Cracking Up

Cracking Up
People say laughter is the best medicine, but can it be used to treat severe mental illness? Exploring the therapy of laughter, Cracking Up provides a compelling view of how comedy can change the mind of an individual and the thoughts of a society.

Cracking Up follows the story of 11 courageous people who stand up for their mental health—literally! Using laughter as a form of therapy, counselor, comedian and author of The Happy Neurotic: How Fear and Angst Can Lead to Happiness and Success David Granirer trains these individuals who suffer from mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and manic depression, to confront their problems through stand-up comedy. While learning to laugh at themselves, they get to share their stories and address public stigma with an audience that has a lot to learn about mental disorders.

Giving a face to mental illness, this documentary introduces audiences to inspiring individuals, such as Michael Warren who has both bi-polar disorder and attention deficit hyperactive disorder. Michael couldnt speak properly until he was a teenager, but it hasnt deterred him from his dream to become a stand-up comedian. Likewise, Paul Decarie suffered traumatic injury to his brain and spine after falling off a second story balcony when he was two years old, but he too is determined to attain a career as a professional actor and stand-up comedian. Eufemia Fantetti has battled clinical depression for most of her life, yet she is striving to find her long lost sense of humour. Sufferer of schizophrenia, Robbie Engelquist uses his creativity and the unusual voices inside his head as inspiration for his jokes. Each of their stories provokes viewers to reevaluate their perceptions and biases towards people with mental illness.

From the first fumbles of the microphone, to their one-on-one performances in front of the mirror, to their sold out graduation show at one of Vancouvers biggest theatres, Cracking Up takes viewers on a quirky journey through the unique perspectives of some remarkable people.

Granirer founded Stand Up for Mental Health in Vancouver to help people with mental disorders build self-esteem and fight public stigma. Now, his program is offered in Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Courtenay, Guelph, Fort Frances, Toronto, Ottawa, and Granirer travels North America bringing it to other cities. As a pioneer in the use of comedy as therapy, Granirer gives those with mental illness a voice and a stage to tell their stories. This emotionally moving documentary changes peoples views of mental illness, provides them with hope, and most importantly, makes them laugh.

To buy the documentary go to http://www.hdtv-vancouver.com


http://www.standupformentalhealth

Category:

Comedy

Tags:

• comedy
• mental health
• mental illness
• depression
• Cracking Up
• stand up comedy
• schizophrenia
• bipolar
• recovery

[DANEAULT9]

@shadowshot136 LIONEL-GROULX!

[shadowshot136]

CÉGEP SAINTE FOY BITCHES!!!!!!!

[lbailey45]

I saw the show a few weeks ago - great work!! I'm interested to buy the documentary, but the website (hdtv-vancouver) is kinda dead - there's no indication where we can buy films..

[TheMissMyrtle]

No Matter How Many TImes I Keep Coming Back to Enjoy This, Cracking Up Never Ceases to Amaze and Delight Me! Stand Up For Mental Health Has Come So Far SInce This Wonderful Doc was made in 2005. Keep Up the Great Work!

[newfiehughes]

I think this is brilliant. The whole concept. Bravo.

[Mogurt102]

What a cool program!

I love how much it brings awareness to the reality of mental illness. These people are so capable, yet so many people would assume they couldn't do this.

Congrats David for embracing a population so susceptible to marginalization!

I'm sure it helps that you can relate to them.

If you can get a hold of the rest of this doc, it's great. It's not all funny, but its not meant to be. Its realistic. Wait until you see one of their shows before judging how funny SMH is!!

[strongfamiglia]

not very funny

[britgirlinoz]

David you are a genius.. I think your initiative will help so many people. I am a clinical educator in mental health and my background is nursing and psychology- I would really like to use some of your clips for my teaching or if you could recommend which of your DVDs will be most helpful to my students.

Many thanks

Jo

[telewebservices]

A Christian man dies and goes to heaven, There he meets god, Then he ask god, so who was right? the Jews? Or the Christians?

So god says, The schizophrenics!

How so? asks the man.

Well remember they were paranoid about being poisoned? They were! and so were you! by the industry, Remember they were paranoid about being followed or watched? They were! and so were you,

Remember them trying to get away from it all? they were right, your society sucks! welcome to hell!

[bpyjktgiuk]

Brain chip - CHECK MY SITE.