ALTERED PERCEPTIONS is ultimately a love story, with an LGBTQ+ bent, but it is also a reflection of our universal and familial divisions. It is a story of the love between a father, Dr. Joseph Ferretti, and his son, Alex, who struggles with his own demons and longs to find acceptance from his father – both of whom are affectively and politically divided. The issues that divide this father and son are likely the same issues that divide our own families, our country, and our worldview.”
In this contemporary psychological thriller, with the country devastatingly divided both politically and socially, and the United States on the brink of possible Civil War, things begin to further deteriorate when the perceptions of many seemingly “normal people” begin to change dramatically, causing alterations in reality and behaviors that cannot be explained medically – perceptions so deadly and bizarre that modern science cannot begin to explain them.
Suicides, homicides, and mass murders begin to increase at an alarming rate. Dr. Joseph Ferretti, a renowned neurologist, and his team begin to unravel what appears to be the root of these behaviors – rapid aging of the brain, which looks like dementia, which is spreading worldwide, but it is unclear how it’s being spread.
In the United States, those on the conservative fringe begin to falsely claim this disease is affecting only LGBTQ, Jewish, and African American individuals who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 – and this misinformation quickly becomes a hot political issue with some calling for these groups to be rounded up, quarantined and exterminated.
Political division is at its worst, and world leaders are in hiding. Our democracy has all but collapsed, with a fringe republic now in control! A man who claims to be from the future has been sent to convince Dr. Ferretti’s son, Alex, that his father is key to finding the answer to this plague. Is it too late for this man to help us to save ourselves?
Multi-award-winning Director Jorge Ameer stated, “ALTERED PERCEPTIONS is a concept that is current and of great interest to today’s society. The symbolic relevance to the multitude of issues addressed in the many themes simultaneously woven into the story is what attracted me to the concept of this film. Mental health is an issue we see addressed and applied to situations throughout that are both affecting and in need of urgent attention.
Both the book and the film also serve as important reminders that we are all connected and that the world we live in shapes how we view reality. As readers and viewers, it’s our responsibility to challenge our preconceived notions and open ourselves up to new ideas that can help unite us and help us grow as a society. With its unique blend of fantasy and realism, Altered Perceptions is sure to bring new perspectives and spark lively discussions.
