"Isolation" film project - share your story!

Hello, thank you for reading this thread!

"Isolation is the working title of an experimental documentary by three young, British filmmakers. We have all suffered with some form of loneliness or isolation in our lives, which has inspired us to create this film.

We lament that in modern culture, the isolated are often portrayed as abnormal or strange. From personal experiences, we know that loneliness can affect even the most average of people and can stem from all kinds of places.

Perhaps you suffer from anxiety. Perhaps a disability hinders your social life. Perhaps you find it difficult to relate to your co-workers. Perhaps you just seem to spend a lot of time alone. Loneliness is a normal, human emotion with a lot of negative connotations; ones that we wish challenge with the making of this film.

It’s quite easy to feel alone even in a room full of people, but some of us struggle to find a voice and let others know how we are feeling. As a result, society and the media have painted what we feel is an extreme and somewhat unrealistic picture of the lonely. Hopefully, this film will give those people a platform on which to speak in a way that is comfortable for them (be it anonymous or otherwise), about their thoughts, feelings and experiences with isolation.

This film is a non-profit project, created as part of a university filmmaking degree.

As part of this film’s creation, we are asking real people to share their real experiences with loneliness and isolation. We will then incorporate these submissions into the film through the use of voice actors, however we are also looking for some volunteers to take part in interview situations.
All submissions are anonymous by default.

If you are interested in contributing either anonymously or otherwise, please take a look at our submissions guidelines and tell us your story."

Phew..! That's a long read... But yes, as I explained on my introduction post, I am working on a film project inspired by my own experiences with loneliness. However as a filmmaker I don't want my work to reflect me or the people I am working with, it should reflect reality. Our main concern is the way the media misrepresents the lonely as strange/weird etc, and we hope that with these anonymous contributions we can show that, actually, us lonely souls are quite normal - thank you very much!

We really would appreciate any stories you would like to share anonymously. Alternatively, if you are interested in doing some kind of face-to-face interview, you can include contact details in your submission - or even drop me a message on this wonderful site.

All information regarding the project, including how to submit, can be found at http://isolationfilm.tumblr.com.

Thanks for all your time and I hope everyone is enthusiastic about helping with this film, I really appreciate it!

Tyler

This is a very interesting project you're doing. I hope it goes well.
I don't have much to say, but loneliness oddly enough made me hate people. I really can't give up a good reason. ( maybe because everyone thinks I'm a freak. I don't interact with anyone) it's always been like that me. I not mean or anything. I'm a pretty nice person. I'm also kind of a shut in. ( I go to college and stuff) I home most of the time.

Would you be able to share the film after it's done?

mad monty said:

This is a very interesting project you're doing. I hope it goes well.
I don't have much to say, but loneliness oddly enough made me hate people. I really can't give up a good reason. ( maybe because everyone thinks I'm a freak. I don't interact with anyone) it's always been like that me. I not mean or anything. I'm a pretty nice person. I'm also kind of a shut in. ( I go to college and stuff) I home most of the time.

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Thanks for sharing and for giving us your support. I can only return the favour and hope that your situation with loneliness improves. Personally, I find it very hard to trust people but I wouldn't say I outright 'hate' them; that must be such a difficult situation to be in, especially if you have no control over it. It's sucks that society judges people this way - which is why we want to make this film.

ladyforsaken said:

Would you be able to share the film after it's done?

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Yes, the film will be submitted to university at the end of the year - we'll be allowed to share it at some point in 2015, I can keep you all updated on here about specific dates.

Cool. I'll see how I can help.

Thank you. I hope every thing goes well for the film.

Sounds interesting, I hope you post a link to it after its done, so we can see it

Not as that shitty photographer, he never posted any of it:/

Allow me to put forth a different point of view:

How many times have we seen people create new accounts in order to beg us to "fill out my survey" so that they can finish their college thesis on depression and loneliness? This is really the same pitch.

While I wish the project success, and I have a tremendous respect for documentary filmmakers, I do find it sad that we, in this forum who are lonely and isolated, are seen by some in the world as nothing more than a "demographic" to be tapped for information rather than real people who are suffering and want that suffering to go away. Couple that with the fact that many lonely people have a hard time simply writing a message on this forum and clicking "Save," and you get an idea of how enthusiastic some people would be to such an invitation.

Whether any of you participate is completely up to you, but I get very wary when new people come here expecting us to share the deepest parts of ourselves for no compensation or benefit. If I ever share my own stories, it will be in my own creative vehicle and on my own terms, where I can control the edits and the content.

