Incredible Intensity Documentary
The Incredible Intensity Documentary is a film about the art and social change exhibit entitled The Incredible Intensity of Just Being Human, by Christopher Lee Brown. The exhibit was conceptualized and curated by three award-winning artists living in the Pacific Northwest. In the exhibit, twenty-six Pacific Northwest artists mix media to express how mental illness affects their loved ones, or themselves. In addition to the visual displays, The Incredible Intensity of Just Being Human, included a series of talks and performances about mental illness and its effects.
“By talking about mental illness, we reduce the shame surrounding it, and create a space where the prejudices and the fears we all have can give way to the compassion and the humanity we all have,” said Kate Vrijmoet, The Incredible Intensity of Just Being Human Curator and Contributing Artist.
The stigma surrounding mental illness is powerful and pervasive. Shame and silence often hinders people from getting help and sharing their struggle with friends and family. Yet, people with mental health problems can get better and many recover completely.
Working for the Issaquah Schools Foundation, I filmed/recorded six separate public panel discussions, in the three locations where the exhibit was on display. The panel discussions were held over several months in the Spring of 2016. I captured many hours of footage of these brave speakers sharing their stories. The discussions were very rich between the artists, mental health care workers, experts in the fields of addiction and recovery, and teen suicide, as well as very engaged audience members. Every one of the discussions was rich and powerful, and I felt so glad that it was being recorded.
Beyond filming these public panel discussions, I interviewed the three main artists and founders of the Incredible Intensity of Just Being Human exhibit, in their art studios. I also interviewed Dr. Megan Chiarelli, a youth psychiatrist at Swedish hospital in Seattle who works regularly with children diagnosed with mental health issues. I scripted and edited the raw material into the finished film, working in collaboration with Kate Vrijmoet, the exhibit's curator and driving force, as well as a few other key stakeholders. I'm very proud of the artists who are leading this movement, and honored to be part of it.
- PROJECT TYPE: Documentary Film
- SERVICES PROVIDED: Camera operator, interviews, audio recording, editing, scripting.
- CLIENT: Issaquah Schools Foundation, Incredible Intensity of Just Being Human art and social change exhibit
- PROJECT YEAR: 2016
