‘Me and My Tourette’s’ premieres on SBS on 25 October
Produced by WA production company Joined Up Films for SBS's Australia Uncovered series, the documentary follows the lives of three young Australians as they navigate a condition that has no cure and is so little understood.
Screenwest is pleased to announce that one hour documentary Me and My Tourette’s, produced by Western Australian production company Joined Up Films, is set to make its television premiere on SBS and SBS on Demand on Tuesday, 25 October.
Around one in every hundred Australians are diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome (TS), a condition that has no cure and is so little understood, even by medical science. With repetitive, sudden movements and vocal tics, the involuntary physical effects can leave people with the syndrome feeling on the outskirts of Australian society.
Directed by Lisa Dupenois and executive produced by Joined Up’s Jacqueline Willinge, Anthony Willinge and Dan Brown, Me and My Tourette’s follows three people as they experience a remarkable camp in Victoria that has the potential to change their lives. From a young man diagnosed for the first time in recent weeks to a teenager whose tics developed after losing her mother and now dreams of being a police officer. Through their personal stories we learn about the difficulties, remarkable courage, and the spectrum of this disorder.
“This was a film that we really wanted to make. To do it we had to rely on the bravery and determination of our cast and their absolute desire to shed light on this condition, to help the public to better understand and hopefully increase empathy for others living with the condition. We are incredibly thankful that the participants trusted us to tell their story.” said Dan Brown, Creative Director of Joined Up Films.
Me and My Tourette’s is part of Australia Uncovered, a strand of stand-alone documentaries that explore and celebrate contemporary Australia in revealing, surprising, and compelling ways. Me and My Tourette’s is the first of four distinctive, bold, and uniquely Australian stories to premiere, with each documentary screening on SBS every Tuesday evening from 25 October.
This is Joined Up’s second contribution to the series, with the company collaborating with Walkley Award-winning director Nel Minchin (Firestarter – The Story of Bangarra) to produce documentary The Truth About Anxiety with Celia Pacquola for SBS’s first collection of Australia Uncovered stories last year.
Founded by Anthony Willinge and Dan Brown in 2010, Joined Up Films focuses on developing, producing and exporting returnable factual television formats. Known for finding stories that are waiting to be told, their previous work has included programs which interrogate the human experience and incorporate a strong social conscience, such as Is Australia Racist?, What Does Australia Really Think About and Will Australia Ever Have a Black Prime Minister?
“That a Joined Up Films documentary is part of SBS’s Australia Uncovered series for a second year running speaks volumes of the team’s approach to tackling important and contemporary issues. We’re proud to support Me and My Tourette’s and look forward to seeing it help change the perspectives towards this condition in Australia.” said Paul Williams, Screenwest Documentary Executive.
Me and My Tourette’s will screen on SBS at 8:30pm on Tuesday, 25 October. It will also be available to stream on SBS on Demand.
Production credit: Me and My Tourette’s is a Joined Up Films production for SBS. Principal production investment from Screen Australia in association with SBS. Financed with support from Screenwest and Lotterywest.
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