Grace Griffith, originally from Wandiligong, interviewed 19 people about their experiences in But You Look Okay, a collaboration with Danielle Schultz now available online.

The pair met when Griffith wrote an article on Schultz, who has Crohn's disease, for a Gippsland newspaper last year.

"She wanted to shine a light on this hidden disease and because it doesn't present with really obvious physical symptoms it is something that a lot of people don't really know about," Griffith said.

Inflammatory bowel disease occurs when parts of the digestive tract become damaged by prolonged inflammation.

According to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, the two most common types, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are serious chronic illnesses with no known cause.

Symptoms include diarrhoea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, tiredness, fever and weight loss and the disease can flare unpredictably.

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"It affects so many aspects of your body," Griffith said.

"It's not just your bowel, it can cause extreme fatigue, horrific pain, it can lead to other inflammatory illnesses such as arthritis, it can affect your eyes.

"It's such a sinister illness and in the background, it's sort of working away and attacking other aspects of your body and that to me, I found particularly shocking."

The book's 19 interviewees came from across Australia and included Griffith's own mother, Kim Griffith, of Wandiligong, who was diagnosed with microscopic colitis in 2018.

"Interviewing my mum was something very special," Griffith said.

"She's been a pillar of strength for me and everyone around her, despite being the one who is ill.

"She's taught me that adversity can be transformed into opportunity, so to be able to tell her story and share it with others is something I'm exceptionally proud of."

The frustration caused by others' lack of understanding of inflammatory bowel disease became a recurring theme in the book.

"Everyone around them assumes that they're doing perfectly OK when, you know, inflammation is wreaking havoc on their insides and causing huge amounts of pain," the interviewer said.

Those living with the illness also warned about the side effects of taking steroids, which are often prescribed as a treatment.

Griffith said But You Look Okay tried to break down the stigma surrounding the embarrassing nature of the disease, such as diarrhoea and stoma bags.

"Above all, it aims to give hope that there is life after diagnosis with this chronic disease," she said.

"While the illness may be for life, it doesn't have to control a person's life."

Proceeds from But You Look Okay, which is available in paperback and hardcover at butyoulookok.org, will go towards inflammatory bowel disease research and support.

Coronavirus restrictions hampered plans for a big launch but also allowed Griffith more time to stay at home and finish writing the book.

A graduate of Swinburne University's film and television degree, Griffith shot her short World War I film Fallen in Wandiligong and Bright in 2017.