Cannes Film Festival

Just jumping into the doc again after the Cannes experience. In spite of all the hoopla you see and hear on this major film festival, some very serious business gets done there and should be on every filmmakers calendar. So grateful for the new contacts that I have made, now returning to the great weather here - and the ongoing story of our film. Jumped into action with a visit to Whitehall to watch the demonstration organized through Facebook on the plight of ME. Although the supporters were not as many as expected, some very ill people showed up, (there may have been a clash with the Invest in ME conference also taking place in London today) visit the link on the back page. It was nice to meet a Facebook friend or two. Some of the demonstrators went on to talk to their MP in the Houses of Parliament. This all gives more impetus again to get this film on the road! Will return to our patient editor Oli this week to complete the new teaser trailer shortly coming to the site. Keep tuned.

Questionnaire on the documentary

Hello, all. We have put together a questionnaire on the documentary. We would love to have your input, so if you would like to download the questionnaire, fill it in and send it back to doubledmedocs@googlemail.com we would appreciate it!

click here to download the questionnaire

Hope everyone is doing well!

The ash subsided enough to let me back into the UK

After a great week or so in LA with lots of talks on funding, and attending the Britweek conference, it was time to return to the UK. Hit the ground running when the hearing of Dr Sarah Myhill came up at the General Medical Council. For those of you who have not heard of this do go to her site www.drmyhill.co.uk. She is a very popular doctor who has helped hundreds of ME/CFS sufferers.They demonstrated for her in their wheelchairs and breathing tubes, do check out the news feeds and www.theoneclickgroup.com. We have it all on film, and it will be inserted here on the site, when we recut the new trailer. There is lots of great interviews from Nevada, which you will also be seeing.
More later.

To recap on Reno

SUCH a productive trip I interviewed Annette Whittemore, and her daughter Andrea, a sufferer of ME/CFS, whose suffering instigated the start of the Whittemore Peterson Institute. This family is doing all they can to further the cure of ME, with the help of course of Dr Dan Peterson, the tireless doctor who has been involved with the research ever since the outbreak in Incline Village. Lake Tahoe in the 1980’s. Great interviews from these pioneers, and stunning revelations from Dr Judy Mikovitz, the brilliant scientist who of course came up with the XMRV discovery.Such a wonderfully supportive team of people around them , whose names are posted on the interviewees. So much gleaned from all of them, plus heart wrenching stories from the sufferers. I met with great co-operation from all concerned and I know there can be no better place on earth at this moment in time that will further the development of the cure of ME/CFS.

Then I took the road to Los Angeles – time for a little film business! (A little recommendation here) If you ever do this there is only one way to go - in my opinion - down the 395 south- what a drive!! Just beautiful, snow capped mountains , and azure lakes, through old Indian territory, for miles and miles. Takes about 8 hours, and worth every minute.

More later.

Great News From Nevada!

Wow - now in the" Biggest Little City in America" Reno Nevada , the home of the `Whittemore Peterson Institute - such a revelation of the dedication here to the cause and treatment of ME/CFS! Have met with Annette Whittemore, a great pioneer for the cause, whom has single-handedly made the inroad to the construction of the new Institute on the campus of the University of Nevada. it will be spectacular and a huge addition to the campus to say nothing of what will be discovered here. Such high hopes for the progression of the discovery of the XMRV virus , did you know that hey are testing 250 sufferers from the UK? Alas there is no one doing such there! America rescues us , yet one more time again - what is the UK doing? Well not much from what i can determine so far. I have such a plethora of reports. i will have to sit back and discern the way we shall proceed here. Just believe me that there will be so much revelation from this trip, that it may take up pages!! Keep tuned.