Think Lovely Thoughts
Exploring the tormenting, and often disorienting experience of living with severe anxiety, depression, and panic, Think Lovely Thoughts is a film about the push/pull for one man's sanity while his subconscious tears at his grip on reality.
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Stephen SnavelyWriter and Director
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Amy YerringtonProducer
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Stephen SnavelyProducer
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Meredith SnavelyExecutive Producer
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Mikkel AranasExecutive Producer
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Roy Williams Jr.Key Cast"John Stevens"
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Dayana RinconKey Cast"Sam Stevens"
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Adia BellKey Cast"Psychiatrist"
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Evie WilliamsKey Cast"Livvy Stevens"
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Michael GauthierDirector of Photography
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Randi AtkinsEditor
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Jon StanleyProduction Designer
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Joel J. RichardComposer
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Chris Russell1st AD
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Cole Ellett1st AC
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Adam LonigroGaffer
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AJ JohnsonKey Grip
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Ryan MorganG&E Swing
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Kenneth BauerCam Op
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Jeff BallSteadicam Op
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Michael AlaynickSound Mixer
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Jessica LicataHair and Makeup
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Matt LathromVFX Producer
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D. Francis MurraySound Design
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Tyler RothColorist
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Aaron VaqueraPA
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Alexandria PiheraCovid Compliance Officer
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Project Type:Short
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Genres:Drama, Experimental, Horror
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Runtime:15 minutes 3 seconds
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Completion Date:August 20, 2021
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Production Budget:15,000 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital, RED Komodo
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
A self-taught filmmaker, Stephen's approach often focuses on finding shared moments that evoke emotion and engage audiences in uniquely powerful, authentic, and meaningful ways. He believes that filmmaking, in its purest and most perfect form, comes from the ability to be vulnerable.
This vulnerability provides the freedom to create in a space that feels safe enough to fail. Safe enough to share one's truths. Safe enough to be specific and not worry about if the audience has “lived” what they will see on screen. It's out of this vulnerability that we discover common bonds, shared emotions, and a more universal humanity.
Over the last ten years, I've journeyed through the ups and downs of discovering I have a chronic anxiety disorder, working through crippling depression, experiencing debilitating panic attacks, and contemplating suicide. To say that this film is highly personal would be an understatement. And while this played a large part in why I wanted to make this film, it wasn't the only reason.
As a man and member of the BIPOC community, I know firsthand how tough it can be to speak up and seek help, even when it's so desperately needed. While strides have been made in recent years to de-stigmatize the topic of mental illness and getting treatment for it, many people in marginalized communities, especially men, still face internal stigmas when it comes to getting help. This needs to change, and I want to help facilitate that change in any way that I can.