The Directors: Anthony

The Directors: Marcus

The Directors: Mark

The Directors: Lucy

The Directors: Stephen

The Directors...

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What's Going On? Marcus

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Preview of film

My story begins when I was at sixth form college in the 1990s and started using illegal drugs. I had a very ‘laissez faire’ attitude to life and an undiagnosed borderline personality disorder. In short, I was reckless with my drug use. I did so many magic mushrooms in a short space of time, it took me more than two weeks to recover from the digestive problems caused by the binge The two-week recovery time gave me my first taste of psychosis but sadly, it wasn't going to be my last. 

My psychosis was born out of drug use, and drugs weren't done with me yet. I realise now that it could have all been avoided. One fateful night, I had a complete psychotic breakdown which led to social anxiety disorder and agoraphobia. The sensations and hallucinations I experienced during a three-day drug binge were cemented together with my anxiety disorders forever. 

It wasn't until 2010 that I finally found something that worked and helped me manage my psychosis, and that was through managing my anxiety disorders. Graded Exposure Therapy (also known as Exposure Therapy) has made the biggest difference to my life. This method has changed my quality of life so dramatically. Nothing else has ever come close. I went from experiencing multiple episodes of full-blown psychosis every single day, to rarely ever having a full episode. I still have very minor hallucinations, but I can manage those without it affecting my daily life. 

You can learn more about Graded Exposure Therapy by clicking here. Another great place for information and support regarding mental health is Mind.

Marcus' story

The Directors is a collaboration between artist Marcus Coates and five individuals in recovery from different lived experiences of psychosis.

Artangel's Associate Director Michael Morris interviewed each Director on set. These audio files record their thoughts and feelings about the process of production.

The Directors Interview: Marcus by Artangel

After the film was shot, Michael Morris interviewed Marcus on set, capturing the director's thoughts and feelings on the process of production

Audio interview

Michael Morris interviewing Marcus Coates on the set of the film The Directors: Marcus (2022).

Commissioned by Artangel.

Find out more at artangel.org.uk/project/the-directors

Marcus Coates on the set of The Directors: Marcus

After the film was shot, Michael Morris interviewed Marcus Coates on set, capturing the artist's immediate reflections on his experience