I’M NOT CRAZY, I’M SICK, THE UNRIVALED LYME DISEASE DOCUMENTARY

I’M NOT CRAZY, I’M SICK, THE UNRIVALED LYME DISEASE DOCUMENTARY

Featuring Four Stories, Including WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne’s Fight For Survival Against Lyme Disease, The Call-To-Action Documentary Signals For Greater Awareness, Testing And Treatment Options

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GLOBAL LYME ALLIANCE

I’m Not Crazy, I’m Sick is a powerful documentary that chronicles three families and a WNBA MVP who are fighting for survival against Lyme disease. The film highlights the physical, emotional, and financial toll the disease takes on their lives, as well as the urgent need for greater awareness, testing, and treatment options. Through their stories, I’m Not Crazy, I’m Sick is a call to action, to understand and support the millions of people worldwide who are living with this devastating illness.

LOS ANGELES, CA – April 4, 2023 – Sypher Studios and Fieldhouse Productions announced today that the companies have partnered with Global Lyme Alliance (GLA) to release the incomparable call-to-action documentary, I’m Not Crazy, I’m Sick. The powerful film chronicles three families and WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne’s fight for survival against Lyme disease. Shot by Emmy Award-Winning Cinematographer Clair Popkin (Free Solo, the film won the Academy Award) and Directed by Elle Brooks-Tao, I’m Not Crazy, I’m Sick will be available to buy or rent on demand May 30th, during National Lyme Disease Awareness Month.

Inspired by Executive Producer Kim Cleworth’s (Exposure) family’s journey, I’m Not Crazy, I’m Sick highlights the physical, emotional and financial toll that tick-borne disease takes on the lives of millions of Americans. It also features expert doctors, researchers, advocates and politicians.

With 476,000 new cases of Lyme reported each year, many of those suffering feel isolated and alone in their journey. The disease is often not properly diagnosed, and most doctors don’t know how to treat it.

Clair Popkin, Director of Photography, I’m Not Crazy, I’m Sick added, “I was excited to work on a project like this since I always try to work on things that matter or can help change the world in a positive way. Shining a light on this disease that affects so many people seemed like it mattered. I grew up in the North East where Lyme disease is very present, and people in my family have had Lyme, so I was very aware of the terrible consequences it can have when not diagnosed or treated appropriately. In that sense, this project was personal, too. I think documentary films have the power to inform the national consciousness and hearing directly from people who have been impacted by Lyme, their families, and the medical professionals treating them seemed like the best and most powerful approach to show the true scope of this disease’s impact.

Executive Producers on I’m Not Crazy, I’m Sick include Kim and Atty Cleworth for Fieldhouse Productions and Nonny de la Peña (touted as the “Godmother of Virtual Reality”). Producers are Jens Jacob and Jason Pamer for Sypher Studios. The Director is Elle Brooks-Tao and the Director of Photography is Clair Popkin. In addition to the film, Cleworth and de la Peña produced a tangential immersive VR project titled Please Believe Me. The project premiered at The Tribeca Film Festival in June 2022.

Supporting Lyme Disease research and awareness is a cause that is important to Law & Order: Organized Crime’s Christopher Meloni who had this to say about I’m Not Crazy, I’m Sick: “A great film that details the harrowing journey of Lyme disease. A journey of desperation, misinformation, intransigence and intentional malfeasance by those who set the medical guidelines.”

I’m Not Crazy, I’m Sick is the latest film coming out of Sypher Studios. Most recently, the studio released Cancer Alley alongside Steph Curry’s Unanimous Media, and The Heart of Man, which has been released theatrically in 30+ countries around the world. The studio is currently in development on six projects with two set to release this year.

“When we learned that Lyme is one the fastest-growing infectious diseases in the U.S., yet the funding is far below that of less common diseases, we knew that we had to get involved with this project,” said Sypher Studio Founders Jens Jacob and Jason Pamer in a joint statement. “We’re thrilled to be partnered with Fieldhouse Productions and GLA on this film that tells the harrowing stories of real families, and reveals the urgent need for greater awareness, testing and treatment options to support the many people worldwide who are living with this devastating illness.”

