TV Star Turned Producer Alex Davies Tackles the Deeply Personal Subject of Mental Health by Michael Idato October 30, 2016

When actress-turned-flm producer Alexandra be done to overcome society’s stigma of those Davies took on a short flm hoping to break individuals who suffer often in silence,” Davies open the often-taboo subject of mental illness, says. the decision to do so was deeply personal. “Films are an extremely powerful resource to The 39-year-old former All Saints star, who is bring about awareness and create a conversation now a Los Angeles-based production executive, for change.” But that flm has taken the was diagnosed with panic disorder in 2003. discussion over mental health to a larger stage, “After going through the system for diagnosis having been selected as just one of a dozen and help, it was obvious to me there was a lot to flms screened in October at this year’s New working history together and could easily pass York Mental Health Film Festival. as brother and sister.”

Past Imperfect is the story of an estranged Since its establishment in 2005, the New York brother and sister “whose worlds collide one Mental Health Film Festival has screened more morning at their ill mother’s bedside”; at just than 50 flms. It hopes to serve as a “positive 12 minutes long it was shot over three days in voice, promoting social justice and human Canberra. rights for people with mental health concerns” It is the oldest, and largest, mental health-fo- The script was written by a cousin of Davies’ cused flm festival in the US, though you would cinematographer husband Justin “Jay” Hanrah- be hard pressed to fnd another, given the social an, Georgina Jenkins, who based it on her own stigma associated with mental health. family’s experience; Jenkins’ brother lives with bipolar disorder. Before the flm’s selection, Davies, who is based in LA, concedes she had no idea the flm “When Georgina and I met, she already knew of festival existed. “The frst I heard was when the work I was doing to raise awareness using Georgina emailed to let me know the flm had my television profle,” Davies says.“Georgina been selected to screen,” she says. immediately spoke to me about the flm and the lead role, knowing I would have a lot of scope The festival also invited Davies to attend and to really treat the material with great care.” speak after the screening. “It was incredibly worthwhile and eye-opening,” she says of the Jenkins’ husband, cinematographer Robb experience. “It was a huge honour to have the Shaw-Velzen, directed the flm, with Hanrahan flm seen by so many people.” operating the camera. “It really was family and close friends in the industry who pulled togeth- Davies, who is director of production at the LA- er all of our resources to make this happen,” based Trimax Media, is also hoping to replicate Davies says. the festival elsewhere, either in Los Angeles or Australia. For her co-star, Davies turned to a close mate and former All Saints co-star, actor (now pho- “I’d love to think that every major city in the tographer) Conrad Coleby. world could host this kind of festival and give people the opportunity to see some flms that “Conrad and I are old buddies from our All perhaps refect their lives and give comfort that Saints days, where we played ambulance they are not alone in the fght to get well,” she offcers for a year,” Davies says.“Justin says. suggested I speak to him about playing the role [and] it made complete sense. We already had a