Multiple Social Media Platforms Seek to Educate and Inform about TMJ with New Reality Web Series, “Journey to Healing”

Jersey Shore. Keeping up with the Kardashians. Real Housewives of ________ (fill in the blank.) When most people think of reality TV shows, they think of cheesy, overblown, selfish personalities that showcase drama queens and I don’t mean the good kind of “drama” that is the basis for quality entertainment.

A new online Reality Web Series called Journey to Healing seeks to shatter the stereotype that the public has about what a reality show can and should be. Debuting on multiple social media platforms on August 15th, 2012, the nine episode web series follows a single mother from Los Angeles who struggles with the debilitating pain and agony that come from the daily migraines and headaches caused by her TMJ.



I caught up with LA Slam Productions, the Los Angeles based production company that conceived of and produced this groundbreaking, new and innovative format to teach and inform the public about the pain and suffering of TMJ, while also seeking to entertain and enlighten its viewers.

Dr. T: Thank you for taking the time to talk to us today.

LA Slam: Thank you for having us.

Dr. T: So, how did you come up with the concept for J2H?

LA Slam: Well, it seemed like most of the people who have TMJ experience the same types of feelings and emotions that come from living a life of daily pain. It can be a very isolating experience, and we just felt like, if we could show one persons journey, it might touch some people who suffer from TMJ and let them know they are not alone.

Dr. T: How did you come up with the format, nine episodes, etc.?

LA Slam: We knew we wanted the whole thing to be reality based, shot in real time with a real sufferer of TMJ, showing real emotions, thoughts and feelings. The nine episode or “Webisode” format just seemed to fit into the cinematic three act structure.

Act 1 is called Pain. It is comprised of the first three episodes, and they deal with the patient’s pain and how it affects her life, work and relationships.

Act 2 is called Hope. It is the middle three episodes and they deal with her search for a diagnosis, clinical examination and the beginning of her treatment.

Act 3 is called Resolution. It is the final three episodes. They show the patients continuing treatment, and they explore how her journey has affected her work and those she loves.

Dr. T: Does she get better?

LA Slam: You’ll have to see episode nine to find that out.

Dr. T: Just episode nine?

LA Slam: Hopefully you’ll watch all of the episodes. Part of what makes this such an amazing and powerfully moving story is the changes that take place in Edyta, the main character in the story, not only physically but emotionally over the nine episodes that make up J2H. Experiencing those changes taking place, before your very eyes, over the course of nine or eighteen weeks, is hopefully, what will draw the viewers in week after week and build our audience and fan base.

Dr. T: On August 15th, where can fans go to see the debut of the new reality web series, Journey to Healing?

LA Slam: The J2H Website: http://journeytohealingwebseries.wordpress.com

Dr. T: Is there anything you want to say to people who have never heard of J2H? Why they should watch or even care about a story of a person with TMJ?

LA Slam: I would say, come along with us on an amazing journey. You will learn, grow and be emotionally touched by a story that at its core is really a universal journey that we all travel, whether or not we have TMJ.

I know this sounds cliché, but it is so true with this particular story, that it really is the journey of the individual, fighting against adversity, that is so fascinating and appealing, not just the end result, although that is also spectacular.

The journey is where the growth takes place, not the place where a person ends up.

Dr. T: Thank you for your time today, I am really excited and looking forward to seeing the first episode of Journey to Healing on August 15th.

LA Slam: Thank you for having us, we are very confident that if you start the journey with us on August 15th, you will stay with us until the end, and be touched by this amazing story of a very courageous woman.

- Dr. Scott Tamura