Watch Now: How Media Portrayals Shape Health Understanding at SXSW

At this year’s South by Southwest, Project Sleep joined a conversation about how entertainment influences the way people understand health and disability. Hosted at Axios House by Axios and supported by Harmony Biosciences, the session explored how storytelling in film, television, and digital media can shape real-world perceptions of medical conditions.

The discussion featured actor and disability advocate RJ Mitte, Project Sleep’s President & CEO, Julie Flygare, JD, and oncology expert Debra Patt, MD, PhD, MBA.

The Impact of Entertainment Media on Health Awareness

For many people, entertainment media is their first exposure to a health condition. These portrayals can shape public understanding, influence stigma, and even impact how individuals recognize symptoms or make healthcare decisions.

Why Accurate Health Representation Matters

Actor and philanthropist, RJ Mitte, known for his role on Breaking Bad, emphasized that authentic representation begins long before filming begins:

“It starts in the writing room… if you’re writing stories that represent other people, you have an obligation to do your research and hear from people with lived experience.”

         – RJ Mitte

When portrayals rely on stereotypes, he noted, the impact can be deeply personal for viewers who live with those conditions.

How Media Influenced a Sleep Disorder Diagnosis

Julie Flygare shared how media portrayals influenced her own understanding of narcolepsy. When unexplained symptoms began in her early twenties, she never considered narcolepsy because it was often portrayed in Hollywood as a joke or put down.

“What if the only person you know with a condition is a fictional character?”

– Julie Flygare

Experiences like this inspired Project Sleep’s Sleep & Hollywood Initiative, which works with storytellers to encourage more accurate portrayals of sleep disorders in entertainment.

The Real-World Impact of Health Narratives

Debra Patt, MD, PhD, MBA, Executive Vice President of Policy & Strategy at Texas Oncology brought a clinical perspective, explaining that sensational portrayals of illness can sometimes drive fear-based health decisions. She emphasized the importance of preventive care and consulting medical professionals when evaluating symptoms.

Changing the Narrative

As the session highlighted, collaboration between healthcare experts, advocates, and the entertainment industry can improve how health conditions are portrayed on screen. When storytelling reflects real experiences, it can reduce stigma, increase awareness, and help people recognize when to seek medical care.

More on Sleep in Hollywood