I'm going to be talking about some difficult themes in this post, so let this be a trigger warning (I'll keep it light of course).
For a very long time, my advocacy has been with people who have come through domestic violence, abuse, and have survived unspeakable things. I myself am also a survivor of course, and I've been very open about it all. An the very first script I optined right here on Stage 32, was a re-telling of the tale (Blackbird)
My current project is a threatre/stage production of a script that speaks to this. Most of my work does. If I am completely honest: ALL of my work does.
Over the years, I have been hired many times because I have a deep understanding of how traumatised people act, react. How they feel and how they behave. Mostly because of my work with survivors, but also because I have a mirror and I know what I do.
It's called Trauma-Informed Storytelling, and I will never shut up about it.
Too often, when we portray conditions like PTSD, we do it as shorthand. We do it as a quick throwaway line. Or we show only one aspect of the condition. We don't often get to see the real consequences of severe trauma. And almost never do we get to see the the long term effects. And how LONG it actually all takes.
Recovering from bad things takes Y.E.A.R.S.
But in film, we don't exactly have years to bring the point across, do we?
So are there ways in which we can portray PTSD, depression, trauma responses, fears, anxieties in realistic ways, wihtout sacrificing the story, and the plot, and the beats, and the actual ups and downs of the film?
I believe we can. it's in the small things. That's where most real revelations happen anyway. In a small look. In the way that a certain character will only sit with her back to the wall, facing the door. In the way that a man who has been through enough will flinch when his wife raises her voice. In the way a child will manipulate in order to get out of a situation.
And if we keep those realistic, if we keep those grounded, we can do right by our characters, without making them into stereotypes. Without turning them into cliches. Without turning them into throwaway lines.
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I truly appreciate what you are doing. I grew up in a home where extreme mental and physical cruelty was the norm. I was also sexually abused as a child, but not by a family member. I was later diagnosed with PTSD. I also have ADHD. Even so, I decided to turn the past trauma into light and joy. Keep on being yourself.
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Sorry those things happened to you, Ronika Merl. Congratulations on getting an option on Stage 32! I think this is my first time hearing the term Trauma-Informed Storytelling. I have some script ideas that I put to the side because I didn't know how to portrait the conditions and situations. Thanks for the advice and insight! And thanks for letting us know about Trauma-Informed Storytelling! I'll look into it some more. With your advice, insight, Trauma-Informed Storytelling, and researching the conditions and situations, I'm sure I'll be able to portrait them correctly.
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I'm really sorry you went through all this, Wyman Brent . I hope you find ways to heal and overcome. It's not an easy path, but it will go towards something better in the future. I love that you're turning it into something positive! Keep going!
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Thank you Maurice Vaughan . It's a really important aspect of creating stories that are authentic.
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I really appreciate how you framed this, Ronika. The idea of trauma-informed storytelling resonates with me because I’ve seen firsthand how easy it is for films to reduce deep pain into shorthand or clichés. What you said about the small details--the way someone positions themselves in a room, or how they react to tone--feels so true. Those grounded choices are what give characters depth and authenticity.
As someone also working on projects that explore trauma and survival, I find your perspective both grounding and inspiring. Thank you for speaking so openly about this--it helps create space for better, more honest stories.
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Great insight Ronika Merl. One of my pieces does deal with trauma but because of my wife's experience (I agree it does last years) and where she is now, I would ask your opinion on how much realism can be expressed in a two-hour movie without having some sense of a goal or a small victory being achieved? Or is your goal to achieve that small/big victory while keeping things realistic in order to give the audience hope?
Side note: I love this line "we can portray PTSD, depression, trauma responses, fears, anxieties in realistic ways, without sacrificing the story, and the plot, and the beats, and the actual ups and downs of the film"
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You're welcome, Ronika Merl. I researched Trauma-Informed Storytelling a little after reading your post. It's great for my script ideas and scripts. Thanks again!
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Leonardo Ramirez 2 That's a good question. I think there are 2 answers to this. One: is the film ABOUT the recovery from trauma? Then it should be given as much time to breathe, to show the realism in the best way possible - take all the time in the world. Two: Is the film not about this (are there other goals), but are there characters who will need to portray characteristics? In that case, work with people who have gone through something similar. Or study what the trauma responses could realistically be, and work it into the character's scenes. Most of the time, this character will be fine. But maybe there is one odd reaction? Maybe there is one flinch? One moment of hesitation? One line where they say something odd? And no, it does not have to be all tied up and wrapped up at the end, but maybe that one moment where they flinched at the start repeats - and they dont flinch this time? hey don't deflect with humour this time? They don't sit in the corner this time? And there... that's the sign of real growth and healing, in small ways.
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Jennifer Ford Thanks so much! I'm glad it resonated with you. It has been something I have gradually worked into more and more projects, and I am very lucky that I now have a platform where I get to speak about it all the time.
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That's a great, balanced response Ronika Merl. What moved me to ask it is that it's tough for me to present a hardship without any hope of ever (at the very least) being on a road to healing. Every writer is different and that's just me so I agree with what you're saying - if the film is not about this then proceed as you suggested. Great topic Ronika. And hopefully, no one has told you or implied that you need to shut up about it. You've got a wonderful and balanced view of trauma in the story.
