Mission San Jose

1. Films With Impact
Mission San Jose High School
March 7-11, 2016

2. Warning:
Mental health is personal
Films can be triggering
This is a public space

3. And also:
This is for you.

4. Here’s the Plan for Today
1. Introduction
2. Discussion about mental health
3. Preparation for filmmaking

5. YOUR MISSION
Produce (write, film, edit) a
one-minute film
about mental health
…in about an hour.

6. More Than a Mental Illness
By Emma Spiekerman
http://www.artwithimpact.org/More-
Than-a-Mental-Illness

7. But first!
Let’s talk about mental health
so we have some context

8. What are some movies that show mental illness?
silver linings playbook
perks of being a wallflower
beautiful mind
rainman
inside out
to write love on her arms

9. How are people with mental illness portrayed in the
media?
In groups of 2-3, how are they portrayed?
biggest thing about them
comedic character or very important
out of control
dangerous
burden to family or community
crazy
“savant”
isolated

10. What is Stigma?
Stigma is a perceived
negative attribute that
causes someone to
devalue or think less of
the whole person.

11. What is Stigma?
Groups of 2 or 3
What are some
examples of stigma?

12. How does stigma feel?
guilty
oppressive
alienating
lonely
silencing
bad
shameful

13. What is mental illness?
A mental illness can
come from your
biology or your
experiences. It is a
chemical or physical
disruption in the
brain that impacts
thoughts, feelings,
actions, relationships
or mood in ways that
get in the way of
day-to-day activities.

14. What are some examples?
Depression

15. What are some examples?
Depression
Anxiety

16. What are some examples?
Depression
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Anxiety

17. What are some examples?
Depression
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Eating Disorders
Anxiety

18. What are some examples?
Depression
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Eating Disorders
Anxiety
ADHD

19. What are some examples?
Depression
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Eating Disorders
Anxiety
ADHD
Schizophrenia

20. What are some examples?
Depression
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Eating Disorders
Anxiety
ADHD
Schizophrenia
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

21. What *isn’t* mental illness?
Your Fault

22. What *isn’t* mental illness?
Your Fault
Weakness

23. What *isn’t* mental illness?
Your Fault
A Lack of Character
Weakness

24. What *isn’t* mental illness?
Your Fault
A Lack of Character
Hopeless
Weakness

25. Why don’t people get help?
shame
weakness
don’t want to be categorized or labeled
lack of support
denial
“i can handle it by myself”
don’t want to be a burden
don’t have access to resources

26. Let’s Watch A Short Film!

27. Rinse and Repeat
By Daniel Richardson
Winner, February 2013

28. YOUR MISSION
Produce (write, film, act in, edit) a
one-minute film
about mental health
…in about an hour.

29. Roles
Films involve collaboration
Everyone has a critical job

30. Writer
• Review your team’s ideas for a mental
health issues to portray in a short film
• Select the issue for the film
• Outline the shots necessary to tell the
story
• Write a beginning, middle and end

31. Director
• Say “action” to start a take, and “cut” to
end
• Describe the actors what to do and clarify
their motivations
• You are the creative mediator, listen to
ideas and make decisions.
• Coordinate the members of your team
• Be supportive

32. DP (Director of Photography)
• Hold the camera
• Select the best angles for each shot
• Decide what will be the most visually
interesting way to portray a scene

33. Actor(s)
• Portray the character’s struggle through
your voice and body
• Do voice over work during post
production, if necessary

34. Editor (s)
• Select the best take from each shot
• Put the shots into the best order to tell the
story
• Crop the shot as necessary or break it up
into multiple pieces
• Select your transitions
• Add music or voice over if necessary

35. All Roles
• Trust yourself, your input is important
• Make decisions quickly

36. Now…Please use your remaining time to:
• Break into your groups
• Pick a team name
• Select your filmmaking roles
• Start brainstorming story ideas
1. General idea / mental health issue being addressed
2. beginning, middle, end
3. (& if you have time: wardrobe, locations, blocking,
editing, music…)
• ALL are responsible for researching more about whatever
topic you are making a film about.
• https://vimeo.com/groups/126256
• Writer: Come prepared tomorrow. The more you have done
tonight, the more time you will have to shoot!

37. For your films, we are expecting each of
you to entertain and educate the class
(just a little) with your film.