Winston Titus Tao

17 yr. old Russell Clayton has always loved photography. When he's given the chance to enter in to a school competition to win some prize money for Maggie, his 11yr. old sister, he takes the opportunity. Faced with a lack of food, and a grim living situation, the two siblings come up with a shot list that ensures their victory.

Diagnosed with Schizoaffective bipolar disorder when she was eighteen, all Jacob and his sister, Vivian, have ever known are years of trauma and heartache as they’ve seen their mom cycle in and out of mental hospitals due to her paranoia, delusions, and multiple suicide attempts. After Jacob learns that Daisy’s most recent bleach-drinking episode has put her back in the psych hospital, he once again tries to reintegrate her back home upon her release. However, Daisy’s delusional behavior and paranoia soon puts both Jacob and Vivian - as well as Vivian’s 16-month old baby - in jeopardy. Very Still, Very Quiet seeks to spotlight the constant revolving door families are going through when they try to get their mentally ill loved ones help. By crafting a humanistic film about this struggle, we feel we can help impart a deeper understanding of the complexities of the mental health system, and encourage more conversations regarding holistic models of care for the mentally ill.