Private Project

Dan Behind His Eyes

3 worst letters of the alphabet: ALS
3 creative letters of the alphabet: ART
3 inspirational letters of the alphabet: DAN

This award-winning documentary short, Dan Behind His Eyes, is an inspirational film that shows the truth of ALS, but not the defeat, as we experience a day with Dan & Gina, filled with love, courage and ART.

  • Sheri Kebbel
    Director
  • Sheri Kebbel
    Writer
  • Dan Ellis
    Writer
  • Sheri Kebbel
    Producer
  • Nikki Willson-Associate Producer
    Producer
  • Dan and Maria Ellis-Executive Producers
    Producer
  • Michael "MC Serch" Berrin- Co Executive Producer
    Producer
  • Dan Ellis - Himself
    Key Cast
  • Gina Ellis - Herself
    Key Cast
  • Maria Ellis - Herself
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    17 minutes 48 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 1, 2014
  • Production Budget:
    6,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    1080p
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16.9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • World Arts Film Festival ( work in progress)
    Jacksonville, FL
    April 11, 2013
  • Women's Intl Film & Arts Festival
    Miami, FL
    March 6, 2014
    Southeast Premiere
  • Gasparilla International Film Festival
    Tampa, FL
    March 22, 2014
  • Bare Bones International Independent Film & Music Festival
    Muskogee, OK
    April 4, 2014
    Southwest Premiere
  • Life Fest Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    June 13, 2014
    West Coast
  • American Psychological Association Film Festival & National Conference
    Washington, DC
    August 7, 2014
    Best Documentary Short Honorable Mention
  • Chagrin Documentary Film Festival
    Chagrin Falls, OH
    October 9, 2014
  • Enzian Theatre Film Slam
    Maitland, FL
    October 19, 2014
    First Place Best Short Film
  • Orlando Film Festival
    Orlando, FL
    October 25, 2014
    Nominated Best Documentary Short
  • Alexandria Film Festival
    Alexandria, VA
    November 8, 2014
  • Brouhaha Film Festival
    Maitland, FL
    November 22, 2014
    Best of Brouhaha Short Film
  • Florida Film Festival
    Maitland, FL
    April 19, 2015
Director Biography - Sheri Kebbel

Sheri is the founder and owner of Say True Films production company and is a managing partner in Gumbo Limbo Films, which is in development on a feature film, shooting in the Florida Keys 2016.

She directed and produced the short documentary film, Dan Behind His Eyes.
The documentary short won recognition from the American Psychological Association in Washington, DC and was featured at their APA national convention; it was nominated as Best Documentary Short at the Orlando Film Festival, and won first place at Film Slam and the Best of Brouhaha at the prestigious Enzian Theatre in Florida.

Sheri is the founder of the Young Professional Actors Group where she taught acting to children and teens who attended her classes from all over the state of Florida and then went on to launch and manage successful careers of a select group in Los Angeles. She also was invited to teach entertainment business workshop at the Master’s Acting Program at the University of Virginia

She is a member of the International Documentary Association and the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media and Women Make Movies, NYC.

Sheri has two daughters, Arielle Kebbel and Julia Kebbel, who both have successful professional careers in Los Angeles, California.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

DAN Ellis once told me, through his eye-gaze machine where he blinked every letter of every word, that he wanted to stay with us on earth for another 400 years if he could…even if it meant living completely locked in with ALS. I believed him.

DAN didn't have 400 years...he didn't have 400 days…but he had enough days to let his family and friends know there was still so much living to do; so much loving and laughing to do; so much ART yet to paint, and a documentary film to make.

I asked Dan if he could bring his voice to the film; if he would write, and then narrate, the opening of the film through his eye-gaze machine. He didn't hesitate with his YES. It was just that way with him. Dan blinked a million times a day…which always, throughout a day, included his YES. As you watch and listen to the opening of this film, he gives us, what took many, many days of this YES~

Thank you for watching and sharing in one of Dan and Gina's ART days together~
Sheri Kebbel