This document provides an introduction to and discussion of a research project about the representation of schizophrenia in films. It lists the mental health issues, symptoms, and stereotypes about schizophrenia that will be examined. Three focal films about schizophrenia are identified for analysis. The discussion section outlines questions to be answered about how mental health issues are portrayed in different genres and whether representations are typically positive or negative. The conclusion will consider whether film portrayals are becoming more accurate and less extreme over time.

1. Representation of Schizophrenia

2. Introduction
1. The area of film I chose to research for my advanced portfolio is mental health issues.
2. Dementia or Schizophrenia?
3. What is Schizophrenia?
4. What are the symptoms?
5. What are the stereotypes?

3. Key Texts
• At the start of my research project I selected three focal films which all include schizophrenia. Two of
which I had previously watched and one I had not previously seen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZyBaFYFySk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iaYLCiq5RM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTe1xiBzAws

4. Discussion of research
Before I set out researching, I devised a list of questions I aimed to answer by using a range of
sources including: Films, internet, books, articles and documentaries.
1. Which mental health illness is most often avoided/represented in films?
• OCD, PTS, Autism, Clinical Depression, Dementia, Dissociative Disorder, APS + Schizophrenia
• Learning disabilities, Social anxiety and Phobias
2. Which genres are frequently used when exploring mental health?
• Horror and Comedy
3. If mental health illness is mainly represented positively or negatively?
• Negatively
4. How the micro elements can impact on the representation of mental health?
• Cinematography: POV shots and shift focus
Mise en scene: Every day clothes
Sound: Silence
Editing: Cuts and colour correction

5. Conclusion
1. Majority of mainstream films represent to the extreme
2. Are attitudes changing?
3. Science vs Film