Nicabob

We attack several intertwined and socially relevant issues in the film: cyber bullying (especially of teens with cognitive disabilities), the over-prescribing of pharmaceuticals, and the increasingly thinning divide between online and offline realities for digital natives. The film aims to open up a dialogue about the confluence of technology, pharmaceuticals and cognitive disorder amongst young people as we witness the rest of the world come on line in the next few years. Through partnerships, we aim to question if there are any corollaries between abundant screen time and cognitive disturbances, whether pharmaceuticals can be replaced in most cases by proper nutrition, exercise and other non invasive techniques, and how technology can be used in a more healthy, non-addictive way.

Kids and teens who suffer from cognitive disorders such as ADHD can find it difficult to express themselves or may express themselves differently. When interacting with internet technology such as vlogging platforms or social media, they find different and unique ways to manifest online. These uses can be fascinating and definitely add to the human conversation in their own right, however, because they are different, they can be marginalized by bullies and shouted down by “trolls.” Their freedom of expression is smothered, and, where they might have incubated a wonderful idea with some time and practice, they give up because the bullying is just too painful.

This is a hybrid piece. It is a cinematic retelling of the experiences of Nicolaas Migliore who plays the title role of Nicabob. The real Nick has been medicated for ADHD since the age of 5. He is now 16, and his goal is to get off the pills by the age of 18 so that he can get a "normal job." The pharmaceuticals have altered his personality in a profound way, and his interaction with the real world and the digital world is seamless.

On top of this real world, we have laid the fiction of “Nicabob.” The use of Greenscreen, Vlogging windows, other screens mixed with the hyper-reality of our unique brand of documentary aesthetic will have the audience questioning what is real (nothing) and what is constructed (everything). We have filmed him both at the top of a pharmaceutical high and at the bottom as he was taking his meds while filming. We arranged filming around his pharmaceutical intake so as to present the reality of his situation in a fictional world.

We want to reframe the discourse around drugging children for cognitive disorders. When Nick was diagnosed, prescribing was the only recommendation by the doctor. Instead of exploring nutritional and exercise alternatives, he was put on a cocktail of pharmaceuticals. If a child doesn't act "right," he gets drugged. If he still doesn't act right, he gets a new cocktail until he becomes a zombie. I'm interested in using this film and connected media to draw attention to the fact that we as a society are over drugging our children. My aim is to partner with anti-drugging organizations to create cross-platform resources and integration. Surely there is a better way.