Following in the wake of the recent re-release of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho for the film's 50th anniversary, an award-winning film trailer that challenges stereotypes around the link between mental illness and violence, particularly people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, will screen in cinemas across England from Friday 23 April.
Schizo- The Movie borrows heavily from dark and sinister horror movie imagery and plays on people's fascination with the macabre, a style popularised by Hitchcock's work half a century ago. The film trailer takes the viewer on an adrenaline-fuelled journey, from a point of fear and suspense to a realisation that people with mental health problems are not like the stereotypes, which are commonly perpetuated by these types of films and portrayals of psychotic killer characters.
Filmed by leading advertising studios Steam Media, with special effects from MPC, which recently provided effects for Clash of the Titans and The Wolfman, Schizo, The Movie opens as a film trailer for a thriller/horror movie. A shot down a dark corridor moves towards a frosted glass doorway; the door creaks open to reveal Stuart, a man diagnosed with schizophrenia, in a typical domestic scene, who says:
“Hi there, I'm sorry to disappoint you if you were expecting a lunatic with a knife or on some sort of rampage. My name is Stuart and I was diagnosed with schizophrenia 12 years ago. People like me with a diagnosis of mental illness face discrimination every day. Luckily for me, I have the support of friends and family to help me lead a full life.
Schizo,The Movie, which will be viewed by around three million people during its three-week cinema run, recently won the 2010 Revolution Awards Best use of video category for its use as a vehicle for putting a hard-hitting message about the prejudice associated with mental illness in front of consumers.
Sue Baker, Director of Time to Change, the mental health anti-stigma campaign behind the film trailer, said: “Schizo,The Movie has been designed to attract members of the public who don't realise they are causing stigma and discrimination. Evidence shows that provocative films make a big difference to attitudes and Schizo' The Movie, which was originally released as a viral video last summer and seen by more than one million people, will go a long way to reducing the stigma associated with mental health problems.
“One in four of us will have a mental health problem at some stage of our lives. It can happen to anyone. Stigma and discrimination wreck lives. Yet everyone can make a change in their attitudes now you don't need to be an expert to make a difference to a friend, family member or colleague who needs your support.
Stuart Baker-Brown, who features in Schizo The Movie, said: “As someone with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and someone who has experienced stigma and discrimination first hand, I relished the chance to get involved with the campaign film as a real opportunity to help change attitudes.
“Helping to make the film has been part of a journey to take control of my life. Rather than giving up I made a decision to change my life, which was borne out of a 'necessity' to prove not only to myself and to all those around me, that a good level of both 'physical and mental' recovery from schizophrenia is possible.
“I got myself fit and won a Churchill Travel Fellowship to trek on Everest to help inspire and educate others. I'm not a stereotype. I lead a fulfilling life and hope that this film and the example of my life can help others do so too.
To view Schizo The Movie visit www.time-to-change.org.uk/schizo
Time to Change [1] is England's biggest and most ambitious programme to end mental health discrimination. The campaign is run by leading mental health charities Mind and Rethink, and backed by £16 million from the Big Lottery Fund [2] and £4 million from Comic Relief [3].
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NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Time to Change is England's most ambitious programme to end the discrimination faced by people with mental health problems, and improve the nation's wellbeing. The leading mental health charities Mind and Rethink are running the programme, funded with £16m from the Big Lottery Fund and £4m from Comic Relief, and evaluated by the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College, London. Pledge to help end mental health prejudice at www.time-to-change.org.uk
2.The Big Lottery Fund's support for Time to Change comes from its £165m Well-being programme. The Big Lottery Fund has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004. It was established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.Full details of the work of the Big Lottery Fund, its programmes and awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888 / Out of hours: 07867 500 572 Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102030 / Textphone: 08456 021 659
3.Comic Relief is committed to supporting people living with mental health problems. The projects Comic Relief funds ensure people with mental health problems get their voices heard in the decisions that affect their lives and
to get the help they need to recover. Comic Relief also helps people to promote their rights and reduce the stigma and discrimination they face so that they feel more included in society. The £4 million grant to Time to Change is part of Comic Relief's long standing commitment to this issue. For more information go to www.comicrelief.com