Online Lyme Disease March
Pi Ware Nominated for Emmy Award
The editor/director of SKIN DEEP: THE BATTLE OVER MORGELLONS, Pi Ware, received his 5th Emmy Award nomination, this year for editing the Netflix/PBS special Dave Chappelle: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize For American Humor.
Throughout the past five years, while Pi has been directing the feature documentary Skin Deep, he has continued to edit documentaries and television programs, including this tribute to Dave Chappelle.
This year's Mark Twain Prize television program deviated boldly from the traditional awards show structure. Hand-held documentary footage was spliced in the middle of musical performances and in between guests. Introductions and walkups were dumped entirely. Speeches split. Linear time ignored. The result is a tapestry that melds the formal qualities of the Kennedy Center and the anything-can-happen vibe of a live comedy show.
“This new approach has been a real breath of fresh air,” says Pi. “And it works perfectly for Dave Chappelle. We basically took the feel of Dave’s documentary Block Party and married it—using every different editorial trick in the book—to the 'shiny floor awards show' formula. And believe me, that took a whole team to do.”
Now streaming now on Netflix.
The show is also Emmy-nominated for Outstanding Variety Special. Pi was nominated 3 previous times for editing the AFI Life Achievement Award and won an Emmy Award for editing the HBO Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Confronting Medical Denialism
Film Threat Podcast host Chris Gore invited the editor/director of Skin Deep: The Battle Over Morgellons, Pi Ware, to discuss arrogance in the medical industry and the patterns of denial that happen when doctors are faced with emerging diseases. Ware’s documentary is an investigation into the controversial subject of Morgellons disease, an illness in which fibers grow out of a patient’s skin, but an illness that many doctors say is “all in the patient’s head.” However, says Ware, the victim-blaming that occurs when doctors find medically unexplained symptoms in their patients isn’t a new trend among physicians.
“There is proof that [Morgellons] fibers are made by the body, but the medical industry just doesn’t believe it. So why would they look further at it?” Ware continues, “The film is meant not just to show that Morgellons Disease is real, but to show that there’s a pattern of medical denialism. And we need to bring this pattern into the larger focus, the larger conversation about healthcare. As you can see, COVID-19 is being denied by a lot of people online, if you have friends on your Facebook feed that say this is a giant hoax, you can see patterns of medical denialism happening right here, right now, with much more well-known diseases that we’re all dealing with. But it’s happened for years, for decades, for centuries. And it’s time for Morgellons disease to get its due.”
Watch the entire conversation between Pi Ware and host Chris Gore—who can’t believe the patronizing treatment one of the film’s skeptical dermatologists gives his patients—here: Film Threat Podcast - Battle Over Morgellons
Skin Deep Now on Amazon Prime
Skin Deep: The Battle Over Morgellons Premieres today July 1st on streaming giant Amazon Prime
Taking a deep dive approach into the heated controversy surrounding Morgellons disease, a skin condition that many in the medical industry consider to exist in the mind and not the body, this investigative independent film was acquired by Gravitas Ventures, a Red Arrow Studios company, and began its global VOD/Digital & DVD release across platforms this spring. Today’s launch on Amazon Prime supercharges the reach of this insightful and balanced documentary.
“Skin Deep brings the suffering of those afflicted to light with great compassion. As a film, the documentary succeeds with grace and thoughtfulness.” - Film Threat
“A must-see documentary for any doctor treating Morgellons, especially Dermatologists and Psychiatrists. Bridges the gap between doctors and patients, theories and science.” - Dr. Lisa Benest, Dermatologist and Diplomat of the American Board of Dermatology
Join the Watch Party July 5th, 4pm pacific / 7pm eastern
Amazon Prime just started a Watch Party feature! So if you're a Prime member on a desktop or laptop computer in the U.S. you're invited to join Pi Ware & Skin Deep documentary participants & crew (check social media for announcements of names) on July 5th at 4pm Pacific / 7pm Eastern. We'll watch the film together... and chat!
(Watch Parties are available on desktop browsers, except Apple’s Safari. Other devices such as Fire TV, smart TVs, game consoles, connected media players, mobile phones, and tablets are currently not supported.)
Morgellons Documentary in MovieMaker Magazine
Skin Deep editor/director Pi Ware's article is featured in this month's MovieMaker Magazine. https://www.moviemaker.com/skin-deep-the-battle-over-morgellons-director-difference-between-documentary-vs-reality-tv/
The article details Pi’s experience on Skin Deep and compares his work on network TV shows with that of documenting a yet-to-be-recognized disease— while sharing goals of authenticity in both genres.
The article includes insights from other filmmakers, including Jesse Moss, director of the Sundance grand jury prize-winner, Boys State.
Film Threat Reviews Morgellons Disease Documentary
"Impressive!...
Skin Deep: The Battle Over Morgellons brings the suffering of those afflicted to light with great compassion. As a film, the documentary succeeds with grace and thoughtfulness...The movie is informative and shares the human experience behind the questions of Morgellons, and for those reasons, is well worth watching."
- Film Threat, Score 8/10.
Full article: https://filmthreat.com/reviews/skin-deep-the-battle-over-morgellons/
And that review comes from a gentleman who denies the existence of chronic Lyme disease, so you know we're making inroads if he's praising Skin Deep! Skin Deep available now on digital & DVD/Blu-ray at https://MorgellonsMovie.org
Skin Deep: The Battle Over Morgellons on Podcasts
Director/Editor Pi Ware appeared on numerous podcasts with film critics. From "Following Films" to "Behind the Lens" each conversation was a peek behind the filmmaking curtain. And each critic was fascinated by Skin Deep. Click a link to listen.
Film Threat Livecast with Chris Gore »
Following Films with Christopher Maynard »
Behind the Lens with Debbie Lynn Elias »
One Week Only with Conor Holt »
Living with Lyme with Cindy Kennedy »
Film School Radio with Mike Kaspar »