Directors' Statement
One evening in early September 2010, a group of colleagues, all associated with MediaLab at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, gathered to discuss ideas for a new documentary. In that group were three of us – all women in our early 20s – who would become co-directors of “Overexposed: The Cost of Compassion.” Like all filmmakers, we wanted to pursue something meaningful. We wanted to produce a film that would make a difference. And we wanted to create something that would resonate with audiences.
Maybe it was irony, destiny, or just coincidence, but that first meeting took place shortly after the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The ninth anniversary of 9/11 had also just passed. And the January 2010 Haiti earthquake, although by then no longer headline news, remained reality for the island nation’s 10 million residents, more than a million of whom still live in primitive desperation, now two years later.
As the group discussed these events, we also recalled other tragedies – both natural and man-made – that in succession, had often commanded our collective attention for a few days or weeks, only to recede and then be replaced by the next disaster du jour. “Compassion fatigue,” someone said. “We all suffer from it.”
Immediately, we knew we had stumbled upon the topic of our film. Compassion fatigue, a condition that can occur when people are exposed to unrelenting trauma or tragedy, is a phenomenon about which we had been previously aware, more or less. But all of us were ignorant of its complexity and depth.
Production began in October 2010 and lasted for nearly a year. We called and wrote to experts. We consulted with those in helping professionals such as health care, social services and law enforcement, and we combed North America to talk with those who had experienced compassion fatigue first-hand.
For instance, on the Southern California coast we met with a stay-at-home blogger mom who has three kids, two of whom have special needs. Despite her hardships and a stack of medical bills, the woman still strives to help others.
Our research also took us to New York City, where we met retired FDNY firefighter Bobby Senn, whose life changed forever on 9/11. Bobby lost a lot of friends that day. Yet, he has fought through his grief and rededicated himself to improving the lives of others.
In New Orleans, we encountered former sexual assault nurse Ecoee Rooney, who says she has suffered vicariously through the experiences of her patients.
And in Seattle, we met John Schenk, a photojournalist who in the early ‘90s was among the first media professionals to visually document the Rwandan Genocide.
All of these people pulled at our heartstrings, and through their stories we have sought to shine a bright light on the issue of compassion fatigue and provide our viewers with some tools to help overcome it.
After one year of research, dozens of interviews. 12,000 miles in the air and on the road, 60 hours of raw footage, and months of writing, thinking and editing, the result is “Overexposed: The Cost of Compassion.”
Through our work, we have learned that although many humans are more connected now than ever before, we are not equipped to handle the stress associated with the trauma and 24/7 disaster coverage that today’s media can provide. Such overexposure to the suffering of others can cause compassion fatigue among the rest of us, individually and in society as a whole. This topic has become near and dear to us, and we hope to share our work with all who might benefit.
Katie A. Scaff
Co-Director and Senior Producer
Elizabeth J. Herzfeldt-Kamprath
Co-Director, Chief Editor & Videographer
Hailey M. Rile
Co-Director and Associate Producer
Maybe it was irony, destiny, or just coincidence, but that first meeting took place shortly after the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The ninth anniversary of 9/11 had also just passed. And the January 2010 Haiti earthquake, although by then no longer headline news, remained reality for the island nation’s 10 million residents, more than a million of whom still live in primitive desperation, now two years later.
As the group discussed these events, we also recalled other tragedies – both natural and man-made – that in succession, had often commanded our collective attention for a few days or weeks, only to recede and then be replaced by the next disaster du jour. “Compassion fatigue,” someone said. “We all suffer from it.”
Immediately, we knew we had stumbled upon the topic of our film. Compassion fatigue, a condition that can occur when people are exposed to unrelenting trauma or tragedy, is a phenomenon about which we had been previously aware, more or less. But all of us were ignorant of its complexity and depth.
Production began in October 2010 and lasted for nearly a year. We called and wrote to experts. We consulted with those in helping professionals such as health care, social services and law enforcement, and we combed North America to talk with those who had experienced compassion fatigue first-hand.
For instance, on the Southern California coast we met with a stay-at-home blogger mom who has three kids, two of whom have special needs. Despite her hardships and a stack of medical bills, the woman still strives to help others.
Our research also took us to New York City, where we met retired FDNY firefighter Bobby Senn, whose life changed forever on 9/11. Bobby lost a lot of friends that day. Yet, he has fought through his grief and rededicated himself to improving the lives of others.
In New Orleans, we encountered former sexual assault nurse Ecoee Rooney, who says she has suffered vicariously through the experiences of her patients.
And in Seattle, we met John Schenk, a photojournalist who in the early ‘90s was among the first media professionals to visually document the Rwandan Genocide.
All of these people pulled at our heartstrings, and through their stories we have sought to shine a bright light on the issue of compassion fatigue and provide our viewers with some tools to help overcome it.
After one year of research, dozens of interviews. 12,000 miles in the air and on the road, 60 hours of raw footage, and months of writing, thinking and editing, the result is “Overexposed: The Cost of Compassion.”
Through our work, we have learned that although many humans are more connected now than ever before, we are not equipped to handle the stress associated with the trauma and 24/7 disaster coverage that today’s media can provide. Such overexposure to the suffering of others can cause compassion fatigue among the rest of us, individually and in society as a whole. This topic has become near and dear to us, and we hope to share our work with all who might benefit.
Katie A. Scaff
Co-Director and Senior Producer
Elizabeth J. Herzfeldt-Kamprath
Co-Director, Chief Editor & Videographer
Hailey M. Rile
Co-Director and Associate Producer