Movie Trailer
Last week, Podium Pictures, an Emmy Award-winning film studio dedicated to producing impactful media that addresses global challenges through powerful storytelling, unveiled its striking documentary, “The Paradise Paradox.” Executive produced by Olympic ski racer and gold medalist Bode Miller and Emmy Award-winning impact sports filmmaker Brett Rapkin (HBO’s The Weight of Gold), in association with Alterra Mountain Company, the eye-opening documentary shines a light on the hidden mental health crisis afflicting America’s idyllic mountain towns.
About the Film
“The Paradise Paradox” unravels the stark realities leading to disproportionately high suicide rates in America’s mountain towns and across the snow sports industry, including isolation, the lack of behavioral health services, stigma, and systemic issues in the healthcare and insurance systems. A “party culture” can exacerbate and complicate existing mental health issues, driving a cycle of unhealthy self-medication. The stark economic gap among both visitors and local residents elevates mental health stress, as rising living costs and income disparity take a toll on the community’s well-being.
Yet, in the midst of these challenges, a resilient spirit of unity and hope emerges. The film features compelling narratives not only from local heroes who are confronting these challenges head-on but also from renowned figures like Olympic gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin. Together, they delve beneath the scenic vistas to reveal painful realities and the inspiring journeys of communities unifying to confront the issues they face.
Premiere, Screenings, and National Community Action Tour
In an effort to elevate public awareness, inspire critical conversations, and catalyze actionable solutions to the burgeoning mental health challenges surrounding mountain towns, Podium Pictures will soon kick off a national Community Action Tour designed to bring together a coalition of individuals and organizations to host educational community screenings of the film. More information about the film, the Community Action Tour, and screenings can be found at ParadiseParadoxFilm.com.
On Friday, October 6, 2023, “The Paradise Paradox” premiered at an invite-only event in Park City, Utah, at Eccles Center for Performing Arts. A guided meditation led by renowned Andean Shaman Elena Radford set a reflective tone for the event. After the screening, a panel discussion featuring Bode Miller, Brett Rapkin, and other notable community advocates dove into the issues confronted by the film.
Future screenings will feature discussions, Q&As, and panels, enriching the audience’s experience and engagement with the film’s pivotal themes. Participants will include community mental health organizations, civic leaders, key stakeholders, and the general public. The tour aims to reach community leaders, ski clubs, schools, and resorts, including Alterra Mountain Company’s North American locations, amplifying its reach to communities nationwide. The ultimate goal is not only to raise awareness but to inspire actionable change, driving both local and national stakeholders to conceive, collaborate, and implement creative and effective solutions to the mental health challenges unveiled in the film.
Film Credits:
- Co-Directed by Brett Rapkin and TJ Regan;
- Produced By: Brett Rapkin, TJ Regan, Sharmila Sahni, John Miller;
- Associate Producers: Annie Weaver, Eric Slayman, Devi Jags;
- Executive Producers: The Rieschel Foundation, The Dollinger Family, The Borgen Family Foundation, Brad Feld and Amy Bathcelor, The Jon and Jacolyn Bucksbaum Family Foundation, and The David and Lura Lovell Foundation;
- In association with Alterra Mountain Company;
- Technical Credits: Director of Photography: TJ Regan, Edited by: TJ Regan, Gena Fridman, and Jonathan Meacham, Music by: Milo Cantor, Written by: Brett Rapkin, Sharmila Sahni, and TJ Regan, Co-Directed by Brett Rapkin and TJ Regan.
