My film is a film about a kid suffering with thoughts of suicide, then getting an unexpected and mysterious phone call from his future self that everything will be alright. As well that he used 988 to help himself get back on his feet. In turn my film not only encourages people to reach out if they are feeling thoughts of suicide, it also encourages people with thoughts of suicide to call the suicide prevention life line 988 to find help.
Hope is in Your Reach is about our main character, Jeniffer as she struggles with thoughts of suicide. A majority of the PSA expresses the loneliness and struggles of Jeniffer through her internal and chaotic monologue. As she expresses these emotions and monologue, she’s sent in a deep spiral of isolation, distancing her from others. But at the end, she’s taken away and brought upon different forms of activities by a concerned friend to help her feel better. Those being: Connection, choice, and collaboration. The essence of isolation, loneliness, and hope is showcased through effects, acting, kinetic typography, and music. When someone watches our PSA, we want them to feel that they don’t have to fight their battles alone. Reaching out or being reached out to is a great first step with confronting the thoughts and feelings of yourself or of a friend. For people who may be struggling right now, we hope this film drives them to want to reach out for help. And that it’s ok to reach out for help. Along with those who may be concerned about a friend who may be struggling. To them, we want them to want to reach out. And what they can do to help out their friend.
My entry is an animated short closely following the theme of peer or student relationships and how mental health affects those relationships between individuals impacted by mental health. Although the category asked for 30 seconds, our entry is around 1 minute in length due to our focus on a strong thematic message we hoped would carry through an appropriate script and time by showing how serious the topic is. Students are often impacted by stress and outside factors that lead to harmful behaviors such as distance, a lack of self motivation, and failing grades which altogether continue to contribute to poor mental health, and sometimes to suicidal thoughts. Avery’s character, the individual impacted by mental health issues, would often ask if “anything would even matter” or how she “wouldn’t mind” if something negative happened to her, showed by how overwhelming all these thoughts can be in the sequence of the animation. The black cloud following her metaphorizes how the negative seem to consume her and Sophia, her student peer, notices this behavior and reaches out first in order to comfort and support her. The animation in the video is set to prove how relationships between person to another individual serves to be important in the process of healing and that prevention is possible if someone will show that they care first.
In this submission we decided to make it about two boys, one that is very happy and one that is sad and very depressed and contemplating life. They come together eventually and the outcomes are very good at the end.
A story that follows 3 high school students that struggle with suicidal thoughts. On the outside, their lives seem productive and successful in what they do at school, but under the surface they are battling their inner thoughts. This is based off of real life people who experience academic pressure, whether that means in sports teams, grades, etc.
My submission targets suicide prevention from the angle of finding a reason to live, giving yourself hope, and finding the will to fight.
This video portrays a boy walking alone in a park. I initially burdened by the stress of every day life he loses sight of hope until he encounters his friends. Receiving their support, he finds hope that this journey isn’t one to be traveled alone.
The Flower Grows Taller is a short film about noticing the signs of suicide, talking openly, and taking action. It follows two friends, one sees the other pulling away and struggling. Through real conversations and emotions, the film shows the importance of asking directly, getting help from a trusted adult, and checking in. It reminds viewers that a simple conversation can make a big difference.
“The Conversation†depicts the internal argument that is had with oneself about whether or not to ask someone if they are okay. The film centers around a Teen listing the warning signs they’ve noticed in their Friend, who is indeed struggling with thoughts of suicide. This conversation is paralleled by that of the Friend, who is reflecting on his own warning signs, wondering why no one notices his cries for help. Dramatic irony is central to the story, with only the audience able to see both perspectives, and to realize how close yet so far the two characters are from connecting with each other and getting help. The film ends by bridging this distance, with the Teen character finally starting a real conversation by asking the question, “are you thinking about suicide?â€
Our film depicts a high schooler who is experiencing mental health struggles and masking it at school. A friend takes notice and reaches out to them.