LORDS OF DOGTOWN
Dr. Reef was asked by the director Catherine Hardwicke to be the technical medical advisor on the film “Lords of Dogtown”. Reef helped authenticate the medical dialogue and he worked with one of the actors, Michael Angarano, in his portrayal of an adolescent with a brain tumor. Reef taught the actor about basic neurology and specifically brain tumors and he worked on the actor’s physicality in playing a person with a progressive tumor.
ALIAS
Dr. Reef was brought in to assist the writers of “Alias” on a show about altered reality and mental illness. In one episode, Reef helped the writers to accurately portray a psych ward and to include the correct medications for treatment and the right dialogue for the medical professionals.
LAUREL CANYON
Dr. Reef Karim was brought in to assist the director Lisa Cholodenko and the crew of “Laurel Canyon” as their technical medical advisor on the subject of mental health, emergency psychiatry, drug addiction, psychiatric hospitalization and how to accurately portray a psychiatric attending and resident. Reef helped set up the psychiatric hospital and he helped with the medical dialogue and the actors. On set, Reef specifically worked with Christian Bale to help him accurately play the part of a psychiatric resident.
THIRTEEN
Reef was asked by Fox Searchlight and the director Catherine Hardwicke to work as a medical consultant on the film “Thirteen”. As the film focuses on sex drugs and relationships of adolescents and Reef works with that population in his private practice, it was a natural fit. Dr. Reef led a panel discussion at Fox on the nature of sex, drugs and relationships and he led community outreach discussions on the topic. Reef talked to parents and medical groups and was interviewed by the USA Today and other news media about the movie and the topic of sex, drugs and relationships in the younger demographic.
BOURNE IDENTITY
Dr. Reef Karim was asked to give the “Bourne Diagnosis” on the DVD of the “Bourne Identity”. In the 5 minute diagnosis, Dr. Reef discusses dissociative amnesia and the fugue state. He talks about the neurobiology of Love and how trauma to the brain can alter personality structure. Reef then gave a breakdown of memory in the brain and how it can be altered.