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5.08 “This Sucks” and Processing Depression through Art with Cameron Mitchell
In this episode of the More Than You See podcast, host Deborah Lee Smith engages in a deep dive with filmmaker Cameron Mitchell. The discussion centers on Cameron's latest project, 'This Sucks', a dark comedy film about dealing with depression, showcased through the life of a woman haunted by the physical manifestation of her depression. Beyond sharing personal mental health journeys and the film's background, they delve into broader topics such as the therapeutic role of humor, the systemic issues intertwined with personal mental health struggles, and the importance of supporting underrepresented voices in the filmmaking industry.
00:00 Welcome to the episode
01:49 Spotlight on 'This Sucks': A Dark Comedy Exploring Depression
07:04 Cameron Mitchell's Journey: From COVID Recovery to Activism and Filmmaking
09:33 The Making of 'This Sucks': Visualizing Depression Through Cinema
23:17 Rapid Fire Questions
24:40 Deep Dive into Personal Struggles and Mental Health
26:07 Growing Up in Alaska
29:21 Exploring Creative Outlets and Future Projects
43:22 The Role of Humor in Coping with Life's Challenges
46:10 Wrapping Up: Acknowledgments and Future Aspirations
About Cameron:
Cameron has been writing all his life. Growing up in Anchorage, Alaska, there was nothing else to do. Cameron has had his scripts and finished films place in dozens of film festivals.
He realized right away how important it was to build the right team. Writing was something he could do alone, but filmmaking is not a solo art; it involves collaboration at every level. He made sure to come away from every gig with new contacts, new friends, and new members of his team.
In 2017 he, Andrew Menjivar, and Thresa Richardson started their production company Tequila Mockingbird Productions. They wanted to produce their own work outside the rigors and obstacles of the studio system. As a producer, Cameron has always wanted to help new and underrepresented voices create their films. He's worked with countless creatives in the years since.
Cameron wrote the script for his debut feature This Sucks in part to vent his frustrations with the state of the world and to talk about his own struggles with depression. The film was awarded the ReFrame Stamp from Women In Film and the Audience Award for Best Feature Film at the Golden State Film Festival. It is currently streaming free on Tubi.
Cameron's Links:
Stream "This Sucks" on Tubi
Stream "Driven: The Tony Pearson Story" on Apple+
Website
If this episode resonates with you, please share it with your friends, subscribe, write a review, etc! It really does help spread the word of mouth!
Thank you for being part of this MTYS community!
Join us on social media: Instagram| Facebook | Website | Tik Tok | YouTube
_______________________
Learn more about Deborah Lee Smith:
Instagram | Facebook | Website
~NEWSLETTER SIGN UP~
~
New here? Every Wednesday join me, Deborah Lee Smith (actor, filmmaker, and mental health advocate) for a conversation with creatives about their mental health journeys. We discuss the highs, lows, and in-betweens of a creative career and the tools they use to get through it all. Our hope is that you will resonate with their journey, pick up some tips and tricks for your own mental health, and most importantly, feel a little less alone. Because we’re all More Than You See.
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By Deborah Lee Smith
5
3232 ratings
In this episode of the More Than You See podcast, host Deborah Lee Smith engages in a deep dive with filmmaker Cameron Mitchell. The discussion centers on Cameron's latest project, 'This Sucks', a dark comedy film about dealing with depression, showcased through the life of a woman haunted by the physical manifestation of her depression. Beyond sharing personal mental health journeys and the film's background, they delve into broader topics such as the therapeutic role of humor, the systemic issues intertwined with personal mental health struggles, and the importance of supporting underrepresented voices in the filmmaking industry.
00:00 Welcome to the episode
01:49 Spotlight on 'This Sucks': A Dark Comedy Exploring Depression
07:04 Cameron Mitchell's Journey: From COVID Recovery to Activism and Filmmaking
09:33 The Making of 'This Sucks': Visualizing Depression Through Cinema
23:17 Rapid Fire Questions
24:40 Deep Dive into Personal Struggles and Mental Health
26:07 Growing Up in Alaska
29:21 Exploring Creative Outlets and Future Projects
43:22 The Role of Humor in Coping with Life's Challenges
46:10 Wrapping Up: Acknowledgments and Future Aspirations
About Cameron:
Cameron has been writing all his life. Growing up in Anchorage, Alaska, there was nothing else to do. Cameron has had his scripts and finished films place in dozens of film festivals.
He realized right away how important it was to build the right team. Writing was something he could do alone, but filmmaking is not a solo art; it involves collaboration at every level. He made sure to come away from every gig with new contacts, new friends, and new members of his team.
In 2017 he, Andrew Menjivar, and Thresa Richardson started their production company Tequila Mockingbird Productions. They wanted to produce their own work outside the rigors and obstacles of the studio system. As a producer, Cameron has always wanted to help new and underrepresented voices create their films. He's worked with countless creatives in the years since.
Cameron wrote the script for his debut feature This Sucks in part to vent his frustrations with the state of the world and to talk about his own struggles with depression. The film was awarded the ReFrame Stamp from Women In Film and the Audience Award for Best Feature Film at the Golden State Film Festival. It is currently streaming free on Tubi.
Cameron's Links:
Stream "This Sucks" on Tubi
Stream "Driven: The Tony Pearson Story" on Apple+
Website
If this episode resonates with you, please share it with your friends, subscribe, write a review, etc! It really does help spread the word of mouth!
Thank you for being part of this MTYS community!
Join us on social media: Instagram| Facebook | Website | Tik Tok | YouTube
_______________________
Learn more about Deborah Lee Smith:
Instagram | Facebook | Website
~NEWSLETTER SIGN UP~
~
New here? Every Wednesday join me, Deborah Lee Smith (actor, filmmaker, and mental health advocate) for a conversation with creatives about their mental health journeys. We discuss the highs, lows, and in-betweens of a creative career and the tools they use to get through it all. Our hope is that you will resonate with their journey, pick up some tips and tricks for your own mental health, and most importantly, feel a little less alone. Because we’re all More Than You See.