903 Early St, Santa Fe NM 87501
Saturday February 22nd, 10:00 AM
SATURDAY CINEMA 1 Total run time 1:29:10
Falling behind in class, a parent-teacher conference sends Caius down a pharmaceutical rabbit hole that impacts him for the rest of his life. As he grows, Caius must navigate the complexities of mental health treatment at a time when he’s still discovering what ‘normal’ is.
Aris Federman
Aris Federman is a Director, Producer, and Cinematographer. He acts as the CEO and Co-Founder of Blue Oak Productions, a full service production company specializing in narrative entertainment and commercial/brand storytelling.
Aris received his BFA in Acting from Pace University and attended the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts.
To Aris, stories are the ultimate expression of empathy. Historically, they have always brought people from different walks of life together. Be it by a campfire, in a theater, or on a screen- stories have the power to unite. Wherever stories are told, people gather. Aris intends to use his voice as an artist to continue the tradition of unity, empathy, and togetherness through storytelling.
Aris Federman
Aris Federman
Aris Federman, Zoe Dunay
Wake Ritter, "Young Caius" - Reece Brigman, "Teen Caius" - Leanne Johnson, "Ms. Miller (Caius's Mom)" - Tennessee Moore, "Psychiatrist" -
2024
U.S. A.
00:12:00
Tin Soldiers
Approximately 3.3 million children in the United States are taking medication for ADHD. Yet only 33% are receiving a treatment plan that combines both medication and therapy. Aris Federman’s short film Tin Soldiers examines this phenomenon through the eyes of a child.
Caius (Wake Ritter) is a young boy who has difficulty concentrating in class. He is easily distracted and doodles pictures on his tests. Desperate to find him, Caius’ Mother (Leanna Johnson) is encouraged to put Caius on a medication regimen to make him feel “normal.” When Caius loses energy and sleeps most of the day, his mother grows concerned about the change in his behavior, but Caius assures her that he feels “normal.” As Caius gets closer to graduation, his lethargic behavior goes unchanged.
Aris Federman (who appears as adult Caius) brings gentleness and empathy to Tin Soldiers. The film speaks to both parents and children who may feel lost and alone. Tin Soldiers offers hope. Click to read more…
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TIN SOLDIERS: Examining A Child’s Struggles with ADHD, and The Importance Of Therapy In Treating It
Does medicating children for ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder) heal their affliction’s outward problems while impairing their imagination? Can holistic, one-on-one behavioral therapy blend with traditional medicine to keep kids acting and feeling like kids while they learn to become more attentive? How is a child’s personality, brain and behavior impacted when he, she or they lack personalized care? What can parents do to find that care and fit it successfully alongside their kids’ medication? What impact does consuming that medication while having no access to psychological treatment have on a child?
Writer/director Aris Federman’s poignant short drama Tin Soldiers asks those questions while portraying the struggles of life with ADHD through the journey of a young man, Caius (played as an adolescent by Wake Ritter, then as a teenager by Reece Brigman). While Caius is fascinated by the mechanical movements of a tin soldier toy he constantly winds up, his teacher (Marissa Cherry), concerned over his study time daydreaming and obnoxious attitude towards his classmates, persuades his mother (Leanne Johnson) to give him medicine that will both calm him down and make him more interested in his schoolwork. Click to read more…
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