If this sounds too cynical, so be it. If this offer was from a long-time member of the forum, I'd still might not participate, but I'd feel better that the reason for the user's account was not solely to solicit free stories from us.

Case said:

Allow me to put forth a different point of view:

How many times have we seen people create new accounts in order to beg us to "fill out my survey" so that they can finish their college thesis on depression and loneliness? This is really the same pitch.

While I wish the project success, and I have a tremendous respect for documentary filmmakers, I do find it sad that we, in this forum who are lonely and isolated, are seen by some in the world as nothing more than a "demographic" to be tapped for information rather than real people who are suffering and want that suffering to go away. Couple that with the fact that many lonely people have a hard time simply writing a message on this forum and clicking "Save," and you get an idea of how enthusiastic some people would be to such an invitation.

Whether any of you participate is completely up to you, but I get very wary when new people come here expecting us to share the deepest parts of ourselves for no compensation or benefit. If I ever share my own stories, it will be in my own creative vehicle and on my own terms, where I can control the edits and the content.

If this sounds too cynical, so be it. If this offer was from a long-time member of the forum, I'd still might not participate, but I'd feel better that the reason for the user's account was not solely to solicit free stories from us.

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I'm sorry if you feel that way; I can assure you that my intent is not to exploit the members of this forum. I've suffered for most of my life, too. I never even considered looking for a forum of like-minded people until this project came up - it hadn't even crossed my mind that one might exist.

So, when the three of us were sat around a table: "Yes, okay, we all have our own stories... But we don't represent a larger group, there are only three of us", conversation turned to how - or where - we would acquire the stories of others. Given the private nature of our type, we knew it would not be easy. Again, this knowledge is all firsthand.

It was my idea to collect the stories anonymously. I'm a member of a different forum for a condition I suffer with, and I have always felt like I have more of a voice there because I am anonymous. I've actually received a handful of thoughtful submissions since posting this thread, all of which have been perfect for the project. So thank you those who have submitted so far!

But yes, Case. I would truly like to apologise. I can totally understanding how patronising and - let's be honest - outright annoying it must be, for some intruder to come here and seemingly treat you all as a demographic or niche so that I can do well in my studies.

I can only hope that you will be comforted by the fact that this film has a lot more personal meaning to me than just a uni project, coupled with the fact that I think it could make some sort of difference (both to those who see it and to those who contribute!)

Thank you for sharing your viewpoint. As a side note, I don't intend for this account to be used 'solely to solicit free stories from you'. The project has drawn me into the forum, but that doesn't mean I intend on leaving once it is over. I'm quite interested in sticking around.

Tyler I can tell this topic means a lot to you because of your own experiences. I don't get the sense that you are trying to exploit this community but are trying to be able to honor the stories of those who are lonely and help others who may not understand loneliness as well to understand how loneliness must feel.

Edit: Holy run on sentence, Batman!

I really hope that this film won't over-exaggerate, romanticize, dramatize, or otherwise incorrectly portray the emotions, reactions, feelings, etc. that go along with a feeling of loneliness or isolation........Oh, who am I kidding, we all know it will.

A tip to the directors, don't do what depression quest did and completely misrepresent these feelings.

Isolation Tyler said:

But yes, Case. I would truly like to apologise. I can totally understanding how patronising and - let's be honest - outright annoying it must be, for some intruder to come here and seemingly treat you all as a demographic or niche so that I can do well in my studies.

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An apology was certainly not necessary, nor was I seeking one, but I will accept it in the spirit that I believe it was extended.

Isolation Tyler said:

Thank you for sharing your viewpoint. As a side note, I don't intend for this account to be used 'solely to solicit free stories from you'. The project has drawn me into the forum, but that doesn't mean I intend on leaving once it is over. I'm quite interested in sticking around.

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If that is truly the case, then I welcome you wholeheartedly. As I said, I have no qualms about the project and I wish you well on your film. I appreciate the thoughtfulness of your post.

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Ero said:

A tip to the directors, don't do what depression quest did and completely misrepresent these feelings.

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Ugh. Depression Quest... I got part way through and the music and the content started bumming me out, and I remember stopping mid-sentence and saying aloud (to no one) "I can't do this."

It was definitely triggering me into a lower mood and I had to stop. It's not a game, even though it was greenlit on Steam. Who knows? Maybe someone finds worth in it.

