Delirium was a project I had envisioned for a long time. I originally imagined it as a feature film because of the complexity of its subject: mental illness. The story was primarily inspired by bipolar disorder, so I spent months researching and interviewing psychiatrists and patients to portray it accurately and truthfully—while still giving it the artistic interpretation I envisioned.

I decided to challenge myself by making it my senior thesis project. That meant narrowing the concept and developing a short that would capture the emotional shifts within a brief timeframe. It’s one of the projects I’m most proud of—not only because of the subject’s depth, but also because of the incredible team behind it. From the actors, cinematographer, editor, and my co-producer—each of them believed in the project before there was even a script. I’m deeply grateful to all five and hope we get to collaborate again.

This project also allowed me to bring together many of my creative visions in a more abstract and experimental way. Since it was my final project as a student, I chose to shoot it on Kodak 16mm film and had it colored by Company 3.

I’m truly proud of the final product, the creative journey, and the collaborative spirit that brought it to life—over 80 people contributed to it in some way. But what’s meant the most to me are the messages I’ve received from people living with bipolar disorder who saw the film. They told me the depiction felt honest and respectful, and that they saw themselves in it. That, to me, is the most rewarding part of the entire process.