The Cancer Conflict Movie -

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TheCancerConflict
TheCancerConflict Member Posts: 2
edited October 2016 in Emotional Support #1



Hi everyone, I am Tom and I have been making a film about cancer.

The documentary is following two people, one who's chosen chemo while the other alternative therapy, while exploring the question 'why does the UK have the lowest cancer survival rate in Western Europe?'

It's all about people's relationship to their treatment and the choices they make, and the relationship to the treatments on a wider scale - as people here in the UK at least encounter a lot of conflict in this department due to such divided opinions on what works and what does't. I want to get the important conversation of if and how the different modalities can work together started.

I think this topic is really important to discuss, so I have begun making this film and I wanted to share it with you all.

Here is the trailer - https://vimeo.com/184950317

If you would like more info you can find it here - www.cancerconflictmovie.com

Thank you all so much for reading and I hope you get something from this material.


RECRUITING MUM


SEPTEMBER, 2016

|IN BLOGS



I have been in Melbourne, Australia for the past five weeks. I came to see mum and my sister, and to renew my UK visa. I finished filming the main body of the documentary just before I arrived, and the end of Surinder’s story was in the can. 

I was relieved. The film was almost there, it was looking good, and I had begun turning my mind to finding funds to edit.

It was so good to see mum, Lesley. She is a dynamo of a woman who’s intelligence and tenacity has always inspired me. I have always thought ‘If only I can be as smart as my mum..’ She’s the kind of person that can achieve anything if she sets her mind to it. I have witnessed this.

Tom&Lesley_Aug_2016_377_72DPI copyLesley Thomas (mum) and Director Thomas Meadmore with Solly, the cat.

We caught up and I debriefed my latest London news including my recent inspiration on using something called ‘crowdfunding’ to raise the funds to finish this documentary and over the coming days my enthusiasm for the film, the coming release of the trailer and the momentum it was building online began to rub off.

I had to have her on my team. I sent her a ‘how to crowd-fund’ guide which outlined the basic do’s and dont’s, and her response was exactly what I’d hoped.

Oh, we can do this Tommy’. 

BOOM. Les was on the team. Major win.

 I am staying with mum while I am here in Melbourne, and we have been talking about it constantly. Planning every day, going over strategies for the campaign, planning outreach for our audience, researching the entire internet for the best practices.

Tom&Lesley_Aug_2016_135_72DPI copyTom showing ‘The Cancer Conflict’ website to Les and Solly.

Obviously catching up with family (I haven’t been back here for two years) is wonderful, but there is something about bonding over shared experiences. I realised I have never worked on a project with my mum before.

It has been an insight in terms of learning what it is actually like working with my mother, this dynamo of a woman who I have watched all of my life and who’s phenomenal efficiency I have admired. And to feel like I can keep pace gives me confidence. Even more than that I have felt new and profound gratitude for the chance to share this experience with my mum. 

We make a good team.

More soon,

Tommy