wanted to show people the damage that untreated mental health issues can cause. I bought my VHS camera and a Polaroid camera and began my project. Interviewing multiple people in my community who suffer the same illnesses as my friend did. These are stories I felt needed to be heard.

It is a solo project and the film is shot entirely on VHS and uses a mixed media style with Polaroid photos, notes, book excerpts, quotes, statistics, data, etc. It is now complete and waiting for release.

Here's one of the posters:

 

[Imustbefree]

Beautiful. Let us know when it's released and how we can watch it. Looking forward to it.

 

[OldGod]

Beautiful. Let us know when it's released and how we can watch it. Looking forward to it.

Thank you! It's technically finished now, I sent it to a few people for comments and criticism and I'm tweaking it for final release. I'm very proud of my work.

I just figured maybe this community at SS would appreciate such a work.

 

[DyslexicForeigner]

Very nice, I'll watch it :)

 

[OldGod]

Very nice, I'll watch it :)

Please do!

 

[Otter]

Please do!

Me too. let us know when and how to watch it

 

[OldGod]

Me too. let us know when and how to watch it

I'll definitely put a link up once it's perfected. So far everyone says they love it. I'm close with my best friend's mom and family and they all cried watching it and said they were proud of the work I did. It's making me feel great.

 

[Otter]

I'll definitely put a link up once it's perfected. So far everyone says they love it. I'm close with my best friend's mom and family and they all cried watching it and said they were proud of the work I did. It's making me feel great.

I'm all for trying to edumacate (you might be too young for this reference) the public!

 

[OldGod]

Here's another poster:

 

[Deathbydemo]

Looks like you worked really hard on this, I really like the trailer! Be sure to post the full link once it's ready.

 

[Myforevercharlie]

I wil watch to! What an good idea and tribute to your friend at the same time

 

[Iloveyouall]

It seems awesome and the fact that it's filmed on VHS with no doubt add something nostalgic and raw. Can't wait to see it.

 

[OldGod]

It seems awesome and the fact that it's filmed on VHS with no doubt add something nostalgic and raw. Can't wait to see it.

Yeah I wanted it to have a unique feel to it. Real VHS and Polaroid were used. I wanted it to be dirty, imperfect, and used up just like the subject matter. And it was so much fun to edit all the shitty VHS glitches and errors.
Once it's done for real I'll definitely let everyone know! I can't believe all you guys like it so much.

In the mean time please please please go like the page on Facebook and give the trailer on YouTube a like/comment! That would help me a TON ❤

 

[noaccount]

Interesting. Did you talk to anyone who rejected a psychiatric/illness model for understanding their suffering, who talked about it more in personal, humanistic, spiritual or sociopolitical terms, or who reported that 'treatment' was a main cause of their trauma or suffering?

 

[OldGod]

Interesting. Did you talk to anyone who rejected a psychiatric/illness model for understanding their suffering, who talked about it more in personal, humanistic, spiritual or sociopolitical terms, or who reported that 'treatment' was a main cause of their trauma or suffering?

YES. The last interview of the film has lots of rejection and frustration. If you want you can see the specific clip on Instagram @Still_Dreaming_Productions

 

[Lostandfound7]

That is amazing @OldGod ! I can't wait to see it.

Go forward♡

(Ps. Missed u and was wondering how u were doing)

 

[noaccount]

Oh damn I was being super insensitive also, I'm really sorry about your friend, I'm extremely burnt out from trying to do harm reduction in impossible situations but I didn't mean to skip right over that.

 

[OldGod]

That is amazing @OldGod ! I can't wait to see it.

Go forward♡

(Ps. Missed u and was wondering how u were doing)

You guys can call me Jake now

Yeah I had a whole lot going on but it was like when you wind up for a swing and you just hit life full force. I went to a dark place and I came back with a punch.

I'll be posting it here when I'm able to, in the meantime you guys are totally free to follow the Facebook page or YouTube! The recognition helps me a whole lot cause I'm working really hard to get the word out on this. I want to open up a memorial donation in my best friend's name and raise money for mental health research by having a screening.

