POST PRODUCTION: Choosing our Subject
Our group had previously discussed the idea of making our film about mental health. Initially I did research existing short films that focus on the experiences of those who suffer with depression. I quickly found that there was a lot of material already out there that worked in similar ways. The Films that I found were often made up of somewhat predictable visuals and semiotics.
This week our group agreed that our film would focus on the stigma attached to Borderline Personality Disorder (or BPD for short). As a group we already knew that we would like to work with issues surrounding mental health. This idea was brought about by a conversation I had with Abby, about a new film trailer we had both seen online, for Split (2016). The film features a murderer and capture who demonstrates an exaggerated version of what was formerly known as "Multiple Personality Disorder". MPD is no longer viewed as a valid diagnosis by the NHS, and patients who display symptoms of perceived multiple personalities are now treated for "Dissasociative Personality Disorder". MPD is often mistaken for Borderline Personality Disorder and Schizophrenia and visa versa.
I have been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, which is a cluster B personality disorder.
Whilst this issue applies to all mental health issues, I feel that it would be most responsible to make a film on an issue with which I am familiar, rather than attempt to reflect on the issues of groups of people who cannot have sufficient input to our project, such as sufferers of other mental health issues like depression, schizophrenia or bi-polar disorder.
The day I was diagnosed the psychiatrist working with me explained in the same minute that I need to be ready to experience some stigma. He explained that Borderline Personality Disorder is often mistaken for Multiple Personality Disorder and that some people may have negative preconceptions about me. This is not the only negative preconception I have experienced or that my psychiatrist warned me about, but this is why I felt that "Split" could be detrimental to people like myself and how others perceive us.
I'm not alone in thinking this, even mainstream media has caught onto the possible dangers of horror films featuring characters with mental health issues:
Affinity Magazine
CNN
The Guardian
The Mighty
The Verge
ABC
.MIC
Our group agreed that this issue is relevant to investigating the way the film industry represents groups of people and their responsibility to do so carefully.
I took some time to question whether of not this issue is too personal to me to be working on for an extended period of time in such an open way, eg with my peers. I do feel that I am likely to be more invested in my role as a researcher and that I can provide insight and instinct than someone who is disconnected from their subject matter. To make sure that my own experience only serves to inform our work rather than hinder it or my own health I decided the following:
So far speaking with the group to develop our initial ideas and protagonists character, I have been impressed and reassured by our groups maturity and sensitivity towards the subject matter. The films I have researched so far that feature mental health, preexisting documentaries based on BPD and trusted resources about BPD have been added to our references and resources page of our film treatment for us to refer to throughout the project.
We have been able to start discussing technical aspects and ideas without being overcome by the sensitivity of the subject. Everyone seems very eager to make a good film that accomplishes a goal that we have set independently of our brief, in questioning the representation of mental health in film. I am confident so far that this goal will make our development a more interesting process. I also feel that we are brave in choosing this topic and hope that it pays off!
- Voice-overs talking to the about their experiences.
- Shots of people looking sad or crying in bed.
- Visual references to self harm and suicide such as the tops of tall buildings and even knives.
- Characters tearing up what are implicitly suicide notes.
- Sped up sequences of protagonists lives being repetitive as the character appears sad and still.
- Sad music.
- The protagonist swallowing nondescript medication that could either be medically beneficial or not, implicit that medication is a negative idea.
This week our group agreed that our film would focus on the stigma attached to Borderline Personality Disorder (or BPD for short). As a group we already knew that we would like to work with issues surrounding mental health. This idea was brought about by a conversation I had with Abby, about a new film trailer we had both seen online, for Split (2016). The film features a murderer and capture who demonstrates an exaggerated version of what was formerly known as "Multiple Personality Disorder". MPD is no longer viewed as a valid diagnosis by the NHS, and patients who display symptoms of perceived multiple personalities are now treated for "Dissasociative Personality Disorder". MPD is often mistaken for Borderline Personality Disorder and Schizophrenia and visa versa.
I have been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, which is a cluster B personality disorder.
Whilst this issue applies to all mental health issues, I feel that it would be most responsible to make a film on an issue with which I am familiar, rather than attempt to reflect on the issues of groups of people who cannot have sufficient input to our project, such as sufferers of other mental health issues like depression, schizophrenia or bi-polar disorder.
The day I was diagnosed the psychiatrist working with me explained in the same minute that I need to be ready to experience some stigma. He explained that Borderline Personality Disorder is often mistaken for Multiple Personality Disorder and that some people may have negative preconceptions about me. This is not the only negative preconception I have experienced or that my psychiatrist warned me about, but this is why I felt that "Split" could be detrimental to people like myself and how others perceive us.
I'm not alone in thinking this, even mainstream media has caught onto the possible dangers of horror films featuring characters with mental health issues:
Affinity Magazine
CNN
The Guardian
The Mighty
The Verge
ABC
.MIC
Our group agreed that this issue is relevant to investigating the way the film industry represents groups of people and their responsibility to do so carefully.
I took some time to question whether of not this issue is too personal to me to be working on for an extended period of time in such an open way, eg with my peers. I do feel that I am likely to be more invested in my role as a researcher and that I can provide insight and instinct than someone who is disconnected from their subject matter. To make sure that my own experience only serves to inform our work rather than hinder it or my own health I decided the following:
- Our film should not attempt to represent or speak of behalf of everyone with Borderline Personality Disorder, there are many different possible symptoms and experiences had by patients and to attempt to represent this in a two and half minute film is not wise, possible or responsible to issues this sensitive.
- This film does not and must not reflect my experiences. No character will be based on me or my experiences, but instead I will use my experiences to inform a more critical and focused starting point from which to explore what we might do to question how Borderline Personality Disorder can be referred to in film.
- Our group will work as a whole to develop characters based on research that does not perpetuate negative stigmas towards those who suffer from mental health issues, prioritizing learning the best practices for developing and producing a short film rather than attempting to speak on the behalf of any group be it medical or otherwise.
So far speaking with the group to develop our initial ideas and protagonists character, I have been impressed and reassured by our groups maturity and sensitivity towards the subject matter. The films I have researched so far that feature mental health, preexisting documentaries based on BPD and trusted resources about BPD have been added to our references and resources page of our film treatment for us to refer to throughout the project.
We have been able to start discussing technical aspects and ideas without being overcome by the sensitivity of the subject. Everyone seems very eager to make a good film that accomplishes a goal that we have set independently of our brief, in questioning the representation of mental health in film. I am confident so far that this goal will make our development a more interesting process. I also feel that we are brave in choosing this topic and hope that it pays off!
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