Thanks to the generosity of the Rainbow Hospice Foundation, the long-awaited Discussion Guide for Consider the Conversation: A Documentary on a Taboo Subject is now available via free PDF download by clicking here.

In his second contribution to the National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) Blog, Mike Bernhagen shares the most important lesson learned from two years of work on the award-winning film Consider the Conversation: A Documentary on a Taboo Subject. 

To read the post, please click here. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 23, 2012

End-of-Life Care Documentary Wins Award of Excellence for Social Change

Consider the Conversation: A Documentary on a Taboo Subject has been recognized in an international film and television competition for its "use of film for social change". The documentary brought home a total of four prizes, the most of any film, including awards of merit for short documentary, viewer impact, and direction.

Thanks to the advocacy of HCI Care Services (Hospice of Central Iowa), Iowa recently became the 29th state to schedule Consider the Conversation: A Documentary on a Taboo Subject for broadcast!  Their efforts beg the question, "What is the best way to get CTC shown on PBS in my community?".  Here's some advice:

Earlier today (1/15), Amazon.com reported that a person from Riverton, Wyoming bought Consider the Conversation on DVD.  That's significant because our film has now been purchased by individuals and organizations in 5 Canadian provinces, 49 U.S. states and the District of Columbia! Only Mississippi remains without a sale.

To our friends in the states of Minnesota and North Dakota.  Mark your calendars for Friday, January 6th.  On that day, Twin Cities Public Television and Prairie Public Broadcasting will air Consider the Conversation: A Documentary on a Taboo Subject a total of 66 times across all 17 of their affiliate stations.   These broadcasts will occur at 2 a.m., 8 a.m., 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. primarily on The Minnesota Channel and also on The Lifelong Learning Channel.  Never before have there been so many opportunities to watch the film recently nominated for 9 awards!

Terry Kaldhusdal and Michael Bernhagen are pleased to announce that the PBS version of Consider the Conversation: A Documentary on a Taboo Subject has been nominated for 9 awards in the southern California-based Best Shorts Competition (productions 57 minutes or less).  

Categories for which the film has been nominated include:

Terry Kaldhusdal and Mike Bernhagen, co-producers of Consider the Conversation: A Documentary on a Taboo Subject, will conduct an evening plenary session at the 2012 International Death, Grief and Bereavement Conference on June 5th in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The talk will involve a big screen presentation of the film followed by "an evening with the producers" during which Mike and Terry will tell stories and share lessons learned during two years of work on the project.

Michael Bernhagen, Co-Producer of Consider the Conversation: A Documentary on a Taboo Subject, has been named a regular contributor to the National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) Blog.  NHDD exists to inspire, educate and empower the public and providers about the importance of advance care planning, goals that are clearly congruent with those of Consider the Conversation.

To read his first contribution entitled Never Thought About That, please click here.

On November 30th, Terry Kaldhusdal and Mike Bernhagen, producers of Consider the Conversation: A Documentary on a Taboo Subject, addressed the Wisconsin Chapter of the World Presidents' Organization (WPO) at its monthly meeting in Chenequa, Wisconsin.