Sylvia

In the summer of 2016, my daughter lost one of her best friends, 5 year-old Finnbar Cork, to an inoperable brain tumour. From the outset the situation always seemed hopeless, but when the day finally came and we heard the news that Finnbar had lost his battle, it shook our family and the network around us. Having never experienced any bereavement of this scale, I struggled to understand how Finnbar’s family managed to stay strong and hang onto the last remnants of positivity and hope.

Following the loss of Finnbar, I found myself reading a lot of online articles relating to child bereavement and that’s when I stumbled upon Sabrina’s story, on which Sylvia is based. Her story struck a chord because of the details within her heart-wrenching letter. The seemingly small things that only a parent could relate to, such as sticky spots on the seats, the crumbs on the floor, the go-to songs that everyone knows the words to. The things that as a parent, you find extremely annoying or mundane on a day-to-day basis, but in hindsight, these small details invoke emotion and tell a story.

After finally tracking down Sabrina, we spent 2 hours on the phone talking about her family and the tragic loss that she has suffered. Once again, I was struck by Sabrina’s resilience and positivity in the face of such a devastating situation. As a father of 2 girls, her fond memories of family moments spent in Sylvia resonated with me dearly and given her permission, I feel it’s now my responsibility to tell her story in a respectful, creative and thought-provoking manner.

Editing will be slightly off pace, incorporating awkward pauses to allow the audience to reflect and wonder why Sabrina, whilst trying to hold onto her past, isn’t quite herself. In order to best serve the sensitive subject, photography will comprise of cinemascope aspect ratio and minimal dynamic camera movement (apart from the aerial shots). I feel that this “low-key” photographic direction will enable the actors to tell the story in an authentic manner.
The tonality and aesthetic of Sylvia will again, be understated. A subtle grade of Orange and Teal with medium saturation will give a retro feel to compliment Sabrina’s reflective state of mind. Subtle colour temperature changes throughout the film will help shift the audience’s mood from the happier times, before Sabrina lost her family, to the reality of the present day.