Patients may not shit for a week, but the drug industry will after they see SIDE EFFECTS…

Artwork courtesy of Mo Productions

Who wouldn’t want Karly Hurt’s job?  Her company car is a BMW, she gets bonus checks written for thousands of dollars, and she attends manager meetings in Lake Geneva.  Sound too good to be true?  In a way, it is because Karly is a drug dealer…a legal one mind you, but a drug dealer nonetheless.   In her latest film, Side Effects, writer and director Kathleen Slattery-Moschkau gives us a humorous glimpse into the troubled life of drug rep Karly Hert as she struggles with life, love, and the age-old dilemma of having to choose between capitalism and ethics. 

On the surface, Side Effects is a highly entertaining romantic comedy that is loosely based upon Slattery-Moschkau’s own experience of selling drugs…legally, that is.  But, what you will find underneath its comedic surface are some little-knows facts about the pharmaceutical industry that will make your hair stand on end.  

Like her creator, Karly (played by Katherine Heigl from Grey’s Anatomy) is recruited by a drug company to be a pharmaceutical sales consultant even though she has no medical background other than a science degree.  Well, technically her degree is in political science - if you can call that a science.  But, wait a minute.  If Karly is armed with only a sales pitch and no medical training, how can she “educate” doctors about the pills she is pushing?  By telling the truth, of course. 

When Karly is not fighting with her pantyhose or buying lunches for ungrateful medical staff, she is counting down the days until she can quit her unethical job.  With her boyfriend’s encouragement, Karly drops her sales pitch and starts telling doctors the real truth about the medications she is selling.  However, like Michael Keaton’s “truth in advertising” ploy in The Dream Team, Karly’s plan backfires. 

As a result of being too honest, Karly’s sales skyrocket, and the company now thinks she is management material.  At first, Karly allows the material rewards for her increased sales to lure her back into the corporate trap of material wealth; but eventually, Karly does end up turning her back on the industry when she learns just how dangerous the side effects of corporate greed can really be. 

Although Side Effects is entirely a fictious film, it will educate you as well as entertain you.  What Kathleen Slattery-Moschkau weaves into the film’s fictional narrative is a very strong message about the lack of ethics within the American pharmaceutical industry; and, fortunately for us, Slattery-Moschkau has written about a subject she knows well…maybe a little too well for some of the drug companies. 

The only part of the film that lacks substance is the love story between Karly and her boyfriend; and, at times seems a little underdeveloped in comparison to the more important issue at hand.  Side Effects would have worked just as well without all of the unnecessary relationship sidebars. 

Shortly after Kathleen’s film premiered at the Cinequest Film Festival earlier this year, it started getting attention from the national media.  Now, you know as well as I do, the only way for the national media and corporate America to sit up and take notice of something is if it hits a nerve that is a little too close to home; and, this low-budget indie film has done just that. 

Like its creator, Side Effects is brutally honest…honest to the point of being downright scary at times.  Anyone who has ever taken antibiotics, anti-anxieties, antidepressants, anticoagulants, anti-inflammatories, antihistamines, anti-flatulence, or anti-ANYTHING needs to see Side Effects.  This film will be an eye-opening message to people who are not a part of the medical community, and a confirmation of fears for health care professionals everywhere. 

We, as consumers, need to be reminded that drug companies have only one goal in mind – to sell their product at any cost.  The pharmaceutical industry bombards us on a daily basis with their shameless marketing ploys for whatever “cure-all” pill they are trying to hock.  In addition to misleading television commercials and print ads, doctors’ offices and retail pharmacies are loaded with drug paraphernalia – legal paraphernalia, that is. 

The next time you visit your doctor or pharmacy, take a good look around the joint and see how many pens, coffee mugs, clipboards, wall clocks, note pads, koosh balls, squeeze balls, t-shirts, tote bags, and other miscellaneous junk that has the name of a drug on it.  When you stop to think about how much you spend on prescription drugs in comparison to the billions of dollars these drug companies spend on marketing; eventually, you begin to realize that the cost of their advertising is coming right out of your very own pockets.  You may want to ask yourself before you fill your next prescription if you really need that fancy new drug you saw on TV last week. 

Kathleen Slattery-Moschkau’s film is finally bringing to light some of these very issues that the pharmaceutical industry has been hiding for years; and, the scary part is how these issues are only the tip of the iceberg.  I can almost guarantee that by the time we get to the underbelly of this ugly beast and see just how deep its pockets run, price gouging and withholding pertinent information from clinical trials are going to be nothing in comparison to whatever else we might find. 

Earlier this week, I was fortunate enough to sit down and visit with Kathleen Slattery-Moschkau about her controversial and much-needed film: 

KB:    Why did you opt for a Dallas release of SIDE EFFECTS instead of having the film premier in either New York or Los Angeles? 

KSM:  When the national press broke on the film last spring, our website was bombarded with requests from people wanting to see the film from all over the country.  When we looked at the geographical breakdown, many of the requests were coming from the Dallas area.  We felt very strong about bringing the film to those who wanted to see it most.  We pay very close attention to those who take the time out of their day to contact us directly.  We are THRILLED to be in Dallas first; and, the Southern Hospitality has been a wonderful experience.

KB:    What kind of feedback has the film received from people in the medical community as compared to the general public’s response?

