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The Carousel Never Stops Turning

Enjoy the Stigma

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The Carousel Never Stops Turning

The Carousel Never Stops Turning

The Carousel Never Stops Turning

The Carousel Never Stops Turning

The Carousel Never Stops Turning

Enjoy the Stigma

Enjoy the Stigma

Enjoy the Stigma

Enjoy the Stigma

Aja Espinosa
Aja Espinosa
Aja Espinosa
Aja Espinosa
1 Campaign |
Philadelphia, United States
$285 USD 7 backers
28% of $1,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal
Choose your Perk

My name is Aja Espinosa. I am a senior film student at Temple University. I am currently producing a documentary on mental health and stigma for my senior thesis/Honors Scholar Project. 

Creating The Carousel Never Stops Turning was a dream of mine since I began my college career. Through the years I have experienced the life of someone living with a mental illness and watched many friends go through the rollercoaster of depression. This film is so important because of the state of mental health in the United States. Right now public education on mental illnesses consists of inaccurate stereotypes repeated in the media - most popularly after a mass shooting. 

I started my journey wanting to find a way to let my audience viscerally experience the physical barriers and emotional pain living with depression has on a person. The carousel was a perfect analogy. Like depression, the carousel has a cyclical motion alternating between the up and down. The revolations have a blurring affect on the outside life. Depression is often like being in a dream state. It is a ride you can never get off of. 

After experiencing the worst stigma to date, I decided my film needed to address the affects of stigma on an already struggling population. More importantly I wanted to explore how colleges treat their young students in the midst of crisis. There are countless stories of students asking for help only to be hospitalized and forced to withdraw from school. Originally wanting to have multiple storytellers, the story despite my best efforts became my story. I have many reservations about being the subject. What I know to be true is this story needs to be heard, and not for myself, but for all those countless people, especially students that are going through a situation similar to what I experienced last year. My hope is that the film will help change the image of mental illness and begin the conversation of how to affectively help students living with mental illness instead of ostracizing them. 


I have started my Indiegogo campaign to help me fulfill requirements of my Honors Scholar Project - that is present my research in a public forum. I am asking for $1000 to secure a venue to screen my film - hopefully the Roxy Theater in Philadelphia - and to fund my submissions to film festivals. 

I would greatly appreciate any sort of help that can be given. This issue is very near to my heart and needs to be addressed on a national even global level. Please spread the word. I hope to see you at the screening in April!


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