Movie success of filmmaker who was told his ambitions were bipolar symptoms

When 19-year-old Jack Nolan was sectioned after suffering with delusions and psychosis, he was told to put his dreams of being a writer and actor on hold.

Then at university, studying film and television, he was told by doctors that his ambitions of making it were just another example of grandiose behaviour, associated with his bipolar condition.

Six years on, now aged 25, and Jack has written two books – On The Job and Dead Ends – about Manchester’s criminal underworld – and has just filmed a pilot based on one of them.

READ MORE: Mum dropped kids at their grandmother’s house in her Audi while over the limit from boozy night out with pal

“When I was in hospital, I dreamed about all of this,” Jack, from Oldham, told the M.E.N.

“I was told I was delusional by doctors and I understand why they said it because I had such a big vision for myself that they couldn’t see it for me at that time.

“But I held strong and kept telling myself that I would make it happen – no matter what.”

Jack’s condition was characterised by racing thoughts and voices, and obsessive behaviour, like hiding his passport and important documents inside the back of picture frames out of fear that someone would steal them.

But, after being hospitalised following two manic episodes, Jack clung to his ambitions – and used the time to make them a reality.

Altogether, Jack spent almost two months as an in-patient after being sectioned. During that time, he wrote his aspirations on the ward whiteboards.

Having worked as an actor for a few years by that stage, Jack was determined to progress in the UK film industry.

“During my breakdown, my mum checked my phone to find that I had called, emailed and texted different creative companies about trying to get into the industry,” Jack recalled.

“They were all throughout the early hours of the night. I was literally texting a person every second. My messages would also be extremely long.

“Once I was sectioned, my mum had to email the people in the industry that I had become friends and associates with, to advise them that I was in hospital and had had a mental breakdown.

“Everyone was very supportive and sent kind words back to my mum and messages were passed on to me.”

But coming out of hospital, it became a struggle for him to find work.

“I got blacklisted when I first came out of the hospital,” Jack said.

“No one wanted to be associated with me within the industry, no one wanted to give me the opportunities.

“But I already had this goal in mind and wasn’t prepared for it not to happen.”

Having sent off parcels to producers and directors containing his script, Jack decided to take matters into his own hands in 2020 and get production underway on the pilot for his film, which is a prequel to his 1960s-inspired book Dead Ends.

The pandemic and production hurdles threatened the project, but Jack kept on going, with the support of the network of understanding friends and colleagues he had found over the years.

“Over time, I was able to get a team that supported me in making it happen.

“I had to use a positive influence and a positive impact to try and get people to help me – friends, family and people in the industry all came together to help.

“My friend Aatif Ati Zafar at Amber Tint Films was essentially my co-pilot and he’s been massive in helping me make these dreams become a reality.

“Being bipolar, I’ve had to self-manage myself throughout this project and I’ve been really grateful for the opportunity to be my own boss.”

The pilot, all filmed under £2,000 and with actors volunteering their talent and time, was filmed across Oldham earlier this year.

While on set, Jack made a contact who has vowed to support the project in gaining interest from distributors.

It looks at the ‘deep, dark, dangerous’ reality of crime, Jack says, and the hope of ‘getting out on the other side’.

With the pilot in the can and a soundtrack in the works, Jack is hoping the production will inspire distributors and producers to bring the film to a mass audience.

“It’s a surreal moment for me,” Jack said.

“When I was in hospital, I’d write down all my dreams and goals on the whiteboards.

“I’ve had to live and breathe it but I really just had to have faith in myself and believe it could happen.

“It’s not something that’s just happened overnight – it’s been a ten year process.”

Jack has also tried to use his experiences for good by becoming a motivational speaker, running workshops under his own brand, You Can Become.

“It’s about levelling up your identity and showing that despite all of this adversity, you can become what you want to be,” he said.

“I had to hold strong and keep telling myself that I would make all of my dreams happen and that’s what I want to showcase to people.”

You can follow Jack’s progress on Instagram here.

READ MORE: Giving up the car and dreading the future – what surging petrol and diesel prices mean for people on the streets of Manchester

READ MORE: Met Office Greater Manchester weekend weather forecast with sunshine and showers

Sign up to the MEN email newsletters to get the latest on sport, news, what’s on and more by following this link