About the Film
Game Flow is a short documentary about gaming for mental health. Research shows that games can help build empathy, develop problem-solving skills, and encourage emotional resilience, all of which are essential to coping with mental illness. However, in a culture where gaming is more popular than ever, concerns about video game addiction and violence in games are still rampant. Using the experiences of people with mood and anxiety disorders who play games of all kinds as evidence, the film demonstrates that many of the negative associations between gaming and poor mental health could not be further from the truth.
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We’ve had the privilege of interviewing a variety of experts in the areas of game studies, game design, psychology, and mental health, thanks in part to the generous cooperation of The American University Game Lab, the Digital Games Research Association (DiGRA), and Swinburne University of Technology. For more insight into the research behind the film and other background information, check out our website.
After being in production for well over a year, with shoots everywhere from Elkton, Maryland to Melbourne, Australia, we have an awesome rough cut. All we need to finish the film is some professional post-production help to make Game Flow look and sound as good as possible before we release it.
From the Filmmaker
Games helped me through a difficult time in my life, when I was struggling with my own mental health issues. I feel strongly that many others are missing out on what for me was a revitalizing, even life-changing opportunity: the chance to take control of one’s life via a virtual world. Games cannot and should not take the place of medical treatment, but they can provide people with a unique outlet and opportunity for self-care. That is why I am making this film - to spread the word about the power of games.
- Director/Producer/Editor Emily Crawford
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Meet the Team
Emily Crawford - Director/Producer/Editor
Emily is a documentary filmmaker and writer living in Washington, DC. She just finished her MFA in Film & Electronic Media at American University, and Game Flow was her capstone project. Some of her favorite games are the Mass Effect and Dragon Age trilogies, Skyrim, and the Fallout series.
Joey Trimboli - Research & Outreach Consultant
Joey is a legislative staffer by day and an avid gamer by night/weekend. He provided games research consulting throughout the production of the film, and is supporting our crowdfunding and outreach efforts. He also was sound recordist on several shoots.
Production Crew
Our production crew has been an amazing team of fellow filmmakers and friends who all pitched in to help for free, for which we are eternally grateful. Different people performed different (and sometimes multiple) roles on different shoots, but the overall team included:
JEAN-MICHEL FISCHRÉ
JOHN DAVIS
KAYLA LATTIMORE
NICC GADSDEN
ANTHONY BRUNNER
CONSTANCE CRITCHLOW
ELIZABETH HERZFELDT-KAMPRATH
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What We Need & What You Get
We need funds to cover post-production costs only, meaning the film has already been shot and we’re nearly done with editing. Here’s the breakdown of where your money will go (percentages are rough estimates):
Audio finishing - 30%
Color correction - 30%
Original music composition - 30%
Festival fees, travel to festivals, and community screenings - 10%
Depending on how much you donate, you can also get cool stuff like a digital download of the finished film, Game Flow stickers, a mini-poster, or even a screening package. Check out our Perks for details!
Even if we do not meet our goal, this film will get finished – meaning every cent of your money will be put to good use, no matter what. But the quality, success, and impact of the final product is entirely up to you, our donors.
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The Impact
The primary goal of this film is to promote awareness of the unseen realities of mood and anxiety disorders, and the power of games as a coping strategy. Compassionate and accurate awareness can de-stigmatize mental illness; discourage systemic discrimination in the workplace, in the justice system, and in society; advocate for improvement of quality and availability of mental health care in the U.S; and finally, encourage those living with mental illness to seek support and treatment. Games are one of many tools available to supplement clinical treatment and support, but they are too often dismissed as a frivolous, addictive, and pro-violence. This film debunks these misconceptions and promotes a positive image of games.
Distribution Plan
This film will pursue distribution initially through a festival run and community screenings, then eventually online distribution. Of course, if you contribute $20 or more you’ll get a free digital download as soon as it’s finished!
Risks & Challenges
We’ve overcome the biggest hurdles by finishing production and editing the film. Our challenge now is to do this topic justice by creating the best finished product possible to spread our message.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you can’t contribute financially – first of all, we understand. Please consider sharing our campaign on social media using the buttons at the top of the page. You can also get involved in the larger movement by following us on social media (links below) and checking out the resources on our website!
Spread the word! Share our campaign on social media, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and visit our website.
Thank you for your support & don't hesitate to reach out with any questions!
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