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Cinematographer Josh Bayer, a West Bloomfield native, and Director Lisa Klein,
formerly of Southfield

Free Local Screenings
of The S Word

U

pcoming screenings
are scheduled for The
S Word, a documen-
tary about suicide written
and produced by a group of
former Detroiters. The film,
which received a Voice Award
from the Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA), is
a life-affirming production that
aims to remove the stigma
from discussing suicide and
depression and create a com-
munity conversation that can
help those who are contem-
plating suicide.
The S Word features sto-
ries from survivors of suicide
attempts as well as families
who have lost loved ones to
suicide.
The film is directed by Lisa
Klein, a Southfield native who
co-owns MadPix Inc., an inde-
pendent production company
in Los Angeles, with her hus-
band, Doug Blush, who serves
as producer and supervising
editor. Josh Bayer, who grew

up in Farmington Hills, is the
editor.
“We want to take away the
stigma, shame and secrecy
of suicide,” said Klein, who
co-directed Of Two Minds, an
award-winning 2012 documen-
tary about bipolar disorder.
The film is showing in cit-
ies across the country, with
a panel of experts in the field
of suicide and mental health
speaking and answering ques-
tions after each screening.
Locally, free screenings
are from 1-4 p.m. Saturday,
Sept. 9, at Emagine Theatre
Royal Oak and from 3-6 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 10, at Robertson
Auditorium at the Ross School
of Business, 701 Tappan Ave.,
Ann Arbor. Tickets can be
reserved at theswordmovie.com.
Additional showings are
planned for the evening of
Wednesday, Nov. 8, at the
Maple Theater in Bloomfield
Township and on Thursday,
Nov. 9, at a location to be
determined. •

“We want to take away the stigma,
shame and secrecy of suicide.”

— LISA KLEIN

16

August 31 • 2017

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