KSM: We have been blessed by the fact that both audiences have warmly embraced the film.  The general public has indicated that they have had a ball with the film from a humor and entertainment perspective…they also have expressed that they enjoy being both entertained and educated.  

The medical community has always had a strong interest in the film because they are the direct target of the sales forces of the pharmaceutical industry.  Although many of them have been suspect about the industry for some time, they do still seem to be shocked by what they actually see on the screen.

 The film was intended to raise awareness with both audiences…thus becoming a part of the solution.

KB:    How did Katherine Heigl from “Grey’s Anatomy” come to be involved in the project?

KSM: The casting director I was working with had worked with Katherine before and strongly recommended her.  Upon that recommendation, we contacted her agent who loved the script and immediately forwarded it on to Katherine.  Katherine responded very strongly to the material and the role; and, we sealed the deal in about 24 hours.  This is obviously a very low budget project for her to take on, but she was willing to do it because she loved the story and the character so much.

KB:     SIDE EFFECTS almost seems to be a type of personal catharsis for you because it is loosely based on your own experiences as a pharmaceutical sales rep.  What prompted you to make such an eye-opening film?

KSM: I felt this was information that both the medical community and the general public needed to know.  I pushed pills for ten years…to the point I could not look at myself in the mirror any more.  As I matured, I really started to question the ethics of what I was doing and how I was being told to do it.  I am not saying that we should get rid of the industry as a whole…that would be irresponsible.  What I am saying is that there are big problems with the day to day marketing tactics of the industry…tactics that put profits well ahead of patients. An awareness of these problems is needed in order to fix the problem.

KB:    Were you ever afraid the pharmaceutical industry was going to catch wind of your project due to its controversial topic and prevent the film from being released? 

KSM: Yes, very afraid.  I sat on my script for a long time; and, even once we were in prroduction, my attorney advised me to show it to as few people as possible.  Only key cast and crew got to see the entire script.  The industry has very deep pockets, and I knew that if they tried to come in and shut down production (legal ploys, etc); I would have very little financial means to stop them. This has always felt like a David vs. Goliath project.  It has been unnerving at times.

KB:    Have you encountered any negative repercussions from the pharmaceutical industry now that SIDE EFFECTS has gained national media attention?

KSM: Industry spokespeople have repeatedly stated that they hire highly qualified personnel to be sales representatives…nurses and pharmacists. The reality is that there are very few nurses and pharmacists selling drugs. They are out there, but the vast majority of reps have no science background whatsoever. 

The industry has also stated repeatedly that, “obviously, Ms. Slattery-Moschkau’s film is fiction.”  That statement is true.  I have never denied that.  The film is fiction solidly based on my decade of experience working directly for the industry.

 That said, there was recently a very fair article published in the "Pharmaceutical Manufacturing" magazine.  They took the approach to the film that maybe it is time they take a closer look in mirror.  This was very rewarding, because such a paradigm shift could mean true change.

KB:    What changes do you hope to see come about as a result of your film?

KSM: I would like to see an increase in awareness on the part of both the medical community and the general public.  All of us should be questioning the sources of our information regarding prescription drugs.  The medical community should be questioning the credibility of sales representatives, their pitches, and studies presented.  The general public should be very wary of the drug commercials on television.  Those commercials have one purpose and one purpose only…to sell more pills.  The industry knows that if it can manipulate you into demanding such prescriptions from your physicians it was won a big part of the battle.   If doctors and patients refuse to play the “business as usual game” of Big Pharma, then Big Pharma will NEED to change its tactics.

KB:    In addition to being invited to participate in roundtable discussions with the FDA, what other opportunities have since opened up for you to formally address some of the issues raised in SIDE EFFECTS?

KSM: I have been fortunate enough to sit in on roundtable discussions in Washington DC…groups that are really looking at finding solutions. I have also been contacted by the World Health Organization and other international groups to look at the potential of using the film as a learning tool worldwide. As importantly, I am working with medical students throughout the country to help shed some light on these issues. I really enjoy working with the students.

Side Effects is a must-see for everyone because it is funny, charming, heartfelt, and educational – all at the same time.  Even though I have also worked in the pharmaceutical industry for nearly 10 years (as a pharmacy tech – not a drug rep), some of the issues Kathleen Slattery-Moschkau addresses in Side Effects still make me shake my head in disbelief.  So, what will the side effects of Side Effects be?  Audiences may not shit for a week, but the drug industry will. 

© Left From Hollywood 2005

DIRECTOR'S PERSONAL STATEMENT:

As you are probably aware, the topic of this film is very timely. In fact, during production, the NY Attorney General announced that he is suing Glaxo due to suppression of negative information in pediatric studies for Paxil.

The Attorney General for Wisconsin also announced that she is suing 20 drug companies for price gouging.  Many states have also begun the process of allowing residents to order their prescriptions from Canada due to exorbitant prices charged by drug companies.  Finally, Merck was forced to pull its blockbuster drug, Vioxx off of the market due to cardiac concerns that had actually been apparent for over a year.

This story is actually my story. For 10 years, I lived as a drug rep for a major pharmaceutical company. I experienced, almost daily, the comical marketing tactics of the industry, as well as the dangerous pursuit for profits that can come at the expense of patients’ lives.