"I am sick and tired of being sick and tired" Fannie Lou Hamer

💊 The brutal reality of the American healthcare system is a bitter pill to swallow. But a little dark humor and a couple belly aching laughs makes it easier to deal with

💊 For me, laughter is the best medicine. And in this movie, humor and satire serve as the vehicle for highlighting the devastating and dehumanizing parts of the healthcare system and the urgent need for reform

About the Film

Title: Sick and Tired

Alternative Title: The Hypocrite's Oath

Genre : Drama/ Dark Comedy/ Social Commentary

Duration: 15-20 minutes

Logline: A father’s desperate journey to save his daughter spirals into a surreal nightmare where the true enemy isn’t her illness—it’s the system meant to heal. In a grim satirical fight for her life, Mal must navigate a healthcare system more broken than his bank account.

Synopsis: Mal, a young single father, is thrust into a frantic journey to secure healthcare for his ailing 5-year-old daughter, Layla. As the bills mount and the care options dwindle, Mal must deal with a dysfunctional insurance system, unsympathetic professionals, and the ever-present pressure of his money problems and debts. What should be a routine medical visit turns into a desperate, surreal race against time, as Mal faces one healthcare system failing after another. In the end, Mal is forced into a terrifying choice in a last ditch effort to save his daughter. “Sick and Tired" o s a gripping exploration of the American healthcare system’s stark inequities, highlighting how those at the bottom face impossible choices to survive.

Tone: If you like thought provoking satires like The Truman Show, The Network, They Live, Sorry to Bother You, They Cloned Tyrone and Get Out - then you'll love this short. And if you don't like those movies - you'll still love this short. 

What do the critics say?

...still waiting for that. tbd after we enter a couple festivals. But what do (completely non biased) friends and fellow writers say?

- "A captivating story in regards to the breakdown of the healthcare system from illness to treatment" HN

- "A fresh surrealist comedy that offers current and relevant commentary on the failings of the healthcare system. Dripping with satire and irony!" JE

- "Bro I had no idea you write lol. I love the concept" RT

Why I wrote this film?

As a healthcare professional, I've seen firsthand the way patients were let down by the system designed to protect them. And as a filmmaker, I believe stories have the ability to get a message across better than most other mediums and can be a powerful tool for advocacy - and change. 

Together, we can take the first steps towards advocating for a better system for our children and our loved ones. (Oh, and ourselves)

Why should you invest in this movie?

Health is a basic human right. The deciding factor between who should live a life of ease or disease shouldn't be decided by one's insurance status, economic background or racial background. Nor should the basic things needed for a healthy life be placed beyond reach or behind a paywall.

Doctors took a hippocratic oath to do no harm to patients - a stance that should extend to the entirety of the American healthcare system. Let's remind them about that (but theyre a sensitive bunch so we'll use humor to get the point across).

By supporting this project, you’ll not only be contributing to a vital conversation but also receive awards including:

• Personalized thank-you messages
• Early access to the film
• Signed scripts
• Behind-the-scenes content including director and cast commentary
• Name added to “Special Thanks” section of credits
• Non speaking role and appearance in film
• Executive producer credits

 More Info:

Unique Selling Points

💊 Social Relevance: This film speaks directly to current debates around healthcare access, particularly the systemic issues that plague low-income families. Its timely, thought-provoking narrative positions the film to resonate with audiences across the country. It also raises awareness of the many challenges and obstacles everyday Americans, especially those from low and middle socioeconomic backgrounds, face when trying to receive care.

💊 Emotional Appeal: The father-daughter dynamic at the heart of the story adds an emotional layer to the film, making it relatable for a wide range of viewers.

💊 Satirical Undertones: The film balances drama with dark humor and biting social commentary, particularly through the absurdity of healthcare advertisements and malfunctioning systems, offering a unique cinematic experience that is sure to leave a lasting impression. 

Budget and Funding

Making movies is expensive. Here's what your investments will be going towards. 

Crew - It takes a passionate group of professionals to make a movie. With your help, we'll be able to recruit the best people available to bring this vision to life.

Equipment -  We'll need the right gear to make sure you experience the best quality version of this movie possible. 

Locations - One of the greatest costs of our film, we'll need funds to rent several locations to make this movie happen.

Catering - An army marches on its stomach and a film crew runs on crafties (that's film talk for food and snacks). 

Production Design - Set dressing, costumes, props to create the atmosphere and tone that give the movie an authentic look and feel.

Talent - These are the talented individuals who will be bringing the characters to life.

Post Production - One of our other biggest costs.  After shooting, we'll need a solid team including an Editor, Colorist, Composer and Sound Mixer to get this movie to the finish line.

Distribution & Marketing - For film festival submissions, screenings and more!

Production Plan

Here's our breakdown of our schedule for pre-production, production and post-production. We aim to bring this movie to life as quickly and efficiently as possible so you can experience it sooner than later!

Pre-production: Casting, location scouting, finalizing the creative team and fundraising

Production: The shoot will take place over 4 days

Post-production: Editing, color grading, sound design, and special effects 

Marketing Plan

We want to share our movie as widely as possible and create conversations around the barriers to accessing the healthcare system - as well as discussing the "cures" to fixing it. Here's our plan.

Film Festivals: We plan to submit to major festivals like Sundance, Tribeca, and Urbanworld, targeting those with a focus on social justice

Social Media Campaigns: Leveraging platforms such as Instagram, Twitter and Tiktok to engage with audiences who care about healthcare reform

Partnerships: Collaborating with healthcare advocacy groups and social justice organizations to promote screenings and discussions around the film. This includes podcast interviews and panels with thought leaders in the public health and healthcare reform space

Lastly...

Thank you to everyone who contributes to this film and shares the link with others. As a healthcare professional and a filmmaker, this movie embodies everything I am professionally, artistically and creatively. Seriously, thank you for being on this journey with me.

This movie is produced by DNS Film Productions