Help Fund a UCLA Thesis Film About PMDD Awareness

S-H-A-T-T-E-R aims to break stigmas about chronic illness and disability by opening a discussion about Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), a condition that falls through the cracks between reproductive and mental health, two important topics seldom talked about in our society.

"The best way to describe PMDD is that, once a month, I pressed my own self-destruct button and literally let my (normally very happy and satisfying) life implode around me. Then when the dark thoughts, depression, and anxiety lifted and cleared after my period, I spent the next 2 weeks trying to pick up the pieces."

 

FILM LOGLINE

Faced with misunderstanding, medical gaslighting, and declining physical and mental health, a college freshman must find the strength to fight for acceptance, healing, and a diagnosis.

 

This film is for everyone who lives with PMDD and our loved ones that share our journey every day, every month. This film is for everyone who has been misdiagnosed, dismissed, or silenced by the medical system. This film is for medical professionals, for teachers, students, for institutes, and classrooms. This film is about personal and collective healing and advocacy.

 

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

I was diagnosed with PMDD as a freshman at UCLA, after 5 years of seeing multiple Ob-Gyns, psychiatrists, and GPs who all thought I imagined or overexaggerated my symptoms, I finally found one that was educated and knowledgeable. 

Having gone through the experience myself I know how long the journey can be and how frustrating it is to not be dismissed by the medical system. Getting a correct diagnosis early saves lives. When I finally got my PMDD diagnosis there was hope and so much relief, but that was just the beginning.

Since then, I have realized I’m far from alone. I have found a thriving PMDD community online, and I’ve seen more and more stories emerge about empowerment and overcoming discrimination and misunderstanding but also stories about suffering, of being desperate, of needing help.

 

These stories are seldom told publicly for fear of dismissal, fear of being seen as “weak” , or fear of opening up about something so personal.

In short I’m making S-H-A-T-T-E-R as my part to make things better for my PMDD community. But what I’m really doing is making the film I needed to see as a lost and scared 14 years old wondering what was wrong with me… 

 

GOALS

The aim of this film is to tell an authentic and compelling story that speaks truth about PMDD, grounded in lived experiences and realities with all the textures and nuances that come with those. I want this film to spark real conversations from the heart to create actionable change and collective empowerment. Let’s work together to chip away at the glass ceiling so that a sister, partner, daughter, mother, friend down the road don’t have to feel the helplessness of not being understood and wipe their painful tears alone. Let’s create a film that spreads awareness and empathy about PMDD so that more people can get the support they need and receive the correct diagnosis early because effective PMDD Awareness is suicide prevention.

 

We need YOUR help to raise 6k for this film to reach its fullest potential.

 

The funding will go towards renting locations, camera, and lighting equipment, providing meals, acquiring set dressing, truck rental, insurance, and COVID-19 precaution measures.

 

TEAM MEMBERS

Jacqueline Gerdne - Director/Writer

Natalia Pacheco - Producer

Samantha Umbay - Producer

Olivia Alicea - Assistant Director

Sela Pierce - Director of Photography
Makena Kane - Gaffer 

Follow our journey on Instagram @shatterucla 

 

THANK YOU!

-Jacquie