Experiencing Interruptions?

Do Not Go

As a young man cares for his ailing father he must let past resentments go and love his father from the man he was and is.

  • Cameron Anderson
    Director
  • Carlo Marks
    Writer
  • King Louie Palomo
    Producer
    Crossroads, Salva Nos, Seeing Love, Lost Beneath The Stars
  • Gary Marks
    Producer
  • Carlo Marks
    Key Cast
    3 Times a Charm, Pretty Little Liars, Smallville, SGU Stargate Universe
  • Gary Marks
    Key Cast
  • Jaclyn A. Smith
    Key Cast
    Hiccups, Eureka, Gone, American Pie: Beta House, American Pie: The Naked Mile, Tightrope
  • Bryan Eng
    Production Designer
  • Matthew Chung
    Original Music Composer
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    December 8, 2015
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital 4K
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Cameron Anderson

Cameron Anderson is a graduate of the University of Victoria, where he studied theatre. After ten years of acting and production on stage, he became interested in film after a lifelong interest in documentary, and attended the Pull Focus Film School, where he received his Diploma in Documentary Film. He has directed or assistant directed several short documentaries across a wide range of subjects, including a choir for disabled adults, a circus school for teenagers, an examination of day jobs for semi-professional actors, and the struggles of an indigenous Vietnamese refugee. “Do Not Go” is Cameron’s first narrative fiction short film.

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Director Statement

When Carlo Marks and I first talked about making a film together, I didn’t care much about what that film would be about. I just wanted to make something, anything! I figured we’d do the best we could, learn on the job, and have a little something to show our friends at the end. However, the strength of the script, the skill of the actors, and the devotion of everyone involved simply would not allow this film to be insignificant.

Carlo Marks’ script is so full of the richness of human interaction. The character Gerald’s relationship with his father, Tim is beautifully nuanced, at times tender, combative, or downright hostile. The fact that Tim has dementia adds even more complexity. After all, how can you hope to build a relationship with someone who can’t remember the experiences you’ve shared, or articulate why you matter to them? It’s a very interesting challenge as a director, and we worked hard to build visual elements that illustrate the conflict between the two characters.

I’ve seen firsthand how difficult an illness like dementia can be on a family, as my maternal grandfather is currently in the late stages, while my paternal grandfather passed away due to Alzheimer’s. The strain it puts on a family, who have to cope with slowly losing a loved one while ensuring their safety and care, is a large burden that can cause turmoil and heartache. Who’s responsible? Who gives their time? Who pays the bills? The conflict between Gerald and his sister Terry is a stark reminder of the resentment that can grow in this difficult situation, even between loving siblings.

Ultimately, “Do Not Go” is a film about connection, understanding, and common ground. Learning how to be selfless for someone, how to be devoted to them, and what it takes to give yourself over to that devotion, is a bond that can be forged in the most unlikely ways. In this film, we explore what it means to love someone who may not be capable of loving you back, and how that struggle can be as important as any reward.