With the North West Film Festival set to kick off in Inverell for the very first time, local Emma Kastelein is keen to use the opportunity to tell a story that is very close to her heart.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
“I just want to raise awareness for mental health and mental illness, from the perspective of someone who’s gone through it,” Emma explained. Her film will follow the story of a young girl struggling to face the world through depression.
It is a story all too familiar to Emma, who wants to use her own past to bring the realities of mental illness into focus, and let others know they are not alone.
“When I was going through it, I thought no one understood. And I think that’s what most people feel like,” she said.
“I think it’s good also to show what it’s actually like, because when I was going through it, I had no idea what it was. I didn’t know what was going on. I saw a couple of videos people would make on Youtube, and some were so real and I was like ‘this is what I’m going through.’”
Using the social media hashtag #letsmakementalhealthvisible Emma hopes to help people with mental illnesses and their friends and family recognise the signs.
“Mental illness is an invisible illness because no one can see what’s going on in someone’s head. But I want to help make that visible,” she said.
The Inverell Times will follow Emma’s journey as she makes the film, ready for the September 15 event.
Emma’s Blog, week one: July 17-21
This week I started getting all my props that I need for my film together and if they look alright.
I also started organising where certain scenes of my film will be shot and if those places have good lighting and what I need to do in order to get there.
I have also organised most of the actors I will be using for the film. I have made sure that I have good equipment that won’t break down half way through filming and have got back ups.
I have downloaded a bunch of software to put the film together and have also filmed about five shots for the film, that I may or may not put in.
For week 2 of Emma’s project, click here.
To follow fellow filmmaker Meg Hanlon as she creates an animation, click here.