Children today face unprecedented mental health challenges. Anxiety, depression, and social pressures affect younger generations at alarming rates. Despite growing awareness, many parents and educators still struggle to start meaningful conversations with youth about their emotional well-being. Finding accessible and engaging ways to discuss these heavy topics remains a critical hurdle for families everywhere.
Blue Oak Productions tackles this urgent issue directly with their new short film, Tin Soldiers. By utilizing the power of storytelling, the production company provides a visual and emotional entry point for discussing children's mental health. In this interview, we discuss the creative vision behind the film, the importance of representing youth struggles on screen, and how cinema can drive real-world healing.
Q: What inspired Blue Oak Productions to tackle the complex topic of children's mental health in Tin Soldiers?
Aris Federman: While the film is not a documentary, or a recounting of a specific, real world experience, it stems from discussions with peers about our own upbringings. Through conversations with them, I started to pick up on similarities and mutual threads of experience. A whole lot of 'I had an experience like that too' or 'You'll never believe what happened to me'.
It felt like a topic so prevalent and formative, but under discussed. Which is where the idea to tackle the topic came from. It was difficult, given how broad the topic of children's mental health is. There are so many vying experiences and we wanted to be honest to the research, lived experience, and the spectrum without diluting the story's narrative.
Q: Translating internal emotional struggles to the screen is difficult. How did you ensure the film accurately and sensitively portrayed these challenges?
Aris Federman: A lot of research went into the development of this project. We spoke with ADHD specialists, psychologists, consulted publicly available statistics- and each new piece of information informed the script in some way. Draft one was incredibly different from draft 7, 8, or final.
We also attempted to tackle the feelings that these kids are navigating through visual allegory. So much of this experience is interior. So the film uses things like a kaleidoscope motif to represent vibrancy of emotion, and subsequently a character’s relationship with these physical objects helps show the audience what’s happening inside.
Q: What specific conversations do you hope Tin Soldiers will spark between parents, educators, and children?
Aris Federman: We were very careful to avoid condemning any sort of treatment for children. Instead, the emphasis was ensuring that therapeutic investment was present alongside treatments so that children are equipped to express and advocate for themselves. The film is about building a process that happens with a child, as opposed to a process that happens to them.
So exploring options. Keeping dialogue open. Constantly equipping children with the means to advocate for themselves. Having them present in the room.
Q: Film is a powerful medium for building empathy. How does the visual storytelling in this project connect with younger audiences specifically?
Aris Federman: I agree, film is uniquely good at sharing viewpoints in a disarming way and building empathy. It challenges assumptions in an immersive way that rhetoric alone doesn’t touch. It’s a very human medium.
I’m not sure if the film is targeted at children, so much as it is targeted at parents. Encouraging the dialogue I spoke about earlier. In directing this project, it was very important to me that we see the journey of a child, our protagonist, without being too prescriptive or monologuing. Just presenting a reality and an experience and letting that land, prompting questions.
Q: Mental health advocates often emphasize the need for accessible resources. Are there plans to distribute this film in schools or community programs?
Aris Federman:
We’ve been very lucky to have had the opportunity to share this short film with audiences around the country via the film festival circuit. As I answer your questions, I am sitting in a hotel out in LA, just finishing up a screening for a festival out this way.
The reaction has been fantastic- hearing audience members share their takeaways. We’ve heard from educators who have shared their perspective as to what they are seeing on the ground. We’ve heard from parents who the film resonated with. We’ve heard from people who had similar experiences as children. It’s been very heartening, hearing discussion bubble up from screenings.
At present, there are no plans to distribute the film to schools or community programs, although I’d venture to say we would be open to that should an opportunity arise.
Q: As the public conversation around youth mental health continues to evolve, what is the next step for Blue Oak Productions?
Aris Federman:
We’ve got multiple projects in development at present. Some are similar in theme, some are entirely different. At Blue Oak, we focus on creating projects that are rooted in human resilience. Sometimes that’s purely for entertainment purposes, sometimes that is to create discussion around a serious topic, like the aim of Tin Soldiers.
I cannot say too much, but we are currently in post production for a short film about dementia, and how individuals grapple with the impact that has on families.
This conversation highlights the unique ability of film to bridge communication gaps. Tin Soldiers does more than entertain; it provides a vital tool for families and educators to discuss emotional struggles openly. By transforming complex psychological challenges into relatable narratives, the creators offer a safe space for vulnerable discussions.
Addressing children's mental health requires ongoing, innovative approaches. As society continues to break down the stigma surrounding emotional well-being, art will play an essential role in fostering empathy. Blue Oak Productions proves that impactful storytelling can lead the charge in supporting the next generation.
To learn more visit www.arisfederman.com or https://www.blueoakproductions.com/