The Melbourne Documentary Film Festival 2018 - Out of my Head
A filmmaker, seeking treatment for her daughter’s migraine attacks, discovers a confounding neurological disease, and learns why a condition so ubiquitous and severe remains deeply misunderstood.
Interview with Writer/Director Susanna Styron and Producer Jacki Ochs
Watch Out of my Head on Prime Video, Vudu and Kanopy
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
When Susanna’s daughter began getting migraines, we discovered how pervasive, stigmatized and misunderstood this neurological disease is, and also how fascinating. We wanted to change the perception of migraine, help destigmatize it...share the history and mystery, and help those who suffer be better understood.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
It’s fascinating, surprising, compelling, some say “riveting". If you suffer from migraine, it will be a huge comfort and you will feel less isolated and more understood; if you have loved ones with migraine, you will understand, in a way you never have, what they’re going through. If you know or care nothing about migraine, you will be amazed, fascinated and entertained by the journey.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Everyone experiences pain — both physical and psychic. Everyone experiences isolation and uncertainty. And everyone seeks healing. Our film takes the universal themes of coping with these aspects of the human condition and presents them through powerful personal stories. Also, everyone has a brain, and this is brain science.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
This was originally an objective documentary, the filmmaker was not part of the story. Over time it became based in the journey of the filmmaker with her daughter, a part of the story which is told in animation.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
People are grateful and fascinated. Those with migraine feel seen, heard and understood in a way they’ve never been before. Audiences love how we manage to take so many disparate elements and make them feel unified - weaving medicine, history, brain science, art and personal stories into a gripping emotional and cinematic ride.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
It has been more gratifying, and also more emotional than we expected. We hoped to help people, but had no idea how profound the impact would be for those who have been suffering in isolation for so long.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We hope to interest more people in seeing the film, expand our audience, and help people understand that this is not a grim film about a painful subject, but a fascinating journey into a bizarre neurological condition and the process of seeking treatment and healing.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We need journalists to write about the film. And we need enthusiastic people who are eager to host screenings around the world through our Theatrical on Demand platforms — FanForce in Australia, Europe and Canada; and Gathr in the United States.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We want audiences to enjoy the experience of the film, learn from it, have their lives improved because of it. We want people with migraine to be better understood, and we want to inspire increased funding into better treatments.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What do you think you know about migraine? Because it’s probably wrong, or at least very incomplete.
Would you like to add anything else?
Come see the film. You will be so surprised by it.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
We are working to get this film out into the world!
Interview: June 2018
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
OUT OF MY HEAD
A filmmaker, seeking treatment for her daughter’s migraine attacks, discovers a confounding neurological disease, and learns why a condition so ubiquitous and severe remains deeply misunderstood.
Length: 77 minutes
Director: Susanna Styron
Producer: Jacki Ochs
Writer: Susanna Styron
About the writer, director and producer:
JACKI OCHS is a Producer/Director of documentary film. Her work includes Vietnam: The Secret Agent, Letters Not About Love and Jazz Summit.
SUSANNA STYRON writes and directs documentary, television and narrative. Her work includes SHADRACH starring Harvey Keitel. Their previous documentary is 9/12: From Chaos to Community was about the volunteer community at Ground Zero.
Looking for: Journalists; Potential hosts for screenings worldwide
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themigraineproject/
Twitter: @MigraineProject
Instagram: OutOfMyHeadTheFilm
Other: https://www.pinterest.com/migraineproject/
Funders: Various
Made in association with Eleventh Hour Films
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? https://www.outofmyheadfilm.com/see-the-film/index.php