A true story of perseverance and progression.
One of the many perks of a job as a cinematographer is the places it takes you and the perspectives they give. In no other capacity would I have been introduced to Mark and I feel so grateful that I have. Mark has a condition known as retinitous pigmentosa which causes a slow loss of vision when inflicted. If unfamiliar think of it as your vision being like the out of focus area in a photograph. I would like as many people to watch this as possible so I don’t want to give too much away but this mini documentary for Goodwill tells about his life before and after his disability.
I would however like to take the opportunity to say how important it is as film makers that we connect with our subject. This is a man who is much older than me, lived a very different life and has a disability that I can’t even comprehend. Losing vision is truly my biggest fear but that wasn’t enough, it’s not human enough, it borders on sentiments of pity. Thats not connecting, it’s mourning and its not fair. Until I saw his daughter and I found some common ground I could connect to with this man. I have a daughter, I cherish the moments we are together and I often just stare at her. I stare at her eyelashes, her dimples, her gestures, the wave in her hair, her chin etc etc etc. I love her more than I’ve ever loved anything and it would crush me to not see every part of her as she becomes a woman. There it was, something in his story I could feel, I wasn’t just trying to understand him I found something that I could feel in my minds eye and it helped me highlight him and his story.
Technique/ Cinematography:
I really wanted to highlight Mark’s impaired vision when it came to the work scene. I cut the house lights and used one powerful Aputure panel above him to replicate a skylight on a bright day. Using a Sony A7SII and a wide open Canon 50mm 1.2 lens enabled us to shoot in such a dark environment. A haze machine was used to stylize the room and add more of the steam affect for the dishwasher.
Will Talamelli - Cinematographer Director DP
Founder/Owner Will Talamelli Films