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Narcolepsy Goes to Hollywood!

Is all awareness good awareness? Over the years, there have been many character portrayals of people with narcolepsy. Portrayals of narcolepsy in popular media shape public perception and can perpetuate misunderstanding. 

Project Sleep President and CEO, Julie Flygare, hosted the “Narcolepsy goes to Hollywood” live event to discuss portrayals of narcolepsy in TV shows and movies with featured panelists Al Jean, Executive Producer of The Simpsons, and Anna Marr, actor and writer living with narcolepsy.

In this conversation, we discuss Episode 1 of Season 27 of The Simpsons, “Every Man’s Dream“, where Homer is diagnosed with narcolepsy and Anna’s dark comedy series, Walking through Peanut Butter, based on her experiences navigating New York’s comedy scene with narcolepsy.

Use the buttons below to jump to the different formats of this conversation.

Recording

Toolkit

Podcast

Transcription

Download the Narcolepsy Goes to Hollywood Toolkit

Narcolepsy Nerd Alert toolkits accompany each broadcast. These guides are designed for people living with narcolepsy and their loved ones to offer new tools, tips, and perspectives on navigating narcolepsy.

Narcolepsy Stigma

Stigma is a concept of othering people; a belief that one group is separate from another and sometimes lesser.

I believe that media and entertainment create the culture that leads to law and policies. So all of these levels of stigma are important. Your story really matters, and you can foster empathy and help reduce stigma through telling it.”

– Julie

What We Can Do: Ask for Better

There are ways to make our voices heard in regard to portrayals of narcolepsy. Julie shared the story of her efforts in reaction to the 2019 movie Ode to Joy. With very little time before the film’s release, Julie’s requests for a public service announcement collaboration for social media, media training for the stars and director, and a resources page on the film’s website were met by the director and production team.

What We Can Do: Tell Our Stories

Walking Through Peanut Butter is a dark comedy series our special guest Anna Marr is developing, based on her experience as a comedian living with narcolepsy with cataplexy. The pilot episode has been met with acclaim from several film festivals. Films such as Walking through Peanut Butter give accurate portrayals of what living with narcolepsy looks like to help raise awareness, shift mindsets, and fight stigma.

What We Can Do: Contribute to Research

There is currently no published research addressing portrayals of narcolepsy and other sleep disorders, as there is for other conditions such as epilepsy.  In June 2021, Project Sleep launched a Sleep Disorders in Film & TV Database to track cinematic portrayals of sleep conditions and help support future research.

To contribute examples of portrayals of sleep disorders in TV & film, fill out our Sleep Disorders in TV & Film Database form. This is a simple action you can take as a step toward improving portrayals of narcolepsy and other sleep disorders. Together, we can create meaningful change! Learn more about our Hollywood & Sleep Initiative.

Culture change precedes policy change.”

Marya Bangee, Storytelling and Social Change, SSIR podcast

Narcolepsy Goes to Hollywood: Listen & Watch!

Narcolepsy Goes to Hollywood Video Part I

Narcolepsy Goes to Hollywood Video Part II

Narcolepsy Goes to Hollywood Video Part III

This broadcast originally aired on Wednesday, May 26, 2021.

Resources

Here are some of our favorite resources. We look forward to hearing what our fellow #NarcolepsyNerds find most useful for navigating narcolepsy!

Project Sleep’s Sleep Helpline

Project Sleep’s Sleep Helpline™ is a nonprofit-led free national helpline providing personalized support and resources for people facing sleep issues and sleep disorders.

Get Personalized Information & Support

Project Sleep’s live broadcast series Narcolepsy Nerd Alert takes a deeper dive into specific topics related to narcolepsy. Hosted by award-winning geek Julie Flygare, each live event invites fellow #NarcolepsyNerds to explore unique aspects of the narcolepsy experience, contemplate bold questions, and learn from each other.

View all broadcasts and explore upcoming topics on our Narcolepsy Nerd Alert page.

Calling All #NarcolepsyNerds!

Whether you geek out about science, art, advocacy, or pop culture—this community is for you. Please sign up for updates on live broadcasts, video recordings, printable toolkits and exclusive prizes.

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