No One Cares About Crazy People
Speaker
Gail Freedman
Summary
Several community members joined NAMI Contra Costa on November 17, 2022 in supportive efforts to continue the work of completing this important project: “No One Cares About Crazy People.” We hosted a fundraising event for the film-in-progress, a feature independent documentary from the book by Ron Powers about the tragedy, crisis and chaos of severe mental illness in America and a burgeoning national crusade to do something about it. We heard from Director/Producer/Writer Gail Freedman. If you were not able to attend and would like to advance this effort you can make a tax-deducible donation on the website: www.noonecaresfilm.com.
“No One Cares About Crazy People” will use the power of storytelling as a tool for change – to help galvanize public discussion, awareness and action around our profoundly broken systems of care for those with serious mental illness. Making the movie is “just” Step 1. Through broad distribution of the film – augmented by a robust outreach, educational and audience engagement campaign – we aim to create a sustainable impact towards addressing the root causes of this crisis.
Our film humanizes the face of serious mental illness (SMI) with a small cast of memorable characters, and lays bare the system’s catastrophic failings with an emotional, as well as intellectual feeling. But equally important is the documentary’s depiction of the ardent activism of an emerging coalition of comrades including Bay Area families – spearheaded by family members with the deepest stake – whose numbers and impact are on the rise. Their comprehensive, deeply informed “manifesto” is virtually a playbook for essential reform. This film can be another weapon in the arsenal and help advance a growing national movement. COVID has brought mental health challenges to the public’s attention more than ever. However, the sickest and neediest were just as desperate before, and their plight still receives scant notice. We aim to change that.
Gail Freedman