Inspiring Stories of People Living With MS

Filmmaker Jason DaSilva

Crisscrossing the country, by van and on scooter, ITVS-funded filmmaker, 30-year-old Jason DaSilva, is part of the three-person road crew for a new online project about Multiple Sclerosis.

Beginning today ––in honor of National Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week (March 8-14) –– the National MS Society launched “We Keep Moving,” a journey across America that takes viewers into the homes of people living with MS.

Every week for ten weeks, three different stories and locations will be highlighted on the website. Visitors are invited to vote to select the story and destination for the following week’s short film.

“I don’t want to say that this? will be easy,” writes Jason. “Being completely able-bodied and traveling 10 different? places around the U.S. within 10 weeks is still a little bit much. Try doing the same with a scooter and MS symptoms!”

In addition to “We Keep Moving,” Jason, who was diagnosed with MS at the age of 25, is also working on When I Walk, his personal story of living with Multiple Sclerosis day-to-day. Jason is currently tracking his film and life on his video blog.

Learn more about “We Keep Moving” and choose the story you’d like to see next >>

Keep up with Jason on his blog >>

Tags: contest, health, healthcare, Multiple Sclerosis, science

Maggie Gyllenhaal Discusses Organ Donation and D TOUR

Here is a shocking statistic: on average, 18 people die everyday waiting for an organ transplant.

Watch the exclusive video below with Independent Lens host Maggie Gyllenhaal who discusses D TOUR, which chronicles musician Pat Spurgeon’s search for a living kidney donor and the challenges associated with finding a viable match. The program will air on November 10 at 10:00 PM on Independent Lens on PBS (check local listings).

Spurgeon’s story highlights the need to regularly monitor kidney health for those who are in at-risk categories.

Learn more about kidney disease, organ donation and the film >>

Tags: healthcare, indie rock, kidney, organ donation

DDF Funding Deadline Approaching: September 25

Peter Nicks, filmmaker of THE WAITING ROOM

The Diversity Development Fund (DDF) provides up to $15,000 in research and development funding to producers of color to develop single documentary programs for public television. Projects should reach underserved audiences often overlooked by conventional programming. The application deadline is on the horizon—September 25.

Filmmaker Peter Nicks was awarded DDF funding for his project THE WAITING ROOM, an in-depth look at the American healthcare system through the Alameda County Medical Center in Oakland, California.

He was recently featured in several media outlets for his innovative use of social media in filmmaking.

Check out the Videos Worth Watching feature in The New York Times >>

Visit SF360 to learn more about the film >>

Interested in learning more about DDF funding? Read more >>

Watch a video preview of THE WAITING ROOM below:

The Waiting Room Trailer from Document Films on Vimeo.

Tags: DDF, healthcare