Oh damn I was being super insensitive also, I'm really sorry about your friend, I'm extremely burnt out from trying to do harm reduction in impossible situations but I didn't mean to skip right over that.

All good my dude, no harm no foul.

 

[enjolras]

Loved everything about this teaser. The style and information, intent and thought process exposed. It's going to be a winner champion. Great charming tribute to your friend. Congrats for this very positive effort

 

[OldGod]

Loved everything about this teaser. The style and information, intent and thought process exposed. It's going to be a winner champion. Great charming tribute to your friend. Congrats for this very positive effort

Thank you!

So get this too! The song in the trailer (also featured in the full cut) is called "The Light" by Suffocate For Fuck Sake. I showed the song to my best friend before he died, when he was very depressed. I wanted to show him all my sad songs that get me through and he loved every single one. I put this song on and it seemed like he was just meditating with his head down in the car so I changed the track. He immediately pulled his head up and said "Why would you turn off such beautiful music". So that's a huge reason I used the song. Plus there are some deeper layers revealed in the full cut that I won't spoil here.

Anyway, I need permission from the band to use the song if I'm gonna distribute it. I've been talking with the band and their label today and not only are they totally cool with it but they even asked to see the trailer! I'm fucking flipping out right now, this is crazy.

I also emailed Vice News to try to get coverage on this so hopefully they get back to me as well.

Big things, guys. BIG things.

 

[OldGod]

I found your teaser insufferable to watch to be honest. You are constantly in the way.

Would you mind uploading the raw interviews of the guys suffering from mental illness without all of the VHS filter, colour palette, fonts, composition and music addendum ?

Since its all about spreading awareness and nothing else, I think it would be fair to those who want an honest and rational debate about suicide and mental illness. That way you could cater to both audiences.

Make a film without any creativity involved. That's a really good plan, you must be the Stanley Kubrick of this century.

I have shown this trailer to hundreds of people and this is the first time anyone had anything hateful to say. So thanks for that.

Of you read my post closely you would see thst it's a tribute to my best friend who killed himself. And it's only a trailer. Have you ever seen a film trailer thst didn't have music? And yeah it has VHS effects, it's entertaining. Come on dude, you're coming off as a total ass right now. Please tell me you're not seriously that negative.

EDIT: Looks like that guy deleted his comment pretty quickly.
On another good note, I finished the layout for the DVD. After the films premiere it will be sold with proceeds going to a mental health research fund in my best friends name.

 

[oneofthoseyoudontwan]

Excellent work mate! Just love the style
may your friend rest in peace.

 

[OldGod]

Excellent work mate! Just love the style
may your friend rest in peace.

Thank you!

All this feedback means so much to me. It hurts, and it's even kind of funny... the one person who loved film as much as I do was my friend and the one person I would want to do this film with is him, only he's gone and his death is the entire reason I'm doing this in the first place. Such a strange paradox.

I'll say this again, anyone who is enjoying this stuff so far please please please go like my FB page and give the trailer some likes on YouTube, subscribe if you can. The more people get on board the better chance there is of getting legitimized and being able to produce enough funds for this memorial benefit❤

 

[H2H2]

I had deleted my comment before you answered but since you have answered I will answer you back.

Make a film without any creativity involved. That's a really good plan, you must be the Stanley Kubrick of this century.

Check the history of documentary as a genre . Not being in the way is one of the key issues of documentaries as a genre. That question has literally shaped the documentary as a genre and all its conventions as we know them today.

Of you read my post closely you would see thst it's a tribute to my best friend who killed himself. And it's only a trailer. Have you ever seen a film trailer thst didn't have music? And yeah it has VHS effects, it's entertaining. Come on dude, you're coming off as a total ass right now. Please tell me you're not seriously that negative.

Tv audiences have a consumerist relationships to other people sufferings. They going to feel sad, pity, etc for the people in your doc and then forget about them and switch to the next tragedie or human failing of their liking.

