Making film about OCD was cathartic for East Longmeadow native

May 13, 2022 | Sarah Heinonen
sheinonen@thereminder.com

EAST LONGMEADOW – Originally from East Longmeadow, Christopher Macken has made a career working in the television and film industry in Los Angeles. He has mainly worked in comedy, on TV shows such as, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “The Mick” and “The Goldbergs.”

“So, I really wanted to dive into a more dramatic space,” Macken said. Heeding the maxim, “write what you know,” he wrote a screenplay about obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Obsessive-Compusive Disorder

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) defines OCD as, “a common, chronic and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and/or behaviors (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over.”

Rather than simply liking things a particular way or being quirky, the NIMH website explains, people with OCD cannot control their thoughts or behaviors and spend at least an hour per day dwelling on the thoughts or engaging in the ritualized behaviors that decrease their anxiety. Someone with OCD does not experience pleasure when performing the behaviors, but instead, may feel a brief relief from the anxiety caused by the thoughts. Both the thoughts and behaviors are disruptive to the person’s everyday life.

OCD is often shown in the media with stereotypical symptoms – Tony Shalhoub’s titular germophobic character in the TV show “Monk,” or Jack Nicholson’s rigid and abrasive portrayal in the movie, “As Good As It Gets.” Often these traits and behaviors are played for laughs, but Macken said it is “super offensive.” OCD is not just idiosyncratic behaviors. He said, “There’s a lot more to it. A lot of OCD is ruminating all day,” and “thought-based.”

Personal Subject

Macken was diagnosed with OCD two years ago, and said once he knew what it was, he realized he has had it his entire life. He added, “Most people just thought I was a quirky kid. It’s definitely a disorder that gets brushed off because there’s so many forms it takes.” He has been working with support groups and medication to manage the condition.

Macken said having OCD is “painful” for many people. For him, a part of the struggle is dealing with fears around germs.

The writer and director said he gets “tunnel vision” during compulsions. Currently in a relationship, Macken said, “You don’t really see how it affects the people around you,” he said. He said he rarely hears about the way in which OCD affects relationships and intimacy.

“Sex is such a taboo thing to talk about, and when you throw in the other side of the taboo spectrum – mental illness – it can cause problems,” Macken said. He expects the film to be polarizing, but he said, “I want people to come out of this film with a little more empathy, understanding and patience.”

Making the short film is also cathartic for Macken. “For me, I feel like it’s something to express myself and be healing, share what I’ve learned,” and lessen the “stigma.”

Funding the Film

Macken wrote the screenplay of “For the Safety of Theo,” in January of this year and sent it to some friends in the industry, who expressed interest in making the film.

“For the Safety of Theo,” begins shooting in mid-May, but much of cost of filmmaking happens after the principal photography ends. Macken said the fundraising is “going well.” The team making the short film has put together a marketing campaign and social media campaign and the IndieGoGo fundraising campaign has raised $18,635, or 74 percent of its $25,000 goal.

“It’s one thing to ask people to give you money. It’s another to ask people to be a part of something,” Macken said. Depending on the amount donated, the campaign offers perks from a link to the film, a “thank you” in the credits and on the IMDB.com page, a T-Shirt, a signed copy of the script, all the way up to an executive producer credit and dinner with the filmmakers.

“For the Safety of Theo,” will be submitted to the Sundance Film Festival in August. For more information on the film, visit https://www.facebook.com/SafetyofTheo or https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/for-the-safety-of-theo-short-film/x/26239832#.

For more information on OCD, visit https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd.

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