Watch This Powerful Crowns & Owls Short for Mental Health Awareness

Crowns & Owls are a London-based image-making collective that has shot for Flaunt and Schön Magazine as well as created a music video for Hercules & Love Affair. Their latest effort is a highly personal project titled 'WITHIN', visualising the effects of mental illness as a contribution to UK mental health charity 'MIND'.

The film is an ode to the trio's "myriad of collective experiences with mental health - an attempt of visually conveying the spectrum of sensations we’ve felt during the navigation of our individual conditions." Starring in the film is model and advocate Dennis Okwera, with a voice-over revealing an emotive inner monologue over striking landscape visuals evocative of universes created by David Uzochukwu. With mental health stigma still rampant, notably for people of colour, the project is an important reminder not only to discuss but actively engage in the tackling of our societies' mental health crises.

A deeply personal film made as a contribution to MIND - The UK mental health charity. As a fundraiser, we've launched a limited edition photobook for the project, with all proceeds going straight to MIND. You can buy them here... http://cataloguelibrary.co.uk/within/ Approximately 25% of people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year. Crowns & Owls consists of a group of individuals who are part of that 25%. “WITHIN" is an ode to our myriad of collective experiences with mental health - an attempt of visually conveying the spectrum of sensations we’ve felt during the navigation of our individual conditions. The project features our long time collaborator, friend and fervent supporter of MIND Charity; Dennis Okwera. Institutions like MIND provide essential services for people in the UK. The fight for better mental health is an ever-changing one and the conversation has reached new heights in recent years, but there’s so much left to do. We have to get people talking about conditions beyond just anxiety, depression and PTSD, we have to vote for MP’s who aren’t keen to destroy the NHS… we have to keep pushing. We are proud to support MIND through our work, in return for how much they have supported us as people. Visit https://www.mind.org.uk/ to find out how you can help in the fight for better mental health. Written & Directed by Crowns & Owls Starring - Dennis Okwera, Nicole Harvey Director of Photography - Adam Barnett Sound Designer - Ed Downham @ Wave Studios Additional Sound Design - Ned Sisson @ Wave Studios Edit - Crowns & Owls Music - Small Press Music 1st AC - Phil Herron Voiceover - Daniel Blake Colourist - Jonny Tully VFX: Pete Hughes Post Producer: Hannah Whitehall & Emma Shuter Crowns & Owls would like to thank the following for making this film possible: Arri, Big Buoy, Cinelab, Greenkit, Iconoclast UK, Kodak, Panalux, Panavision, PixiPixel, Small Press, Wave Studios

Accompanying the short film is a photo expo at Protein Studios and a limited-run print publication, which you can purchase here. All proceeds go directly to the MIND charity.

If you, or someone you know, would like to find treatment or someone to talk to, please consult your doctor or national mental health emergency services. For a list of global mental health resources and foundations, you can go here.

CREDITS
Written & Directed by Crowns & Owls
Starring - Dennis Okwera, Nicole Harvey
Director of Photography - Adam Barnett
Sound Designer - Ed Downham @ Wave Studios
Additional Sound Design - Ned Sisson @ Wave Studios
Edit - Crowns & Owls
Music - Small Press Music
1st AC - Phil Herron
Voiceover - Daniel Blake
Colourist - Jonny Tully
VFX: Pete Hughes
Post Producer: Hannah Whitehall & Emma Shuter