ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A St. Petersburg filmmaker is taking his message of suicide prevention to the silver screen and St. Petersburg Police officers are helping tell the story about PTSD.

The director of the film to be featured at the Sunscreen Movie Festival says for him, the movie has personal meaning.

Florida filmmaker Andrew Kiaroscuro's latest production is based on real life and raw emotion.

“'115 Grains' is a movie about a broken police officer who suffers from PTSD and suicidal thoughts,” said Kiaroscuro.

“The therapist puts him under this unorthodox kind of treatment, which is hypnosis and then we work through this repressed trauma.”

Kiaroscuro started making movies in middle school. The director and producer now owns his own production company, Kiaro Pictures. While Andrew works on a wide range of projects, he says '115 Grains' was personal.

“Because my father passed away when I was 19 years old from suicide and I saw firsthand how it can be very devastating to a family," said Kiaroscuro. "He metaphorically was my hero and so it was really awesome to get the opportunity to create a story for real-life heroes.”

The filmmaker is sending a message on the big screen that it's OK if those heroes need help.

“Really trying to focus on a police officer who’s doing everything in his power to save people and that it’s not always possible and how that guilt can manifest,” explained Kiaroscuro.

That's why the filmmaker made it a point to feature real police officers in his movie.

Luis Martinez with St. Petersburg Police Department was one of those officers in the film.

“They wanted to film us as we would normally start our shift,” said Officer Martinez, describing portions of the filming.

With every shift, life-changing calls can be right around the corner.

“You’re exposed to a lot of violence and I think over the years some of that stuff just sticks with you,” said Martinez.

Martinez hopes participating in the film encourages conversations about those experiences.

“I have been involved in those conversations with other co-workers that have witnessed something that you probably can’t forget, so I think it’s highly important that we do open the door to talk,” Martinez said.

“If I can be part of any of that in the most minimal way, I will,” said Martinez.

Those involved agree participating in production of the film was a powerful experience.

“There’s still a few moments that I’ll tear up," said Kiaroscuro as he showed the trailer for '115 Grains.'

"Relating to my father, my personal story and then knowing that main character of this movie is based off a real-life guy.”

Real life on the big screen, a reminder you are not alone and it's okay to reach out for support.

'115 Grains' will be shown at the Sunscreen Film Festival Friday, April 28 at 5:45pm.

If you or someone you love is struggling, call 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.