Dark Light: The Short Film
“Dark Light” is a collaboration between filmmakers, educators and students. We hope to convey the experiential nature of depression by using the visual and auditory elements of film to reflect the emotional state of a person experiencing an acute episode of major depressive disorder. We hope "Dark Light" increases empathy among the non-afflicted for the afflicted, as empathy is a powerful force in fighting stigma of any kind.
THE ISSUE
In 2012:
Depression is the leading cause of suicide.
More than 20 million Americans suffer from a depressive illness in any given year. Yet many never seek treatment. Why? Social stigma and lack of affordable access are two significant obstacles.
Even today, depression remains a largely misunderstood and stigmatized illness. And most health insurers do not cover its treatment at the same rate as a "physical" illness.
But depression – like all mental illness – is a biological disease. Neuroscientists have long understood this, and the truth is becoming easier for them to demonstrate with advances in medical imaging technology and the mapping of the human genome.
It is our hope that “Dark Light” will engender discussion on campuses across the country and inspire effective approaches to dealing with depression - and all mental illness.
BEYOND DARK LIGHT
We've begun research into the biology of depression in preparation for an upcoming feature-length documentary. Please join our "Dark Light" email list today as we may ask for your input if you're interested in contributing ideas, questions or comments during this extended research phase before production on our documentary begins.
Please be sure to check our website again next year for information regarding not only film festival screenings of our short film, "Dark Light," but also for pre-production plans regarding our feature-length documentary.
OUR INDIEGOGO CAMPAIGN
In November 2013 we launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise $10,000 to make our short film:
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/dark-light
Although we fell short of our original fundraising goal (we raised $6,390), we moved forward with production and screened a fine-cut of "Dark Light" at The Center for International Human Rights in NYC on April 24, 2014.
We are currently in post-production and plan to hold the premiere of "Dark Light" in Fall 2014. Please check back for details in September. Thanks!
THE ISSUE
In 2012:
- Nearly 40,000 Americans took their own lives.
- Suicide remained the second leading cause of death among college-aged students.
- For the first time, more U.S. soldiers died from suicide than in combat.
Depression is the leading cause of suicide.
More than 20 million Americans suffer from a depressive illness in any given year. Yet many never seek treatment. Why? Social stigma and lack of affordable access are two significant obstacles.
Even today, depression remains a largely misunderstood and stigmatized illness. And most health insurers do not cover its treatment at the same rate as a "physical" illness.
But depression – like all mental illness – is a biological disease. Neuroscientists have long understood this, and the truth is becoming easier for them to demonstrate with advances in medical imaging technology and the mapping of the human genome.
It is our hope that “Dark Light” will engender discussion on campuses across the country and inspire effective approaches to dealing with depression - and all mental illness.
BEYOND DARK LIGHT
We've begun research into the biology of depression in preparation for an upcoming feature-length documentary. Please join our "Dark Light" email list today as we may ask for your input if you're interested in contributing ideas, questions or comments during this extended research phase before production on our documentary begins.
Please be sure to check our website again next year for information regarding not only film festival screenings of our short film, "Dark Light," but also for pre-production plans regarding our feature-length documentary.
OUR INDIEGOGO CAMPAIGN
In November 2013 we launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise $10,000 to make our short film:
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/dark-light
Although we fell short of our original fundraising goal (we raised $6,390), we moved forward with production and screened a fine-cut of "Dark Light" at The Center for International Human Rights in NYC on April 24, 2014.
We are currently in post-production and plan to hold the premiere of "Dark Light" in Fall 2014. Please check back for details in September. Thanks!