MANIC MEMOIRS

My personal connection to bipolar disorder made it impossible not to make this project. Bipolar disorder is incredibly frowned upon in general, but in Peruvian culture, I grew up with the understanding that the word "bipolar" is frightening, synonymous with madness. People oftentimes reduce those with bipolar to just their disorder. They do not expect someone who is bipolar to be smart, useful, or god forbid, successful. Most media portrayals are frightening, and the reality of the statistics about bipolar disorder are not kind. Only 16% of bipolar individuals receive a college degree with bipolar students 70% more likely to drop out of college altogether. However, how can the tide change when all the popularized portrayals of bipolar disorder show either unsalvageable and deranged people or superhumans? Where is the middleman? If portrayals only show the disorder in a negative light, how can someone who is bipolar not get scared in a sea of statistics? How can the mold be broken if the media will not even show a truthful depiction of the disorder to promote mental health advocacy? Also, why are portrayals of mentally ill women promiscuous, and why are most of the people with mental illness on screen white? Are only some people entitled to treatment? These questions proved to me that there was a hole missing in the media that "Manic Memoirs" could fill. With "Manic Memoirs", I hope to bring viewers into the experience of someone bipolar who is an educated person of color. Anyone can have this disorder and is entitled to treatment. In watching the film, I hope the audience makes the painful discovery with Ana that something is wrong after quick, euphoric interactions. They should have a new view of what bipolar disorder is and what it looks like to better empathize with and help all those in need of treatment.