SophiaGrace said:

Tyler I can tell this topic means a lot to you because of your own experiences. I don't get the sense that you are trying to exploit this community but are trying to be able to honor the stories of those who are lonely and help others who may not understand loneliness as well to understand how loneliness must feel.

Edit: Holy run on sentence, Batman!

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Thank you SophiaGrace! The documentary will actually consist of three core sections. One informative section, built from interviews with specialists in media studies, psychology and health, as well as with representatives of charities that try to combat isolation. One section will feature a more abstract, experimental approach, that aims to 'put the viewer in the position of someone suffering with loneliness" - that's the part I'm collecting these stories for. I think the biggest issue with loneliness is that it is misunderstood and the whole point of the film is to help change that.

There are other sections we are working on, but those aren't concrete and I wouldn't like to promise anything until decisions have been made. Thanks for your support!

Ero said:

I really hope that this film won't over-exaggerate, romanticize, dramatize, or otherwise incorrectly portray the emotions, reactions, feelings, etc. that go along with a feeling of loneliness or isolation........Oh, who am I kidding, we all know it will.

A tip to the directors, don't do what depression quest did and completely misrepresent these feelings.

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I can totally understand why you might feel apprehensive about a project of this type - those of us in the minority are all too familiar with being exploited for the sake of sensational filmmaking. All I can do is ask that you have faith in my integrity; the very last thing I want to do is to create a film that is exaggerates or sensationalises reality. As I said in the main post, those are the exact type of film that I want to subvert. I appreciate the difficulty of representing something that is accurate to everyone because loneliness is not the same for each sufferer. But I hope that in collecting as many stories as possible, I can at least paint a picture of the vivid spectrum of real, honest emotion from people who are willing to share it.

I definately see Case's point, but I trust that you will hopefully make a good 'film'. How long is the 'film' and how many people do you want to include? Anyway, I look foward to seeing it when (Or if) you do post it.

I'm with Case on this one, and quite frankly it would be hard to convince me otherwise.

I hope you are still working on this .

Omnipotent Soul said:

I definately see Case's point, but I trust that you will hopefully make a good 'film'. How long is the 'film' and how many people do you want to include? Anyway, I look foward to seeing it when (Or if) you do post it.

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It's planned to be between seven and ten minutes, and we would like to include as many people as possible. Our tutor suggests sticking to three people, but we hope showing her a draft with more people will convince her otherwise.

Batman55 said:

I'm with Case on this one, and quite frankly it would be hard to convince me otherwise.

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Hopefully the finished film will sway your judgement.

SophiaGrace said:

I hope you are still working on this .

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We are. But it's become a very hectic process in 'real world'. As I said before, all of us involved in the project have personal experiences that have driven us to create it. One of whom has severe anxiety, and following a recent assault has been very severely affected. At the current time it doesn't look like they will be making any more films with us.

This has forced us to consider alternative paths in order to accommodate their withdrawal from the project, but as it stands we are pushing ahead as the remaining two of us - me in particular - still feel very strongly about the issues.

We need to talk with our tutor to iron some things out, which may mean we have to change our idea entirely. In this scenario (which we are trying our best to avoid), my partner and I plan on pushing back the production of this film to January and creating it outside of academic requirements. We will know for sure by Friday.

I'm sorry I've been away from the forum. As you can tell, real life has become very hectic - spending time online and working on the project has become secondary, with having a friend in need. Thanks for your submissions - they have slowed now, but we are still receiving them gratefully.

How is this going, Tyler?

Sorry to hear people have backed out on the project.

SophiaGrace said:

How is this going, Tyler?

Sorry to hear people have backed out on the project.

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Hi Sophia,

It's reached a complete standstill. My own issues have flared, I think as a reaction to the stress of the project and of my friend being in a bad way. We're both on academic leave at the moment, trying to get ourselves back on track. We still plan on continuing this in the near future, but now is not a good time in terms of our own stability.

Isolation Tyler said:

SophiaGrace said:

How is this going, Tyler?

Sorry to hear people have backed out on the project.

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Hi Sophia,

It's reached a complete standstill. My own issues have flared, I think as a reaction to the stress of the project and of my friend being in a bad way. We're both on academic leave at the moment, trying to get ourselves back on track. We still plan on continuing this in the near future, but now is not a good time in terms of our own stability.

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I'm sorry to hear that. I was really looking forward to the film. Hopefully you can still make it.