JOIN US FOR A VERY SPECIAL SCREENING OF KRATOM: SIDE EFFECTS MAY INCLUDE
We produced this documentary to help demystify the lack of information regarding Kratom products, including the potential Kra
LATEST NEWS AND FILM FESTIVAL INFO
FILM FESTIVALS
UPCOMING TOUR and FESTIVAL DATES
Special theatrical screenings and Q&A sessions featuring directors Jamie and Jason Neese alongside advocate Patti Wheeler are currently underway. Highlights include the Texas premiere at the Austin Film Festival and the launch of the college campus tour.
ASPEN COLORADO September 27th, 2026 at The Isis Theater 4:00pm
BIRMINGHAM MICHIGAN October 5th, 2026 Birmingham 8 - 7:00pm
CHAGRIN FILM FESTIVAL Chagrin Ohio OCTOBER 10th, 2026 4:00pm
NASHVILLE TENNESSEE October 12th AMC Thoroughbred 20 7:00pm
AUSTIN TEXAS Austin Film Festival October 29th Galaxy Theater 7:05 pm
second screening November 3rd Galaxy Theater 4:00
FAIRFAX VIRGINIA November 2nd, 2026 Angelika Film Center 7:00pm
FILMS PUBLIC RELEASE! November 6th, 2026
More to come!
HOUSTON TEXAS November 15th, 2026 Studio Movie Grill 4:00pmFORT WORTH TEXAS November 16th, 2026 TCU campus 6:00pm
DOCUMENTARIES WITHOUT BORDERS
Thanks DWB For awarding us Best of Show
IN THE NEWS: THE ASPEN TIMES
IN THE NEWS: SPREADING THE WORD TO REGULATE KRATOM EXRTACT
Patti Wheeler speaks exclusively to People Magazine about the tragedy her family suffered.
IN THE NEWS: SPREADING THE WORD TO REGULATE KRATOM EXRTACT
Patti Wheeler and Joanne Rubino speak with Forbes magazine about their mission.
WHAT IS KRATOM EXRACT?
Harmless Looking
Easy to Buy Over-The-Counter
Un-Regulated Potent Drug
Mitragyna Speciosa, known as Kratom, is a tropical evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia. Kratom extract contains various compounds that produce opioid and stimulant-like effects in the brain, but it’s important to be aware of the potential Kratom addiction risks and Kratom extract dangers, as well as the various Kratom side effects that can occur.
Un-Regulated Potent Drug
Easy to Buy Over-The-Counter
Un-Regulated Potent Drug
Kratom has been traditionally used for its stimulant and analgesic properties. However, the dangers of kratom extract are becoming more apparent, especially with growing concerns about kratom addiction risks and potential kratom side effects, alongside its lack of regulatory status.
Easy to Buy Over-The-Counter
Easy to Buy Over-The-Counter
Easy to Buy Over-The-Counter
Kratom is available for purchase online, at gas stations, smoke shops, and nutrition stores without a prescription. It is marketed as an herbal remedy for pain and anxiety, but it's important to be aware of the Kratom addiction risks and the potential dangers associated with Kratom extract. Additionally, users should consider the possible Kratom side effects before trying this supplement.
Deceptive 'HERBAL' Marketing
Death and Overdose on the Rise
Easy to Buy Over-The-Counter
What most consumers don’t realize is that Kratom extract poses significant dangers, including the risks of Kratom addiction. This substance can lead to severe side effects such as seizures, coma, and even death.
Extract Can Be Deadly
Death and Overdose on the Rise
Death and Overdose on the Rise
Sold in extract form, some Kratom products can be 50x more potent than the raw leaf, which raises concerns about potential Kratom extract dangers. It's also important to consider the Kratom addiction risks and various Kratom side effects. In some states, there are no age restrictions to buy Kratom.
Death and Overdose on the Rise
Death and Overdose on the Rise
Death and Overdose on the Rise
According to the Food and Drug Administration, nearly 2 million Americans used Kratom in 2021. However, with the number of Kratom users rising to over 20 million as of April 2025, it's important to be aware of Kratom addiction risks, Kratom extract dangers, and potential Kratom side effects associated with its use.
THE TEAM
Patti Wheeler: Executive Producer
Patti Wheeler: Executive Producer
Patti Wheeler: Executive Producer
Patti produced 'Kratom Side Effects May Include' after losing her precious son Wyatt to a little-known killer, Kratom. For fifteen years, Patti traveled the world as a flight attendant for Eastern Airlines. When she became a mother to twin sons, she nurtured the spirit of adventure in them from a young age. Inspired by their travels, Patti authored the award-winning book series, 'Travels with Gannon & Wyatt,' which takes readers on educational adventures around the globe. Through her philanthropy and desire to make the world a better place, Patti has made a difference in countless lives. 'Kratom Side Effects May Include' begins a new journey in the fight against an industry riddled with greed and deception, highlighting the serious Kratom addiction risks and the dangers associated with Kratom extract. Patti has always believed her most important and purposeful role in life was being a mother. To honor her son Wyatt's memory and assist others grappling with Kratom addiction or loss, Patti started a nonprofit organization: https://abeautifullifestolen.com/
Jamie & Jason Neese: Directors
Patti Wheeler: Executive Producer
Patti Wheeler: Executive Producer
The Neese Twins were born in North Carolina and hold a BFA in creative writing from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. They serve as co-executive producers on the EMMY nominated Netflix series THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY, and previously as supervising producers for CRUEL SUMMER, UNREAL, and DEAR WHITE PEOPLE.
