On the surface, she appears to be fine, her smile masking the pain that courses through her body. She mentions the aching joints and the unrelenting fatigue, but her complaints are often brushed off as mere exaggerations. After all, if the pain were truly that severe, wouldn't she be confined to a hospital bed? Despite her insistence that she feels unwell, she doesn't necessarily "look sick."
This is the reality for over 24 million individuals in the United States who battle with seemingly "invisible" diseases, their bodies silently waging war against their own immune systems. These illnesses manifest in various forms, from the inflammation of joints in Rheumatoid Arthritis to the attack on the thyroid gland in Hashimoto's, and the relentless assault on the intestines in Crohn's Disease. With more than 100 identified autoimmune diseases (AID), the effects can target any soft tissue in the body, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake.
Shockingly, women bear the brunt of this burden, accounting for more than 75% of those afflicted. Yet, despite the staggering numbers, these diseases often remain overlooked and underfunded, as research priorities are skewed towards male-centered studies. The lack of urgency for a cure leaves millions suffering in silence, their pain and struggles hidden from the public eye.
"YOU DON'T LOOK SICK" dives deep into the lives of three bold and audacious individuals who refuse to let their autoimmune disease and other chronic illnesses define them. Through their eyes, we witness their daily battles, from the debilitating symptoms that threaten to consume them to the exorbitant healthcare costs that drain their resources. We see their unwavering determination to thrive, even as depression lurks in the shadows, waiting to pull them under. This powerful exploration sheds light on the invisible struggles of those living with autoimmune diseases, challenging societal perceptions and demanding the attention and urgency these illnesses deserve.
THE PARTICIPANTS
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JUSTIN BAKER- Participant
Justin grew up in Yukon Oklahoma. He is a 39-year old actor, photographer, clown, and ... robot. He was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis at the age of 16 and with Crohn's Disease at the age 25 - right after his first hip replacement (hence the robot qualifier). He has also had a small bowel reduction as well as a second hip replacement. According to Justin, both of his hips are now cyborgs. He continues to chase after his dreams as a performer in Los Angeles all the while being outspoken regarding to chronic illnesses and mental health. He hopes that other chronic illness sufferers out there won't feel so alone. Check him out on the interwebs for clips of his performances or to gaze at his wonderful photography.
ALIZA PEARL- Participant
Aliza Pearl is an actor, writer, and Sci-Fi junkie, who is living with Fibromyalgia and Non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance. Of African-American, Puerto Rican, and Afro-Caribbean heritage, Aliza explores identity and split cultural ties through Sci-Fi and genre storytelling. Aliza’s acting credits include Showtime's "House of Lies", "Days of Our Lives”, Funny or Die viral video "A Game of Thrones Halloween”, indie features including “Faith Based”, “Darkness Falls”, and “Something is Killing Tate”, films and videos for WongFu Productions, Black and Sexy TV, Comediva's popular webseries "BAMF Girls Club”, and various commercials. She wrote for Nerdist News and Nerdist Presents, and was a cast member on the live streaming tabletop RPG shows “Shield of Tomorrow” and “Callisto 6” on Geek & Sundry, and “Rat Queens” on Hyper RPG. Aliza co-directs, co-produces, and performs in an improvised Star Trek show called “The Improvised Generation,” performs and co-produces with Ripley Improv, and also produces and co-stars in an all-Klingon TTRPG show called “Blood of the Void” on Queue Times on Twitch. She has several other Sci-Fi projects and scripts in the works.
ARIANA FARINA - Participant
In 2014, Ariana was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, but she tracks flares from the disease all the way back to 1999. Her path to diagnosis was long and difficult, but she continues to fight to control it. She even became a special case study for some of the top gastroenterologists worldwide, while seeking help from UCLA Medicine, The Mayo Clinic and the Taymount Clinic in the UK. But, her accomplishments outshine her disease. She is the Chair for Narrative Features Programming, Unleashed! Programming and Senior Producer at the Dances with Films festival. In addition to festival programming, Ariana is a Film Competition Judge for prominent film competitions in Los Angeles and a Jury Member to festivals worldwide. Currently, Ariana is touring the U.S. presenting on Film Festival Submission Strategy for Filmmakers, including speaking engagements at Film Independent, USC School of Cinematic Arts, and Women in Film Chicago. When not working at film festivals, Ariana runs her Regulatory and Quality Consulting business. Ariana Farina, Founder of Ariana Farina Consulting LLC, is a Regulatory and Quality Systems Consultant to the Cosmetics Industry. She has 15 years of experience helping hundreds of brands and factories across the world with their quality, regulatory compliance, and international expansion needs. Ariana developed and taught the first Regulatory class at FIDM. She received her B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of California - Los Angeles. Ariana hopes that through her journey, she will be able to raise awareness about the challenges folks suffering from autoimmune diseases face, and to help those suffering from autoimmune diseases to alleviate their pain, navigate the pitfalls within the healthcare system, and live more fulfilling lives.
THE FILMMAKERS
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JESSICA L. FUNCHES - Executive Producer, Writer & Director
Jessica, an award-winning producer and writer based in Los Angeles, has been thriving despite living with autoimmune diseases for over two decades. When she was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) at the age of 24, her doctor delivered a grim prognosis, suggesting that the aggressive nature of her disease would likely lead to her needing a walking device within 5 years and being confined to a wheelchair within 10 years. Although she later developed Hashimoto's Disease in her early 40's and underwent hip and knee replacements, Jessica defied the initial prognosis and continues to lead a successful and fulfilling life. Her unwavering determination and faith have been instrumental in her ability to thrive despite the challenges posed by her autoimmune diseases. Through this documentary, Jessica aims to share the hope that God has given her, inspiring others facing similar challenges to persevere and pursue their dreams, regardless of the obstacles they may face.
Throughout her 23-year career, Jessica has written, produced, and directed numerous award-winning short-form documentaries, television documentaries, and independent films. As a University of Southern California Peter Stark Producing Program alum, her films have been recognized at film festivals worldwide, including the Cannes International Film Festival. She has also won a College Emmy from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, among several other festival awards.
Jessica's content has been featured on various platforms, including Discovery+, Starz, Showtime, HBO/Cinemax Latin America, The Africa Channel, Amazon, and Netflix. She served as a Producer on The Africa Channel's Telly Award-winning series "World Wide Nate: African Adventures" and as an Executive Producer and Head Writer for the talk show "Escape with Nate: In Search of Black Utopia." Additionally, Jessica was the Supervising Producer on the docuseries "Profiled: The Black Man," which received a Special Recognition in the 2023 Television Academy Honors ceremony.
Her screenplays have garnered recognition from several notable writing labs, such as Brian Grazer and Ron Howard's Imagine Impact program, The Writers Lab, and the Indie Memphis Black Screenwriter's Residency Program. Jessica was also selected as a fellow for the Starz Network & Blackhouse Foundation's Episodic Producers Program designed to support female-identifying, mid-career producers working in episodic television.
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Jessica is a member of the Producers Guild of America West and is represented in unscripted television by April Yuan and Lanie Ragsdale at Verve. Despite the challenges posed by her autoimmune diseases, Jessica remains dedicated to bringing inspiring stories to the screen and raising awareness about the often-invisible struggles faced by those living with chronic illnesses.