You have filled your doc with narrative and stylistic artifacts that are there to elicit an emotional response instead of pushing for an honest and rational conversation about suicide and mental illness. The aftermath is not bringing awarenesss imo, its triviliazing suicide and mental illness, social conditioning an emotional response to the matter and and making mental illness and the tragedie behind it enterteining to watch for the audiences. Im not saying you are doing it on purpose and you are not well intentioned.

It just like violence in movies. People are so overexposed to stylyzed and decontextualized violence that they watch someone cutting another persons ear in a tarantino movie and they find it funny and enterteining.

 

[OldGod]

I had deleted my comment before you answered but since you have answered I will answer you back.



Check the history of documentary as a genre . Not being in the way is one of the key issues of documentaries as a genre. That question has literally shaped the documentary as a genre and all its conventions as we know them today.


Tv audiences have a consumerist relationships to other people sufferings. They going to feel sad, pity, etc for the people in your doc and then forget about them and switch to the next tragedie or human failing of their liking.

You have filled your doc with narrative and stylistic artifacts that are there to elicit an emotional response instead of pushing for an honest and rational conversation about suicide and mental illness. The aftermath is not bringing awarenesss imo, its triviliazing suicide and mental illness, social conditioning an emotional response to the matter and and making mental illness and the tragedie behind it enterteining to watch for the audiences. Im not saying you are doing it on purpose and you are not well intentioned.

It just like violence in movies. People are so overexposed to stylyzed and decontextualized violence that they watch someone cutting another persons ear in a tarantino movie and they find it funny and enterteining.

It is a trailer.

 

[H2H2]

It is a trailer.

Im aware of that. Trailers usually give you a taste of what to expect, thats the idea.

 

[OldGod]

Im aware of that. Trailers usually give you a taste of what to expect, thats the idea.

Dude I'm not sure if there's just a social barrier here where you're not understanding how offensive you're being but it's really killing the great vibes of this whole thread right now. You are truthfully the only one who has given me such a negative reaction. Paragraphs on how negative your reaction is.

 

[Partial-Elf]

Haven't read the rest of the thread but I watched the trailer and holy shit, this is amazing on so many levels. Both content and style are so on point. I'm honestly inspired.

 

[H2H2]

Dude I'm not sure if there's just a social barrier here where you're not understanding how offensive you're being but it's really killing the great vibes of this whole thread right now. You are truthfully the only one who has given me such a negative reaction. Paragraphs on how negative your reaction is.

Yes, I think that must be the case. I deleted my comment just after posting it because I wasnt sure if I was being offensive. I really think the doc is unbearable to watch eventhough Im very interested in the raw interviews. You are constantly there instead of letting your subjects be. But if Im the only one then I must be on the wrong and it must be me. You have put a ton of effort, thats for sure. Sorry for derailing the thread, good luck with the doc. Didnt mean to upset you or make you feel bad. My english is weak so I may be using the wrong wording.

 

[OldGod]

Haven't read the rest of the thread but I watched the trailer and holy shit, this is amazing on so many levels. Both content and style are so on point. I'm honestly inspired.

I implore you to read my initial post at least, which sheds a lot of light on the film. Thank you for your kind words.

Like I keep saying, please go subscribe on YouTube, give it a like, follow the FB page. I made this film for everyone who suffers like we do. Live vicariously through my interviewees and get these voices heard.

Submitting to the festivals in a few hours time. After that, I'll have to plan distribution.

Yes, I think that must be the case. I deleted my comment just after posting it because I wasnt sure if I was being offensive. I really think the doc is unbearable to watch eventhough Im very interested in the raw interviews. You are constantly there instead of letting your subjects be. But if Im the only one then I must be on the wrong and it must be me. You have put a ton of effort, thats for sure. Sorry for derailing the thread, good luck with the doc. Didnt mean to upset you or make you feel bad. My english is weak so I may be using the wrong wording.

It's okay man, we all have our quirks and we're all mentally unhealthy so social slip ups hapoen. I encourage you to watch the full movie and base your opinion on that.

The VHS is to being you closer to the interviewees. You're there. There's no fancy lighting or camera work, it's just you on a bed talking to someone spilling their guts. That was one of the reasons I chose this method.