Hangman’s Hold; Stop running from Mental Health
Mental health has always been a topic that people can be scared to really get into, in regards to bringing up sensitive aspects. However, the only way to get rid of the stigma surrounding mental health is to talk about it, embrace it and begin to understand it, like any other illness. According to charity Mind, One in Four people in the UK will suffer with a mental health issue each year. That is a number worth talking about. That one person can be someone dear to you, simply spreading the word can make it more likely for someone to reach out and seek help. Whether this is through the media or in art form, there are always ways to spread the message. In this case, the film ‘Hangman’s Hold’ directed by Jordan Miller, really grabbed my attention. The story, the cinematography, fast paced editing and emotional meaning all fell together to form a story about suicide.
When I first watched the film, the obvious meaning to me was the character running from their fears and giving into their demons. Having the opportunity to talk to Miller, I found out the real intentions behind his film and his own experience with mental health.
Firstly, your film Hangman’s hold, what is the meaning you desired this film to portray?
The module unit was all about problem solving. I wanted to make a film about something that was personal and something that I was going through at the time. I thought this would be the best thing to do to show the way I was feeling.
Do you think it has had the response you wanted?
I think with any art you take it how you see it. So everyone is going to have a different perception on something. But I did want to subtlety include those themes. I could show it to someone who doesn’t understand mental health and they might not know what it happening. That’s fine, but then someone who might be going through a difficult time might look at it and say this makes complete sense. I feel more like an artist than a director; I want to be making art rather than mainstream films.
My interpretation of the film was the subject giving in to its inner demons. Hearing that, how does that make you feel?
Yeah definitely, originally it was not like that at all, originally it started with the scene where he’s in the afterlife and then it played the scene of him hanging himself. This was meant to represent a cycle that doesn’t end. Although it was pleasing to my artistic taste, I didn’t feel like anyone else would understand it. So I added that demon in and from there it developed more and I prefer this outcome. So yeah, this character is giving in to his demons and eventually they succumb to it. Now they have to live the rest of their life being linked to their demons.
What was the process of thought when coming up with this film idea? Did it link to something you had seen, or was it personal experiences and thoughts?
The whole theme is suicide and at the time I was feeling quite suicidal. But I suppose I wanted to reflect that in my work. It was also kind of a release for me, to be able to create it.
In the past you’ve made a film called ‘Roomrunner’, does this in any way link to ‘Hangman’s hold’?
Yeah it really does. ‘Roomrunner’ is about my anxiety and at the moment all my ideas are being based around mental health. It’s just a good release for what I’m feeling and making films do help. ‘Roomrunner’ is about anxiety and the second one, hangman’s hold is about depression and suicide. Any film I make in the near future is likely to be based on mental health as well.
Do you think your work in film has helped you achieve any personal goals?
I suppose that the goal I have achieved is that I am actually doing something that I enjoy. For a long time I had no idea what I wanted to do and choosing film has given me something that, I as a person can use to express myself. I usually find it really difficult to talk about my feelings, but with film I can basically show what’s in my head without having to physically tell anyone. If that helps someone else as well, then that’s fantastic. It also helps when I get a lot of praise for my work, which makes me feel better, like I’m doing something worthwhile. It really boosts my self-esteem and I think if I didn’t have that, then I would be really struggling all the time.
It’s hard to believe that even today, not enough people know enough about mental health to fully understand it. They do not understand symptoms and how to get help. That’s why using art can be seen to have such a big impact on some people’s lives, it’s the only way they know how to express themselves. Giving mental health a voice and ending the stigma is the goal, however, we as a community are still very far away from that goal.
There are subjects like mental health that will always have the stigma surrounding them; shallow minded people that will never want to learn to understand. The point is to fight for the people that need it the most, help them without looking at the negatives. In one negative there is a world of positives to look for. If anyone is suffering with a mental illness, help. If you are suffering and have been affected by any of the things that have been said, do not hesitate to call someone that can help. Any of the contacts below can be of assistance.
