Interviews Maryann DeLeo, director of the documentary film
'Bellevue: Inside Out.' Difficulty in filming the documentary; Comments
on the hospital's psychiatric emergency room; What inspired her to do a
documentary about a psychiatric emergency room.
By
PT Staff, published on May 01, 2001
MEDIA
PT SENIOR EDITOR CARIN GORRELL TALKS WITH MARYANN DELEO, DIRECTOR
OF THE DOCUMENTARY, BELLEVUE: INSIDE OUT.
Since mental institutions became cheap entertainment in
17th-century London, society has been intrigued by psychiatric wards.
Now, for the first time, a camera crew has captured a year in the life of
Bellevue Hospital's psychiatric emergency room. Produced by Cable Ace
Award nominee Sarah Teale and directed by two-time Emmy Award-winner
Maryann DeLeo, the documentary will air May 6 on HBO.
Carin Gorrell: Was it difficult to gain access to Bellevue?
Maryann DeLeo: Yes, it took two years. We came to the agreement
that we could film as long as the psychiatrist said that the person was
capable of giving their permission. We really had to be guided by the
psychiatrists.
CG: What did you think of Bellevue?
MD: I was amazed at the patience and continued care. So many people
would return to the hospital with the same problem again and again, and
[the doctors] never gave up. They told me, "Maybe this will be the time
that this patient says, `Now I really want help.'"
CG: Were you concerned that your presence would affect the
patients?
MD: Any time you're filming anybody's life, it definitely has an
effect. But I think they felt good to talk about what it's like in a
mental institution.
CG: Did you find it hard to remain emotionally detached?
MD: I always do. But I don't find it a problem. It usually makes
the film better because you care about the people and want to enable them
to tell their story.
CG: What inspired this documentary?
MD: In the beginning I was hesitant, thinking, "A psychiatric
emergency room? I'm going to spend a year there?" There really is a
stigma attached to having a mental illness. I thought it was important to
show that people with a mental illness are in some ways just like anybody
else.
ILLUSTRATION (COLOR)
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psychiatric emergency room,
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teale,
time emmy award,
time emmy award winner
