URGENT
PUBLIC SEVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Dear Friend,
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We are embarking upon creating one of the most important Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaigns of modern public health and are asking for your immediate support.
In some people, an acute COVID-19 infection can develop into the chronic illness Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or M.E. Scientists estimate that up to 43 Million new people in the United States alone have developed M.E. as a result of an initial COVID-19 infection.
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The goal of the ICEBERG PSA is to urgently inform the public about how they may obtain a diagnosis, access critical informational resources, sign up for research studies and participate in a global registry.
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The Iceberg PSA is a :30 second animation / live action commercial with companion graphics for print and digital distribution. We know the BEST way to get an important health message to the public is through beautiful storytelling and compelling visual entertainment.
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The support that we obtain from individuals, foundations and corporations is necessary for us to share this PSA with the people in your towns, cities and States. This PSA can save lives and improve quality of life.
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Onward,
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Chesley
UNIVERSAL MESSAGE
The message is universal.
In creating an animated PSA, this allows us the flexibility to add a voice over in any language and be distributed anywhere in the world.
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Your support can heighten the visibility of this message.
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what is M.E.?
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or M.E. means 'muscle pain and swelling of the brain and spinal cord' in Latin.
M.E. is a serious, chronic complex illness with a broad array of multi-systemic neurological, muscular, metabolic, endocrine, autoimmune, cellular and connective tissue symptoms.
M.E. can be triggered by infection (HHV-6, HSV-1, EBV, COVID-19, etc.) or trauma (accidents, etc). 80% of cases are from infections.
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M.E. can cause a break in the body’s natural healing cycle.
M.E. imposes a constant struggle for energy on the body.
M.E. Symptoms
> Post-exertional malaise (PEM)
> Dysautonomia
> Orthostatic hypotension
> Small fiber neuropathy
> Cognitive deficits
> Endocrine dysfunction
> Gastric
> Neuropsychiatric
> Sleep disturbances
> Physical disability
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Symptoms can fluctuate in severity, duration and undulate over time. People with M.E. can have debilitating symptoms that make it difficult to perform basic life functions such as taking a shower, walking up stairs, putting away dishes, making food or paying bills.
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Our goal is to do BIG things:
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Raise Awareness about a growing health crisis by promoting PSA.
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Promote Registration for people who have M.E. from COVID-19 or other triggers. This leads the way for a large Epidemiologic Study.
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Inform the Public about public & private resources for M.E.
M.E. In Numbers
BEFORE COVID-19
2.5M
30M
ADULTS IN U.S.
WORLDWIDE
$56B
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ON INDIVIDUALS
AFTER COVID-19
22-43M
7-14%
PEOPLE IN U.S.
% U.S. ADULT POPULATION
$1T+
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ON UNITED STATES ONLY
FOUNDATIONAL SUPPORT
ICEBERG PSA is made possible by the generous visionary support from our friends.
NON-PROFIT
The Louisiana International Film Festival (LIFF), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is producing the ICEBERG PSA.
Contributions to the Louisiana International Film Festival, a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code, are deductible to the extent that they exceed the value of the goods and services LIFF provides in return. Please consult your advisor about how the tax rules apply to you.
LIFF EIN# 45-3653747.
AVI
Co-Director
VFX Supervisor
Avi is a pioneer in visionary visual style and the owner of the Los Angeles-based visual effects company Barbed Wire FX. Barbed Wire has contributed animation and visual effects to video games, television commercials and feature films for over a decade. Leading a talented team, Avi has provided visual effects for motion pictures such as THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, HOSTEL 2, the 2005 Oscar winner for Visual Effects, SPIDERMAN 2 etc.