Lisa co-directed OF TWO MINDS (2012), a journey into the lives of remarkable people living, struggling, and triumphing with bipolar disorder. OTM won a SAMHSA VOICE Award and an EIC Prism Award… the most significant awards for a mental health documentary, and has been seen by sold-out audiences at screenings across the country, as well as becoming a top documentary on Netflix. Lisa co-owns MadPix, Inc., an independent production company in Los Angeles, with her husband Doug Blush. Visit Lisa’s IMDB Page.
Director’s Statement
My name is Lisa Klein and I am the director of THE S WORD. As a survivor of both my father’s and brother’s suicides, I have struggled with the ‘whys’ for years, along with the guilt, shame, and confusion that lingers in suicide’s wake. I will never know why my dad ended his life. And, nobody talked about my brother. My mother could never bring herself to say the words, “My son killed himself.” No mother should have to say that. Ever.
There is no more highly charged personal issue for me, and for that reason I am driven to document it and open a much needed conversation. It is time for us to boldly talk about suicide because no family should have to experience that which radiates outward for generations to come.
Production Team
Doug Blush is an award-winning director, producer, editor, writer and cinematographer whose work includes over 100 feature and television projects, and is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) as well as the American Cinema Editors (ACE). His work has been honored with multiple Oscars, Emmys, and Sundance and other major festival awards. Visit Doug’s IMDB Page.
Julian is an Emmy award-winning filmmaker whose projects have participated at Sundance, Berlin, SXSW, and Tribeca Film Festivals and have been twice shortlisted for the Academy Awards. As producer, his award-winning documentary The Crash Reel follows the dramatic fall and rise of snowboarder Kevin Pearce. The film premiered at the Sundance film festival and was nominated for a Gotham Award and a DGA Award among others. Other credits include A History of Cuban Dance (2016),The Lion’s Mouth Opens (2015), and the award-winning fiction feature Greencard Warriors. Recent projects include the fiction feature Clemency starring Alfre Woodward. Originally from Hong Kong, Julian is also partner/founder at Good ‘n Proper, a production and management company.
Kurt co-directed and co-produced THESE AMAZING SHADOWS (2011), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, is distributed through IFC/Sundance Selects, won best documentary at the Savannah and Louisville film festivals, a Cine Golden Eagle, and had multiple broadcasts on the PBS series Independent Lens.
Gianna is an Emmy Award-winning producer for her work on THE SOPRANOS (2007). Most recently she Co-Produced the HBO Series ENLIGHTENED (2012) with Mike White and Laura Dern. After grad school, Gianna worked in TV as a Post Production Coordinator on NORTHERN EXPOSURE and an Associate Producer on JUDGING AMY. She became Post Production Coordinator at Dreamworks and oversaw the animated features PRINCE OF EGYPT and ANTS.
Pat has over 20 years of event management experience, including stints as Promotions Director for the Los Angeles Marathon, Project Director of Perelman, Pioneer & Company, a Los Angeles based event management firm that specializes in sports and entertainment, and Senior Director of Media Operations for the 2015 Special Olympics World Games. Throughout her career Pat has overseen the development and execution of a variety of major events. She brings this extensive event background to THE S WORD, overseeing the development of outreach and marketing programs and fundraising events in support of the film.
Josh is a writer, director, editor and cinematographer from West Bloomfield, Michigan. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 2011, wrote and directed an award-winning short film for Super Soaker in 2012, and then migrated to Los Angeles, where he has filmed and edited a steady slew of documentaries and narrative films. His recent credits include 2020 SXSW selection Console Wars, Rock Camp (2021) and GameStop: Rise of The Players (2022). His short films have appeared in festivals nationwide. He is now on the cusp of moving to Chicago to continue to realize his experimental and truth-seeking visions in an exciting new location.