On 1/1/2020……. I lost my mother, Sharon, due to Parkinson’s disease. I wanted to share my thoughts and ideas on tough topics in caregiving and send thoughts and prayers for others diagnosed and caregivers, so this BLOG was created in their memories.
The Tackling Tough Topics BLOG 20: Movies and the Entertainment world- We need your support too!
This blog is dedicated to all those caretakers who care for a loved one with any disease and to those who have been diagnosed. We hear you; we see you, and we will never stop fighting until there is a cure!
Sharon’s son, George:
For decades, Parkinson’s hasn’t been discussed, mentioned, or even portrayed much in the entertainment industry. It’s a shame because we need everyone in this fight toward a cure, and Hollywood makes a significant impact throughout society and has more reach than most industries.
Advocate and star of film and television, Michael J. Fox, has led the way and brought awareness for PD in Hollywood, but we need more voices to echo this urgent message. Why are more shows, movies, and music not focused on bringing attention to PD awareness? I often wonder and have seen a few more shows that finally depict characters with PD.
The Apple TV series “Shrinking” depicts Harrison Ford as a therapist who is battling PD and, throughout the beautiful comedy series, also tackles tough topics and daily struggles his character faces.
So, what will it take? Who does Pd have to affect? How far do we go before the mainstream media provides more advocacy, characters, and attention?
There has been one movie, “Love and Other Drugs” but not many others if any at all.
Maggie (Ann Hathaway) is an alluring free spirit who won’t let anyone – or anything – tie her down. But she meets her match in Jamie (Jake Gyllenhaal), whose relentless and nearly infallible charm serves him well with the ladies and the cutthroat pharmaceutical sales world. Maggie and Jamie’s evolving relationship surprises them as they find themselves under the influence of the ultimate drug: love (IMDb, 2023).
It is a very tough journey that includes graphic sexual scenes and mixes comedy with life situations and the effects of PD on those diagnosed but also their loved ones.
One movie documented by Michael J Fox was created called “Still,” which documents his discovery and diagnosis of PD and his journey through his career until today as an advocate battling PD for himself and millions of others around the world.
There are a few impactful movies and shows depicting PD, but still not enough for me and likely you. We need major television stations and films, as well as the entire music and entertainment, to get involved, advocate, and help reach as many worldwide as they can. The time is now!
Reference
AppleTV (2024) Shrinking. Retrieved from https://tv.apple.com/us/show/shrinking/umc.cmc.apzybj6eqf6pzccd97kev7bs?&app=tv&cid=wwa-us-kwgo-tvp-slid-&itscg=MC_20000&itsct=atvp_brand_omd&mttnsiteid=143238&mttnagencyid=a5e&mkwid=Ydsaduk2&mttncc=US&mttn3pid=Google%20AdWords&mttnsubplmnt=_adext_&mttnsubad=OUS2019984_1-717349867855-m&mttnsubkw=146067015355__Ydsaduk2_
IMDb (2023) Love and Other Drugs, retrieved from https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758752/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk