Don't Forget To See Your Father

The germination of this film occurred by mere happenstance whilst haphazardly perusing a common online social news aggregate one morning. I stumbled upon a discussion thread where a man who was terminally ill was discussing ways to remain present in his son’s life after inevitably passing away. The idea was simple; create video recordings addressing eventual milestones his son would eventually encounter in life.

I had always wanted to tell a story that explored parental figures, and how their presence (or lack thereof) impacted one's upbringing. A very close friend of mine lost his father at a very young age and essentially became the man of the house in his teenage years. It truly intrigued me how he carried himself so maturely and unaffectedly. It didn’t seem like anything was off kilter when I first met him, but the wound cut very deep. Throughout the years, he became not only a dear friend, but somewhat of a father figure not only to me, but to all those around him. I truly wanted to understand how history shaped the man I grew to know.

We're all burdened with questions of how we will leave this world when our last breath leaves our bodies. Who are we leaving behind? How will this departure shape the lives around us? Is legacy predisposed, or controlled?

In the two years developing the story of this film I struggled with these questions, but it's completion has helped me come to terms with the answers. There is no blueprint, no script, no roadmap to ever prepare you for it. You just need to do the best you can.