MDFF 2021 - Overdosed
Challenging the stereotype of a drug dealer.
Interview with Director Mary Sue Connolly
Watch Overdosed on Prime Video
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I lost my beloved young nephew Paul to an accidental overdose in 2016. This immediately turned my life upside down and I decided to dedicate all of my resources to investigating the sources of the opioid epidemic in the US. I felt that this epidemic was growing in the shadows and affecting millions of people, but there was still very little media attention focusing on this crisis, a crisis that showed no signs of abating. I had no medical training or experience with grassroots organizing, but I did have a video camera and I was a trained editor, so I grabbed my camera and began my journey of investigation into the origins of this man-made epidemic. I did this in the hope that by sharing this story it could prevent other families from suffering as mine had, and that perhaps this film could also expose the callous nature of some of these drug giants, who have shown tremendous greed and clearly thought these lives were disposable.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Overdosed provides viewers access to the corporate, profit-driven dark side of this crisis, while revealing the core humanity of its survivors. The documentary exposes key elements about the rapid progress of this deadly epidemic, and the ways communities are now coping with its destruction. The result is a documentary that will wake you up to the tragedy of a small town ravaged by the epidemic and inspire you to get involved in finding solutions.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The universal theme of greed permeates Overdosed. From the girl on the corner slinging dope, to the executive in one of the largest corporations in the US, it seems to be the connecting thread. While making Overdosed I tried to put my personal story aside but soon realized that rebuilding our communities was one of the greatest tools we have in fighting this epidemic - in fighting corporate greed. Each of us can play a role within our community to implement change, and that is a powerful tool of fighting back.
Overdosed
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
As the film is investigative, I literally had no idea where I was going to end up. It was a process of unravelling for me. I was focusing on a drug dealer in a small town, but was quickly led further up the ladder, ie. to the doctor who was dealing from his doctors office, the pharmacy that was looking the other way and the drug distributor who was shipping millions of doses of pain pills to tiny communities across the country. So essentially this small town story became something much bigger. After getting a wonderful agent from the DEA (Guy McCartney) involved, all of these moving pieces seemed to slip into place.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The feedback greatly varies depending on your geographical location. In West Virginia, the story comes as no surprise to people, while in countries in Europe, audiences are shocked beyond belief that this kind of corporate drug dealing is happening today, and on such an extensive level. I think people find it shocking and enraging. Also, our main character Breanne McUlty, her personal story is very inspirational. As a teenage drug dealer and a convicted felon - to a whistle-blowing film producer, Breanne is living proof that anyone can turn their life around.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I was very surprised when I first showed the film in Europe, that this story came as such a shock. It reinforced my eagerness to spread this message, because I realized it still is an untold story in large parts of the world. It is a little like America's dark little secret. As a result I try to engage audiences outside of the US as much as I can in the hope of exposing the corporate greed that led to such despair.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Our mission while making Overdosed was to raise awareness of this huge threat to people across the US, and now across the world. The overdose epidemic is killing 200 people a day in the US. Many of the victims of accidental overdose started innocently on prescription pain pills, some for minor injuries, at a doctors office, but years later find themselves dependent on pain medications to prevent very severe withdrawal symptoms.
As the doctors had to scale back on their prescribing, people turned to the streets. With the rise of fentanyl, the situation has become catastrophic because users are unaware that their drug supply is laced with fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than morphine. Teens as young as 14 or 15, who would normally experiment with drugs, are now dying from fentanyl laced pills. Their bodies simply do not stand a chance against this poison. I am very grateful to to have this platform to spread this message, about our film and our activism, so thank you so much for asking these questions!
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
While we have a sales agent and a distributor, we would be thrilled with more exposure in the press and at film festivals. Bringing Overdosed to an in-person audience is always a wonderful way to get the conversation going and it is thrilling to be able to answer questions that audience members have. It is also very informative for us on how our film is being perceived. There is still so much that was left on the cutting room floor and it is always fun to resurrect some of those stories.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I want people to be outraged at the injustice that has been served to so many communities across the US. Entire areas have been ravaged with addiction and are left crumbling and in decline. Litigation with drug companies is ongoing and all of us in this fight are demanding that they be held accountable. I hope that people will join our mission of insisting that drug companies cannot simply buy their way out of this devastation. The opioid epidemic has caused 500k deaths in the US alone and has left a trail of heartbreak. I also think every individual needs to investigate whether they need severe pain medication, that is highly addictive, for routine injuries and why it is being offered to them.
Overdosed
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
If the profit motive was removed from the healthcare sector, would we have better patient care?
Would you like to add anything else?
Thank you to everyone that helped make this film possible. So many people donated their time and resources because they believed so strongly in this message. We are forever grateful for their assistance and for their trust in us to tell this story. For everyone that has been lost to this epidemic, you are not forgotten!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
The director is in the development process of a documentary about drug trials that took place within vulnerable populations in the 1970's and 80's.
Interview: July 2021
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Overdosed
Length:
1:15:00
Director
MARY SUE CONNOLLY is an Irishborn filmmaker and video editor who worked as an Editor/Producer for CNN’s New York bureau and as an Editor at CBS Television Distribution. Mary Sue put her career on hold to create Overdosed after the opioid epidemic impacted her own family. She lives with her young daughter, Meibhin and the family divides its time between County Waterford, Ireland & Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Producer
After a five-year stint in federal prison, Co-Producer BREANNE MCULTY emerged with a conviction and a desire to make her mark on the world by helping families devastated by addiction. She saw how her own participation in the illicit drug world had contributed to the destruction of her community and she
became determined to give back. When McUlty met director Mary Sue Connolly the two embarked on the documentary Overdosed set in McUlty's hometown of Petersburg, West Virginia.
Key cast:
Breanne McUlty, Jenni Jellerson, GuyMcCartney, Kammie Dolan, Kevin Bowman
Looking for:
buyers, journalists, film festival directors
Social media:
https://www.facebook.com/WeAreOverdosed
https://twitter.com/MarySConnolly
https://www.instagram.com/overdosedfilm/
Hashtags:
#overdosedfilm #opioidcrisis #endoverdose #femalefilmmakers #marysueconnolly
More info: