It Ain't Television... It's Brain Surgery, is a whimsical and enlightening first person account by Ray Farkas of his brain surgery operation.
Farkas, an Emmy award-winning producer and director, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in May 2000. Not wanting to live the rest of his with tremors and other symptoms, he decided to undergo Deep Brain Stimulation surgery, a procedure intended to improve his quality of life.
A TV animal to the core, Farkas naturally thought, "Why not make a TV documentary out of it?" Multiple cameras capture the action on the operating table as he flirts with nurses, tells bad jokes and breaks into a song.
As Farkas wrestles with his fear of surgery, he discovers remarkable dedication from his medical team and unabated love and support from his family and friends.
It Ain't Television, It's Brain Surgery is a courageous and humorous first-person account of Emmy award-winning producer Ray Farkas' life-changing brain surgery procedure intended to reduce the symptoms of his Parkinson's disease.
Note: Not all comments will be posted due to space and time constraints.
Sue Costello -- Cockeyssville, MD
Oct 6, 2009 at 5:00 PM
I am scheduled for DBS surgery in two weeks. I have sent this site to my famiy and friends to assure them that I will be all right.Like Ray, I watched my father die of Parkinson's, and it is not a pretty sight. I watched my mother's sister also lose her fight aggainst PD. I have actually become more afraid of not having the surgery thatn having it especially affter watching this video several times. I have my own words to the scarecrow's song. What a gift Ray has given us and what a loss it is to have lost him to cancer. Thank you all
Goldemberg Fonseca -- Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
July 12, 2009 at 1:27 AM
What moving documentary I have just seen. It is a hard pinch in our sometimes unmotivated soul to have this life lesson thrown onto our face. Thanks for giving us that!
Matthew Miller -- Seattle, WA USA
May 30, 2008 at 2:47 PM
Thank you so much for your inspiration for me and my own DBS surgery. You will not be forgotten Mr. Farkas. May you rest in eternal peace.
Richard -- Boston, MA USA
May 7, 2008 at 8:16 PM
Beautiful. Simply beautiful. Thanks for putting this together.
Curt Chandler -- Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Jan 8, 2008 at 1:29 PM
Ray Farkas, a true television pioneer, died Jan. 4, 2008. Links to an obituary and to a rememberance by Dale Barton.
Dave Roels -- Vancouver, BC Canada
Oct 8, 2007 at 12:15 PM
I photographed two brain surgery this past June 2007 here in Vancouver. I will never forget when the surgeon drilled and then sawed around the skull and took a 3 inch diamater piece off and I saw the brain beating. I guess I never thought of the brain in that way.This video is outstanding full of warmth and good humor and honest. I love photographing in surgery. Why? To witness such talent working to help people is a special privilege.
Charlotte Lengyel -- Cuyahoga Falls, OHIO
Mar 6, 2007 at 4:27 PM
What an outstanding video. My sister is scheduled for this surgery on April 30th. To have seen this has given me peace knowing that she will do fine. This was a wonderful thing you have done Ray by sharing your experience with others. Thank you all so very much for providing this to us, the viewers, and what a beautiful job you all did. I wish you well!
Jim Tripeny -- Bakersfield, CA, USA
Mar 6, 2007 at 4:27 PM
I had the privilege to work with Ray for one day on Diamond Life, but his sense of composition and storytelling has made me look like I actually know what I am doing! Thanks for being a great teacher.
Erica Hintergardt -- San Francisco, CA, USA
Dec 6, 2006 at 12:27 AM
I am brought to tears and inspired at the same time. Ray is the one who infulenced me to become a photojournalist. I was at NPPA and saw one of his stories and said, I want to do that, hide in trees in malls and overhear what people have to say. No really I love Ray's style and from a unique story on marriage to people's thoughts on the beach, I have always admired and tried to be as good as the great storyteller. Ray, I'm happy to see you still the storyteller and sad to see it's your story being told. I took on a career most women don't because of you and have never looked back. I love life behind the lense and you led me on this path that has opened so many doors. Thank you!I send you positive thoughts and prayers to you and your family. With great respect, Erica Hintergardt
Andre Arruda -- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Oct 26, 2006 at 8:51 PM
Excellent and very encouraging doc. Sense of humor, humanity, family values, dedication... very good to see Real Human beings. Kudos for you and MediaStorm.
Daniel Farkas -- Bronx, NY, USA
Jun 26, 2006 at 8:16 PM
What an excellent video! I found this by searching for myself on google. I'll just say i'm proud to share a name with you.
Marc Steiner -- Union Beach, NJ, USA
Mar 16, 2006 at 1:59 PM
Great piece! This is the power of technology working on all levels. Not only for Ray but MediaStorm for getting his story out there, and the many other stories it hosts!
Producer, Director & Subject: Ray Farkas
Cameras: Bob Peterson, Mark & Danny Farkas, Bob Reilly, Darrell
Barton, Peter Kulsziski, Scott Rensberger
Sound: Jimmy Peterson
Editors: Bob Kanner, Joe D'Anna
Music: "Hole in the Head" & "DBS Tango" by Philip Lerman