 

“After six long years of chronic, debilitating illness, my daughter Atty was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2019,” said Cleworth, Founder, Fieldhouse Productions. “I was shocked to learn that there are more cases of Lyme every year than HIV/AIDS, West Nile virus and Malaria combined, yet it receives far less funding due to inadequate testing and heavy stigma. Not to mention, treatment isn’t covered by most insurance. Our hope is that this film will be a call-to-action to support those affected by Lyme disease.”

 

“I’ve dedicated much of my career to sitting with people who are suffering, and I use film to give them a voice to tell their stories,” said Brooks-Tao, Director, I’m Not Crazy, I’m Sick. “I hope that our doc provides answers and clarity for the undiagnosed or misdiagnosed Lyme patients, piques a curiosity within communities, and renews hope that there are answers out there to be found.”

 

“As a nonprofit organization, GLA is committed to helping those affected by Lyme & other tick-borne diseases,” said Laura MacNeill, CEO of Global Lyme Alliance. “There is an urgent need for greater awareness, testing and treatment options to support the millions suffering from chronic Lyme disease. I’m Not Crazy, I’m Sick highlights that need, so we’ve partnered to help amplify its message. Everyone should see it.”

 

A great film that details the harrowing journey of Lyme disease. A journey of desperation, misinformation, intransigence, and intentional malfeasance by those who set the medical guidelines.”  – Christopher Meloni

WHO

SYPHER STUDIOS AND FIELDHOUSE PRODUCTIONS TO RELEASE I’M NOT CRAZY, I’M SICK, THE UNRIVALED LYME DISEASE DOCUMENTARY – IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GLOBAL LYME ALLIANCE

 

FEATURED CAST:

I’m Not Crazy, I’m Sick features four stories from across the United States, spanning the entire socioeconomic spectrum.

Elena Delle Donne

WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne has been battling the effects of Lyme on her body her entire career. In 2020, Elena was not given a medical exemption from the WNBA for the “Bubble” system during COVID, making her fight not only against Lyme, but a fight to be believed.

The Mode Family 

The Mode Family—Cody, Lea, and their 5 kids in Northern Maine—survives on $150 a month, and has extremely limited access to treatment.

Ash Baker

Ash Baker—an artist in Maryland—has an excellent doctor who has helped her get treatment covered by insurance.

The Cleworth Family

The Cleworth Family—Kim, Peter, Atty, Charlie, and Henry—have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on Atty’s treatment and have access to the world’s best doctors and care.

For more information on Lyme disease, visit Global Lyme Alliance’s website at GLA.org

For more information on the documentary, visit: ImNotCrazyImSick.com

ABOUT SYPHER STUDIOS

Sypher Studios is a full-service content studio that develops, produces and distributes series and feature films that are in the “third lane”— the space where gritty stories can be told honestly.

Known for Cancer Alley, which the studio released alongside Steph Curry’s Unanimous Media, Sypher Studios has also produced and distributed the genre-breaking film, The Heart of Man, which has been released theatrically in 30+ countries around the world.

Founded by Producers Jens Jacob and Jason Pamer in 2016, Sypher Studios is currently in development on six projects, with two set to release in 2023.

ABOUT FIELDHOUSE PRODUCTIONS

Fieldhouse Productions creates entertainment with impact, and backs projects that spread awareness on important subjects. Founded in 2018 by Kim Cleworth, Fieldhouse Productions has executive produced three poignant documentaries including This Girl Wears Cleats, Exposure and I’m Not Crazy, I’m Sick.

ABOUT GLOBAL LYME ALLIANCE (GLA)

The mission of Global Lyme Alliance is to cure Lyme and other tick-borne diseases through innovative research, awareness, and empowering the patient voice. GLA has gained national prominence for funding some of the most urgent and promising research in the field by awarding over $16 million to our research program to date. GLA supports patients through every step in their journey, from finding a Lyme-treating physician to a peer-to-peer mentor program and a wealth of resources and information on its website. GLA also offers an ambassador program for volunteers to raise awareness through education, create fundraising events in their area, or collaborate to advance GLA’s mission. Visit us on social or at GLA.org.

WHEN
May 30, 2023 12:00am
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Available to buy or rent on demand May 30th 2023
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