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This is a hard one for me to comment on, because on the one hand, my first thought is well yeah doesn't everyone have trauma and therefore notice the signs? The little innuendos that people develop from trauma? And in thinking that, I realize how much that says about me. I believe everyone goes thru life taking hits, and "normal" human behavior is actually just representative of a traumatized species. So naturally I write my characters with that in mind. I hadn't stopped to think that maybe other writers didn't recognize the subconscious innuendos to incorporate them into the movie. Good reminder of how individual everyone's realities are, and how important it is to take that(traumatized or not) into consideration in the stories and thru the characters!
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Ronika, totally agree with everything you stated here. I too am a sufferer of PTSD/MST from my time in the Military. I've seen some good portrayals of sufferers in film & TV, some not so great. I too write about my trauma, it's therapeutic! Better than any counselor with a college degree who think they can heal you. It helps to get it ALL out! Keep doing what you're doing and I'll do the same! Maybe sometime we can collaborate! Find your peace...
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I find it interesting when I obtain coverage for scripts where I've written them from personal experience. I've poured my emotions onto the page only to be told to change aspects from a coverage provider who has more industry experience. I like to learn and grow. But then there's the balance of telling the story authentically and taking on professional feedback. I'm sure I'm not the only one to experience this.
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Writing is damned hard and I've made a career at it for decades. Every book, every article, website paragraph, every blog is hard. It takes hordes of research to craft one sentence. This convo reminds me of a quote that has been reworked by many. I always say: Writing is easy. All you do is sit at the computer and open a vein.
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Thank you for posting this. My wife grew up in a very religious environment and suffered trauma from the experiences, which really put a strain on our marriage. We've made it through the other side and are stronger for it. After some time, I wrote a script about our journey as a married couple. The biggest question I kept asking myself was whether I was doing justice to the severity of the trauma she suffered. Because, like you say, it takes years to deconstruct all the negativity. Then more years to construct a stronger version of yourself. Not an easy task for a two-hour film. But worth the effort in order to tell these stories honestly and with the respect they deserve.
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Thank you for sharing this, Ronika. I completely resonate with your point that trauma isn’t a single line or a quick plot point—it’s subtle, long-lasting, and shapes behavior in ways that aren’t always obvious. Growing up in neighborhoods affected by poverty and gang violence gave me firsthand insight into how chronic stress and fear influence actions, decisions, and long-term behavior. These experiences have deeply informed how I approach storytelling and emotional wellness work.
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Rosie Schreiber That's really interesting. I love the phrase "traumatized species". yes, we are. But how many times have we seen movies where the person who has just gone through some absolutely horrendous event (something that would knock the wind out of everyone), just "walk it off"... that's what I'm hoping to be able to work on. We cannot just "walk it off". And it's a really unhealthy trope to show that. It's unhealthy to show that we just get better, and it's all just good again at the end. So I agree with you - a lot of writers don't. Or maybe... the writers would have done, but then through the chain of command, somewhere along the line, the nuances get lost - let's try to make our movies in a way that those nuances don't get lost.
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Chaz Fatur Thank you so much! Yes, I completely agree with you - it is very therapeutic. And what I always find is that we can find other perspectives. Find the other side. An exercise I did early on was to write from the perspective of the person who had done bad things to me. Not to excuse their behaviour, but because I wanted to see the world from their eyes - not because I wanted to get in their mind, but because I wanted to understand how a human being can come to that point. And it made me kinder. It did not make me forgive. But it made me kinder towards the rest of the world, and most importantly: to myself.
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Lauren Hackney Interesting! And yes, there is the balance to strike. As Leonardo and I were talking about, the balance to strike is whether the film is ABOUT recovery, or whether the film contains a person who is recovering. If the film is ABOUT recovery, the most authentic way of portrayal is the way YOU see it. However, of course, feedback can be really useful for other element (story beats, pacing, rhythm, dialogue etc). Knowing which feedback to take, and which points to stick to is an art in and of itself.
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Debbie Elicksen Agreed! Writing is putting the world/reality through the most complex filter that has ever existed in the universe: the human brain (and heart, and soul)
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Erik Gagnon Wow, thank you for sharing. Religious trauma is a whole category of awful on its own, so I am so very sorry your wife had to go through all that! But it's really good that you have taken steps to work through it. If you feel like ALL of it is too much to put into one 2 hour movie... maybe there is more? Maybe one movie you write is about her pain. Maybe you find another story that deals with the religious aspect? Maybe one more story deals with how you fell in love? And then there can be another story about her (and your!) recovery? The world does not know that all these stories are about the same lifetime. Some lifetimes are just too full to be just the one story. (bonus: it will lead to you writing more, which is only a good thing)
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Thank you Ronika Merl for your supportive words!
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Tyrone Harris YES! yes, yes, yes. Which is why it is so important that we get to hear all these different voices. In this thread alone, we have people from all walks of life, and how very fascinating is it that we get to hear these stories,just in this one forum thread on a website - and now imagine if we got to hear more stories like the ones you grew up with? But not portrayed in an exploitative or politically tainted way - but the truth? The real impact of it all. I would love that. I would love to see the world through your lense! Which is why you HAVE to keep going and keep writing, because honestly the world needs to hear about how you used to live and how you live now. I love it so much.