Danielle

Please provide a brief summary of your research.
How can navigating depression, though personally nuanced, be reframed through a whimsical dramedy series to make viewers feel less isolated and contribute to the de-stigmatization of mental health on screen? Over the summer, I investigated the ways in which depression, anxiety, and grief interact with our daily lives and relationships, and how these experiences can be depicted on TV in a way that promotes a sense of community and healing. The purpose of my research was to aid the development of my own TV series, Equanimitea: a dramedy in which a pair of siblings are tasked with unpacking the mess and mystery of their mother’s disappearance. While running their mother’s tea shop, they discover a discrete syrup she created to help patrons become temporarily invisible. Over the course of my grant period, I explored literature on emotional connection and mental health, analyzed the story telling techniques of various TV comedies, and spoke with mental health professionals who advised the development of my story and characters. While utilizing these resources to write the pilot episode of my series, I began to unravel my own thoughts on what it means to make yourself invisible/seen and what I would like my work to contribute to the ever evolving conversation of mental health on screen.

What made you initially interested in researching your project in particular?
During the school year I began developing my TV series as part of the inaugural cohort of the Pritzker Pucker Studio Lab for the Promotion of Mental Health via Cinematic Arts. Wanting to create something meaningful and conscientious, I sought out additional time and opportunities to further the research and development of my series. I felt that beyond my own experiences with depression there was a lot more to learn about how those feelings might manifest in people of different backgrounds and personalities. Additionally, I was interested in how they live with in the dynamic of a dysfunctional family where addiction and feelings of grief and anxiety are also part of the mix. I also wondered how comedy might play a role in all of that. There were many layers of my project that needed further exploration.

What made you interested in pursuing (interdisciplinary) research more broadly?
Media, particularly film and television, has a huge impact on our perception and our understanding of the world we live in. When it comes to mental health, I feel there is an intrinsic responsibility that creators have to build something that is not only compelling, but also accurate and thoughtful. To do this, it is essential to dive into a realm in which you are not an expert and seek out the guidance of those who are. For me, that was finding the connections between psychology, mental health and screenwriting.

Describe your experiences with research thus far. Was it tricky? What skills do you think you’ve gained?
The trickiest part of my research was figuring out what questions to ask and setting goals that were realistic and attainable. This summer, I learned a lot about my creative process as a writer. Initially, I felt overwhelmed by the massive ideas and expectations I had set and I found myself having to slow down and pick apart my thoughts little by little. Though I was impatient at times, I learned that it is okay to share pieces of my work that are still in progress. Often times seeking the input of others (some who perhaps have nothing to do with your field) or just simply thinking out loud helped me dissolve some of my mental road blocks while writing.

Any tips or advice you have for students similar to you that are interested in pursuing undergraduate research?
Just go for it! You’d be surprised how far one thought or question can take you. Don’t worry if your research takes you somewhere different from what you initially proposed. It can often be more exciting when you end up learning or creating something unexpected.