The brothers have partnered with DON CHEADLE and Radicle Act Productions to adapt the Russian television show CALL CENTER for American television. They've also adapted the true story of the lawyer for hacktivist group Anonymous into an elevated series, ANONYMOUS LAWYER, with former Sony TV president Jeff Frost producing.
In the podcast space, they are writing and directing a new series for VOYAGE MEDIA called HARD DRIVE – a grounded YA sci-fi narrative coming out fall 2024.
Recently, the Neese twins teamed up with Jason Momoa and his production company to bring to life a gritty story based on the real-life terrifying events surrounding one of the longest active serial killer mysteries in the USA.
Most recently, they've collaborated with RAINN WILSON to create a dark drama in which he will star, called BLACK STAR CANYON. They wrote and directed a spec TV pilot starring Emmy-nominated CONSTANCE ZIMMER and NTARE MWINE entitled, GUARDIAN ASSHOLE, and are currently producing and serving as 2nd unit directors on KEVIN COSTNER’S western HORIZON. They have previously written and directed for SHARON STONE, EMMA ROBERTS, and MALIN ACKERMAN, among others, and continue to be sought after to develop, show run, and direct for celebrities and platforms across all genres. They have a number of IP Rights-driven iconic stories in the works for tentative release in 2025.
The brothers have also signed on to direct two powerful documentaries in the fight against cancer, SAVING SOPHIE: THE ROAD TO A CURE, and a project focused on Kratom addiction risks, titled Kratom Side Effects May Include, which sheds light on the dangers of Kratom extract and its potential side effects.
Joanne Rubino: Producer
Patti Wheeler: Executive Producer
Joanne Rubino: Producer
The founder of Be Brave Media, Joanne Rubino, is a creative, development, and production force behind highly acclaimed and award-winning biopics, scripted series, and documentaries. Her impressive credits include Hatfields & McCoys, Texas Rising, Sun Records, Surviving Compton, and thousands of hours of highly rated programming, along with the Brando documentary that earned her an Emmy nomination. Joanne has a reputation for exceeding ratings and performance expectations across all genres and multiple platforms.
As Be Brave Media continues to expand its slate of incredible untold stories, it does so with the support of strategic partners and a mentality geared toward taking bold risks. Current projects in development include several powerful documentaries and series, including discussions around the lesser-known but significant issues such as Kratom addiction risks and Kratom extract dangers. These projects aim to shed light on important topics, including the Kratom side effects that many individuals face. Timeless stories like Slinky, The Bill Tilden story, Blue Demons, Baldwin-Felts, and others are expected to garner huge audiences both domestically and internationally. Joanne also has multiple series in the works and continues to consult as a production executive and creative, utilizing her years of experience and skill set to help others achieve their goals and bring meaningful projects to fruition.
BE BRAVE
“You’ll never do a whole lot unless you’re brave enough to try.” Dolly Parton
A PERSONAL STATEMENT
FROM EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, PATTI WHEELER
First and foremost, I want to SAVE LIVES and prevent families from experiencing the senseless pain and heartbreak that we have endured this past year. We will continue to live with Wyatt’s absence every day, for the rest of our lives. I would like to honor my beautiful son and his memory, and do exactly what Wyatt would expect of me, nothing less. I will become an advocate for the underdog and push back against the unjustifiable. If I don’t take action, if I remain silent with my grief, how many more will die? Wyatt could easily become just another tragic young case of a perceived overdose linked to Kratom addiction risks. I cannot allow that. I want to bring awareness to what Kratom was in a milder powder version and what it has become—a pumped-up powerful liquid that poses serious dangers. It is astounding how many people have died due to Kratom extract dangers, and how little the public knows about it. Tragically, families are learning about the Kratom side effects only as they bury their loved ones. Our Wyatt made a decision. He chose an herbal supplement made from a tree imported from Bali, Indonesia, called Kratom, instead of drinking. What could be wrong with that? What could be the harm? It’s sold in gas stations everywhere, in vape shops, and by local vendors. There are no black label warnings to identify any contradictions or safety hazards, certainly nothing to warn of impending seizures and death. But on October 25, 2022, after having a wonderful day at school and nothing much more planned for the evening, instead of playing video games as he and his brother had intended, Robert Wyatt Wheeler, born January 22, 1995, was engulfed in a Kratom seizure on his bathroom floor and died in his twin brother's arms. Wyatt was just 27.
Patti Wheeler with her twin sons, Gannon and Wyatt
Contact Us
The fight is just beginning
We need help to get Congress and local lawmakers to act on the concerning Kratom addiction risks and the potential dangers associated with Kratom extract, as well as the various Kratom side effects that users may face.
Kratom Side Effects May Include Movie
