Open Collective
Open Collective
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The Light Inside

Ways out of darkness.

About



We want to introduce you to our new documentary short film The Light Inside

Synopsis:

A young woman carries a lighted candle into a dark tunnel where she starts to hear voices - each relating a lived experience of suffering mental ill-health. As the testimonies reach crisis point, the candle dies. All hope seems lost. Yet it is here, at the heart of darkness, that ‘the light inside’ can be found. Insight, courage and the help of others point the way back to reality, wellbeing and the light of day... 

Our Goal: we are looking to raise £6,500 in order to...

  • Improve our website featuring helplinks to mental health charities & organisations.
  • Promote the film to festivals and distributors at home and abroad.
  • Edit x 16 additional Audio Stories for inclusion on the website, using our extensive archive of interviews, offering further insight into what experiencing mental ill-health can be like, as well as advice about coping strategies and healing techniques.
Our aim is to reach vulnerable audiences - people who may themselves be struggling, or care about somebody who is. Reaching for help is not always the first thing that comes to mind when someone is unwell. There is still a lot of shame and stigma surrounding mental illness, despite the gradual move towards more open conversations and shared vocabulary. 

By contributing to our Open Collective, you will help us reach people in need of support and ensure that The Light Inside can play its part in this much wider conversation.

Why a website?

Normally, a short film like ours would be submitted to festivals where it would be put before a filmmaker audience. It might then be put on a streaming service like Vimeo or YouTube, or maybe featured on some popular blogs or, if things went really well, find its way to broadcast. Whilst we intend to pursue all of the above, our reason for wanting to put the film on a website is to enable anyone, anywhere to access it right now, as we deal with the fallout of the pandemic. 

Moreover, our website will feature links to charities and organisations with the expertise to support people in need who, having viewed the film, may feel moved to seek help.  Also, the additional stories you will be helping us to create, will allow visitors to the site to dive deeper into the themes, symptoms and healing techniques that our short film can only touch on.

As soon as the website goes live, all this will be shared as a free online resource that can be used by any mental health service provider, education institution, community group, family or individual going through a tough time.

More than a film.

The Light Inside, from its conception, has been more than just a film. It is an acknowledgment of the increasing number of mental illnesses being experienced by so many of us. It's a film that raises awareness, creates empathy, and reminds us of one of the most important challenges of our generation.

It comes from a deeply personal place for the director, Jesse Daniel Lawrence, who experienced his own challenges early on in his career. We couldn’t have made this film without the support of local and independent mental health charity, Bath Mind, who have partnered us throughout. They are  part of a network of over 100 charities all over the country who will also have access to the film.

Our thanks also to The Victoria Wood Foundation whose generous support made the film possible. Likewise, to our film production Crowdfunders who gave so generously. And lastly, and most importantly, to our contributors for their courage in speaking so candidly about their experiences and for sharing their insights and wisdom.

We hope that you too will feel moved to support The Light Inside as it sets out on this next stage of its journey. Together we can make a difference. Thanks for reading!

See below for details on how to contribute ...

Our thanks to all those who have helped fund the project so far:

View our Production collective here :

:...
Estimated Annual Budget
£49
Today's Balance
£1,242.62
Edit x16 Audio Stories
£6,500
per year

Contribute


Become a financial contributor.

Financial Contributions

One-time contribution
Spark Sponsor

Thank you! A bright light starts with a small spark. Your support will help us in our pursuit of sharing hopeful stories around mental health.

Starts at
£1 GBP

Latest activity by


Be the first one to contribute!
One-time contribution
Candle Light Contributor

- You will be featured in our contributor page on our website. Thank you! Your support will help us in our pursuit of sharing hopeful stories arou... Read more

Starts at
£25 GBP

Latest activity by


One-time contribution
Campfire Contributor

- You will be featured in our contributor page on our website. - Receive a digital 'behind the scenes' production still signed by the filmmakers. ... Read more

Starts at
£50 GBP

Latest activity by


+ 4
One-time contribution
Bonfire Booster

LIMITED: 10 LEFT OUT OF 10

- You will be featured in our contributor page on our website. - Receive a digital 'behind the scenes' production still signed by the filmmakers. -... Read more

Starts at
£250 GBP

Latest activity by


Be the first one to contribute!
One-time contribution
Blazing Bright

- You will be featured in our contributor page on our website. - Receive a digital 'behind the scenes' production still signed by the filmmakers. -... Read more

Starts at
£500 GBP

Latest activity by


One-time contribution
Empowering Flame

- You will be featured in our contributor page on our website. - Receive a digital 'behind the scenes' production still signed by the filmmakers. -... Read more

Starts at
£1,000 GBP

Latest activity by


Be the first one to contribute!
Custom contribution
Donation
Make a custom one-time or recurring contribution.

Latest activity by


+ 10

Events

The Light Inside is hosting the following events.

Past event
06:00 PM-07:00 PM UTC
Mental Health Awareness Week screening of a new short film, The Light Inside

Attended by


Past event
07:00 PM-08:30 PM UTC
Our debut screening for cast, crew, partners and supporters of the film

Attended by


Past event
07:00 AM-07:45 AM UTC
Invite only screening of The Light Inside in Christchurch, New Zealand

Attended by


The Light Inside is all of us

Our contributors 16

Thank you for supporting The Light Inside.

New Zealand S...

£2,000 GBP

Miriam and An...

Blazing Bright

£500 GBP

Dave D

£200 GBP

Charles E Todd

Campfire Contributor

£100 GBP

Jon Gates

Campfire Contributor

£100 GBP

Wren Sidhe

Campfire Contributor

£50 GBP

Emily Burnham

Campfire Contributor

£50 GBP

Jane Thomason

Campfire Contributor

£50 GBP

Pat Saxton

Campfire Contributor

£50 GBP

Roz Graham

Campfire Contributor

£50 GBP

Connect


Let’s get the ball rolling!

News from The Light Inside

Updates on our activities and progress.

INTRODUCING: The Light Inside - Audio Stories

Dear friends of The Light Inside, We're happy today to be releasing the first of 15 audio stories, edited down from the several hours of interviews we conducted with the contributors you met in the film. 'Caroline's Story' makes its debut t...
Read more
Published on November 1, 2022 by Harry Knight

WINNER: The Light Inside, Festivals & Updates

Dear Friends, We wanted to share some good news and updates about The Light Inside. We're happy to announce that we won 'Best Mental Health Short' at the Cotswold International Film Festival and have made the Official Selection for the Canb...
Read more
Published on September 15, 2022 by Harry Knight

Budget


Transparent and open finances.

-£19.20 GBP
Pending
Reimbursement #161981
Reimbursement #153651
+£50.00GBP
Completed
Contribution #668958
£
Today’s balance

£1,242.62 GBP

Total income

£3,445.32 GBP

Total disbursed

£2,202.70 GBP

Estimated annual budget

£48.94 GBP