NOTE: 05/28/11 - Anonymous Contributions

Please note that you can contribute your donations anonymously. We understand that confidentiality is important.
Comments so far have been wonderful but they are of course optional.
When you contribute you can select the Anonymous tab. Please email me with any questions: heyden.lisa@gmail.com
When contributing anonymously you can send me your contact privately to receive a copy of the DVD, other perks etc. Thank you.

Update: 05/26/11 - FOX NEWS Features Our Documentary

FOX News LA ran a health story on skin picking following the season finale of American Idol.
The newscast was re-posted at this link:

http://www.myfoxla.com/dpp/health/chronic-skin-...

Secret Shame Of Chronic Skin PickingI
Its a taboo topic seldom talked about a behavioral disorder often rooted in anxiety that causes people to pick their skin. This disorder can have long term repercussions inside and out for those who suffer from it.

Update: 05/25/11 - The film will be completed, but we need your help.

We would like to thank everyone who has visited the site and sent us emails checking in on the film's progress. Recently we received an important question regarding project funding and completion. To clarify, we would like everyone to know that the filming process has been going very well and we will be seeing the project through to completion - whether or not the IndieGoGo funding goal is met. We are now entering the post production phase (video editing & sound mixing) and committed to finishing the film through our own self-financing as required.

Your contributions are greatly appreciated and an enormous part of this project's steadily increasing comprehensive coverage. It is important for you to know how much of a difference your contribution (only $5 or more) could make.

Although we have a tremendous amount of filmed content to share, we still have a few items on our to-be-filmed wish list. Contributed funding will also allow the film to be distributed as widely as possible, which is a critical part of spreading the word, opening conversations, dissolving stigmas and shame, and discovering knowledge.

We are thankful and happy to mention that we received a small amount of funding from the National Film Board of Canada. Combining funding sources so far with our own personal funds, we were able to travel with Angela to San Francisco and attend the internationally renowned TLC Conference. We filmed Angela's journey as she met numerous others who share her condition along with many great interactions with leading professionals and researchers in the field. Graciously, a number of conference attendees participated in interviews which we filmed specifically for this documentary.

Our Story

The documentary Scars of Shame tells the story of Angela Hartlin, a 24 year old student from Dartmouth Nova Scotia Canada, who suffers from Dermatillomania: the skin-picking disorder. Angela invites us into her world for an intimate portrait of her daily struggles as she deals with this condition. Her honesty and courage with which she speaks about living with this silent and often misunderstood disorder is inspiring.

Director's comment: Before meeting Angela I had never heard of this skin-picking disorder and to be truthful I was shaken by the symptoms.  

The Impact

This documentary will be the first to examine the skin picking disorder, Dermatillomania, in depth. Many individuals with this condition live with it in isolation and shame. Our hope for this film is to increase awareness of Dermatillomania and explore possibilities for recovery and healing. We are passionate about bringing this subject to life through the film medium. As you will see in the above trailer, we have already begun the film making process. We have captured a large amount of material including interviews, life-style coverage and video diary footage from Angela's perspective. Combining these elements we have completed a summary version of the documentary. However, to create the in-depth treatment this subject matter deserves there is a lot more work to be done. 

The depth of information, character and emotion we have encountered throughout the film making process has been overwhelming and we feel it deserves a more in depth approach. Our ultimate goal is to produce an extended documentary authored on DVD including many special features and educational resources.

The sooner this story is told and the more comprehensive the DVD features are, the more it can help others understand their own condition and come out of isolation.

What We Need & What You Get

The money you contribute goes directly into the next steps required to finish the project. Along with post production costs (editing, sound mixing, music composition) contributed funds will allow this film to find the wide distribution it deserves. Funds will also  enable the launch of a project specific website for the film which will include links for more information and resources regarding Dermatillomania.

The majority of this documentary has been funded out of the director's and producer's personal investment over the past year. Your support (even small amounts) will allow us to make the next steps. We will be keeping everyone updated and hope to complete this documentary in 2011.

Thanks again so much for your consideration of this project. Please join us in making this film as comprehensive and widely distributed as possible. Join the team of all those who stand to discover more knowledge and speak out to end the isolation and silent shame that so often is unfortunately connected to this skin picking disorder.

Other Ways You Can Help

Please watch our trailer and inform others.

More information on Dermatillomania:

http://www.trich.org/

http://www.stoppicking.com/

Questions