Behind the Scenes: A Conversation During Quarantine About Depression and the Making of "Melancholia"
My interview with photographer Suzanne Rothmeyer and model Gina DeLeo-Stamey about "Melancholia" -- Rothmeyer's series of 8 conceptual photographs focused on depression.
Since I write regularly about mental health, I was introduced to a woman named Gina DeLeo-Stamey in 2019 by a mutual friend.
DeLeo-Stamey was featured in a photo series about depression by photographer Suzanne Rothmeyer, and upon seeing the images, I wanted to learn the backstory of the series.
Through research and interviews over the course of a year, I got to know DeLeo-Stamey and Rothmeyer and the details of their collaboration. We connected often -- via phone and electronic correspondence -- but this video documents our first face-to-face encounter. This was also the first time the photographer and model discussed the final images with each other.
Our meeting was held on Zoom during the COVID-19 global pandemic. It also happened during Mental Health Awareness month -- which came as an unplanned (yet welcome) surprise to all three of us.
Rothmeyer and DeLeo-Stamey called in from their homes in Anacortes, Washington. I called in from my home near Chicago. As you’ll see, I was seated on the floor of my bedroom between the bed and a wall during the call because a) others in my home were working and/or studying and b) I needed the strongest wi-fi and light in the house for the interview.
Much like a virtual art exhibit offering behind-the-scenes insights, we discuss, among many other things how "Melancholia" was created, how the photographer and model found one another, how depression has impacted the photographer, the model, and the journalist, and how each one of us views the images in this series.
Our collective hope is to launch many more conversations about depression, shedding light on how depression impacts those who suffer, as well as those who love them.
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The Making of Melancholia: A Visual Series About Depression
Gina DeLeo-Stamey addresses depression's impact on her as a mother: 21:45 to 24:30
Suzanne Rothmeyer's closing comments: 33:54 to 35:11
Christine Wolf's closing comments: 35:48 to 36:46
Gina DeLeo-Stamey's closing comments: 36:47 to 37:43
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Here’s the article I wrote about the Melancholia photo series, originally published on Medium.com.
Click here to contact Suzanne Rothmeyer.
Click here to contact Gina DeLeo-Stamey.
Click here to contact Christine Wolf.
Special thanks to author Barbara Wolf Terao for introducing me to the Melancholia series.
Resources
What you can do if you or a loved one is severely depressed:
Depression: Supporting a family member or friend
African Americans | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness
How to Help a Depressed Friend
What To Do When A Loved One Is Severely Depressed
If you are having thoughts of suicide, dial 988, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1–800–273–8255 (TALK), or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for a list of additional resources.