Following our Fall 2015 The Healing Soldier Project studio, the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) and Designmatters collaborated on a documentary-style PSA to raise awareness around EMDR as a viable therapy for patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
ArtCenter Alum H.R. McDonald (FILM ’14), was engaged to film and produce a short documentary, which focuses on EMDR as a kind and gentle therapy that does not require PTSD patients to re-live the trauma they experienced in the past. H.R. was able to portray the honest, positive and inclusive messaging of EMDRIA, reaching all types of patients, not only veterans. The film debuted at EMDRIA’s annual conference in August 2016.
“The PSA is a proclamation to the world of the healing power of EMDR therapy and an affirmation of what our therapists do. It was unveiled at our conference in Minneapolis, where the attendees were delighted and thrilled with how H.R. captured the essence of the healing power of EMDR therapy.” – Mark G. Doherty, Executive Director, EMDR International Association
Healing Trauma: a Public Awareness Film for EMDR Therapy from Designmatters at ArtCenter on Vimeo.
H.R. McDonald graduated from Art Center in 2014 with a BFA in Film, Cinematography. In 2012 McDonald was recognized by the American Society of Cinematographers, receiving the Andrew Laszlo Heritage Award for best undergraduate cinematography; since graduation, he has worked as a cinematographer and editor of short-form documentaries, narrative shorts, commercials and sizzle reels. McDonald is most proud of his work on the feature film Pepe, which he shot, edited and co-created with fellow Art Center alumi Filippo Nesci and Anuar Yahya-Valdovinos. To view Pepe and other work from McDonald, visit vimeo.com/hrmcdonald