As I watched the Oscars tonight, I am sure I was not the only one who was struck boldly by the winners of Best Actor and Best Actress. It might be that I am so linked to the diabetes community but I had two distinct feelings.
Fabulous. And; when will see diabetes?
In case you did not know, Eddie Redmayne won his Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Stephen Hawkins in The Theory of Everything depicting his decline in health due to ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Julianne Moore followed up with a Best Actress Oscar in Still Alice; a revealing look at a woman’s battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Very compelling performances, both. Two devastating diseases highlighted and recognized. Wow!
What would the movie be like, of a parent or an individual battling T1? How would a movie maker proceed to show a side that no one knows; in a compelling and complete story-telling presentation? It cannot just be a film that resonates with us, but with the general public as well. What do you think? Could it be done?
The real problem with film making is that it may seem like it is important to some people but it MUST be presented in such a manner that resonates with the public as a whole. How can that be done?
Before you answer, you need to remember the many sides when diabetes is presented.
Online initiatives and commercials are many times met with opposing view points. Too rough for our children to see, my kids should not see the complications, and we need to protective our kids so they do not to see ‘this’; are just some comments that have come forward—I am NOT stating if they are right or wrong, that is up to each individual. But I am asking to now imagine an entire movie dedicated to this disease. Would we as a community embrace it?
It’s a question that came to my mind as I pondered the possibilities. How would we react to a film that told the brutal truth to this disease; would we be willing to let people see the truths we deal with on a daily basis? Could we as a community…….’put it out there’? They say, in Hollywood, to be impactful it all has to be out there on a limb.
I could not answer that as I thought about it and I am interested to hear what you have to say about it.
Find a way to make a film both truthful and where the diabetes community would embrace it, knowing that it would be a rough film to make compelling enough that 2 people who have no connection to diabetes would pay $23 dollars to see it on a Friday night….think it can be done?
Let me know your thoughts and should we find agreement, we can move to……lights, camera…………………….action.
I am a diabetes dad.
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