The Jason Tennies Foundation

If you want to make a donation to help fund research into brain disorders, please give to The Brain and Behavior Foundation (formally NARSAD grants) This is a great organization that funds research to help find answers.

The film is being edited. Our story will be out. We are compelled to do this – so many lives are lost due to mental health issues- time to start the dialog. Our film will help others dealing with the same ordeal. We are in editing now. We have an awesome cast. Check our film out at – IMDB “It’s Dark Here.” Thank you everyone who has made this possible.

Thanks for all the lovely comments we are getting. Really appreciate them. Remember if you are in a crisis situation reach out. NAMI is a great resource. Take care.

We have been getting a lot of e-mails and phone calls about people suffering like we have. I wish I could help each and every family. Some of you have already lost loved ones, and some are dealing with getting help.

The only answers I can give you are, if you have lost a child please contact Compassionate Friends. You can find their information on the internet. They are a loving group of people that know what you are going through.

If your loved one is having a mental health issue, contact NAMI. You can get a local number from the internet. They will guide you. You can learn more about these mental health issues from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation at www.bbrfoundation.org . If you think your loved one is going to do himself (or her) harm, or someone else, please call 911.

Wish I could help everyone more. Hopefully “It’s Dark Here” will get people talking more about these issues.

If you want to donate to this cause, please donate directly to The Brain and Behavior Research Foundation at www.bbrfoundation.org

Take care everyone,

Dave & Linda Tennies

A big Thanks goes out to the crew and cast! Just Imagine…No Shame… Let’s start talking about schizophrenia and other mental disorders. Hopefully, this film will reach many families, and let them know they are not alone.

Adam Coplan finds cast for ‘Dark’ indie
Mapother, Douglas, Lewis and Grunberg to topline drama
By DAVE MCNARY
William Mapother, Illeana Douglas, Bubba Lewis and Greg Grunberg are toplining indie drama “It’s Dark Here” with shooting starting Monday in Los Angeles.
“It’s Dark Here” is being produced by Jonathan M. Black (“She Wants Me”) of Cinipix, which recently wrapped production on “Raze,” starring Zoë Bell and Rachel Nichols.

Adam Coplan, a former executive for Scott Rudin and John Davis and a co-producer of “The Express,” is making his directorial debut and directing from his own script.

Based on a true story, the film follows a 20-year-old college student and musician Jason Tennies (portrayed by Lewis) who suffers an apparent schizophrenic break and plunges his family’s lives into sudden tragedy. Douglas and Mapother will play his parents as they seek answers and medical treatment before it’s too late.

Tennies passed away in 2010 after being struck by a car. A portion of proceeds will benefit The Jason Tennies Memorial Foundation, founded to raise funds and awareness of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and autism.

Production is set to wrap mid-November.

Mapother and Douglas are repped by Don Buchwald & Associates/Fortitude. Lewis is repped by Innovative Artists.

Contact Dave McNary at mailto:dave.mcnary@variety.com?subject=Adam Coplan finds cast for ‘Dark’ indie

Pre-Production has started. The Film will be called, “It’s Dark Here” -from our favorite song Jason wrote. Thank you to everyone for giving us encouragement on this project. We hope it will help countless families suffering through the same ordeal. Education on mental disorders is so essential. “Just Imagine… no Shame.” Love to everyone who has supported us. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

A Big thank you goes out to St. Joseph’s Hospital. Dave and I gave a presentation. We raised over $400.00! What a generous group of people. We can and will make a difference! Thanks!