Series

Out of the Dark

Watch Well Beings’ latest installment of the “Out of the Dark” short documentary series, Out of the Dark: Jaleen Roberts

Watch the Full Film | Out of the Dark: Jaleen Roberts

Paralympic sprinter and long-jumper Jaleen Roberts was at her peak when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, postponing the 2020 Paralympic Games. What followed was a mental health crisis more challenging than anything she’d ever encountered. This short documentary delves into Jaleen’s journey, from her upbringing with a disability to her ascent as an elite athlete. It explores her profound struggles with mental health and how she ultimately found the support necessary to survive and eventually go on to win the Paralympic Silver medal.

Since making its world premiere earlier this year, Out of the Dark: Jaleen Roberts has been officially selected for an impressive lineup of film festivals, including:

Out of the Dark: Cal Calamia Trailer

The short documentary film, Out of the Dark: Cal Calamia, shares an intimate and inspiring look at the journey of professional athlete Cal Calamia, a transgender marathon runner who is advocating for inclusion in the running world.

A production of WETA Washington, D.C., and Athletes for Hope, and directed by Redglass Pictures, the film is part of the Well Beings’ Out of the Dark documentary series.

Major funding is provided by The David and Lura Lovell Foundation with additional support for Out of the Dark provided by the Bender Foundation, Inc., Path Foundation, American Psychiatric Association Foundation.

Since making its world premiere earlier this year at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival, Out of the Dark: Cal Calamia has been officially selected for an impressive lineup of film festivals and won the award for Best Documentary Short at the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival. Other festival appearances include:


An Olympic Athlete Takes on Depression

A standout in the original trio of Out of the Dark pt. 1, 2021’s An Olympic Athlete Takes on Depression features the personal story of Olympic shot putter Raven Saunders. This award-winning short film (including the International Black Film Festival’s Best Documentary Short award) dives deep into Raven’s childhood trauma, the intensity of her 2016 Olympic experience, and the pitfalls of celebrity that challenged her mental health. After receiving care for depression, Raven spoke out about her struggles and became a leading advocate for mental health dialogue among athletes.  


Out of the Dark pt. 1 Trailer

How do you fight an enemy you can’t see?

Premiered in May 2021, Well Beings presents a youth-focused digital series, Out of The Dark. The series follows young people from diverse backgrounds who face the greatest challenge of their life and find strength they never knew they had.

Related Resources

About The Series

Out of the Dark, a youth-focused series of digital-first films tells intimate, emotional, and sometimes surprising stories of people whose lives have been impacted by mental health issues. The series is diverse by ethnicity, age and gender, and is designed to spark dialogue, create awareness, and inspire a generation of young people to be vocal and open about their mental health journey.​​

Special Thanks To

Hannah Lucas and Charlie Lucas
AKeem Rollins
Raven Saunders
Cal Calamia
Jaleen Roberts

Production Credits

A film by Redglass Pictures
Directed by Sarah Klein & Tom Mason
Out of the Dark pt. 2 is a production of WETA Washington, D.C., and Athletes for Hope
Executive Producers Out of the Dark pt. 1: Kelly Deckert & Justin Rhodes, John F. Wilson
Executive Producers Out of the Dark pt. 2: John F. Wilson, Tom Chiodo, Derek Roberto, Alita McCalmon

Funders | Out of the Dark pt. 1

Educational Outreach Support Provided by: American Public Media’s Call to Mind Initiative, PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs, WE Charity, Forbes, PEOPLE, Mental Health America, National Council for Behavioral Health, The Steve Fund, and The Jed Foundation

Original Production Funding: Otsuka, Kaiser Permanente, Bank of America, Liberty Mutual Insurance, American Psychiatric Association Foundation, One Mind, Movember, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Dana Foundation, Dauten Family Foundation, The Hersh Foundation, Mental Health Services Oversight & Accountability Commission, John & Frances Von Schlegell, Sutter Health, Robina Riccitiello, and Jackson Family Enterprises.

Funders | Out of the Dark pt. 2
Major funding for Out of the Dark: Cal Calamia is provided by The David and Lura Lovell Foundation.
Major funding for Out of the Dark: Jaleen Roberts is provided by the Bender Foundation, Inc.

Additional support for Out of the Dark pt. 2 is provided by the Path Foundation, and the American Psychiatric Association Foundation.

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2022 Webby Award Honoree for Video – Health & Wellness.                        

 

 

 

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