“The Both of Me” By Brandon Lavoie

Chuck Nelson, a third-generation coal miner, reflects on the industry that built and destroyed his life.

The short film IN MEDIAS RUSH is an experimental cinematic journey into the depths of a manic mind. A poetic retro-sci-fi narrative unfolded in a string of unsettling tableaus that encapsulates the male protagonist’s ambiguous feelings about his birthday. While balancing between realities in his silent struggle with severe mental illness, we plunge into the film at a neatly orchestrated birthday party. The protagonist is accompanied by his girlfriend, and they are drinking cocoa on the couch in their mutual home. The setting breathes pure perfection, but through the voice over we sense that another reality is soon to be revealed. With one foot on the accelerator, he is heading towards the edge. The thematic focal point of IN MEDIAS RUSH is mental health problems among young adults, and the social/personal consequences related to the existing taboo on the subject. The film wishes to formulate an honest cinematic space in which words, sound, and image artistically interprets and articulates some of the perspectives related to especially bipolar, anxiety, and psychotic disorders. IN MEDIAS RUSH was nominated in the category 'Best Danish Short Film' at Copenhagen Short Film Festival in 2020. Original title: IN MEDIAS RÆS Directed by: Esben Persson -------------------- DK: IN MEDIAS RÆS IN MEDIAS RÆS er en filmisk rejse ind i dybderne af et manisk sind. En ung mand fejrer sin fødselsdag, mens hans tanker tordner afsted. Med en uvillig fod på speederen har han kurs mod kanten. FR: IN MEDIA RES IN MEDIA RES est un voyage dans les profondeurs d’un esprit maniaque. Un jeune homme fête son anniversaire tandis que ses pensées se multiplient. Malgré lui, il se dirige vers un point de non-retour. -------------------- Cast: Peter Alexander Bach & Amanda Overby Drew Director // Script writer // Set designer // Costume designer // Editor // Speaker: Esben Persson Photographer // Editor: Lasse Mølsted Producer: Latifa Lykke Ben Mabrouk Assistant producer: Cecilie Creutsberg Music composer: Martin Bejder Sound designer: Mads Hye Chief Lighting Technician: Rasmus Bruun Liboriussen VFX: Jonas Fonnesbæk Lodahl Colorist: Kristopher Paterson Graphic designer: Jakob Toft Kristensen -------------------- Shot on RED Monstro 8K with Lomo Squarefront Anamorphics.

It's difficult for me to put together one cohesive statement about “The Both of Me”. It's a project that myself and Brady spent the better part of 6 years working on. I was first introduced to Chuck in the Fall of 2014 and Brady and I first went down to meet and spend time with him in Spring 2015. Then again in Winter 2016. We'd film some footage each time, but as I look back on it now, those first couple trips really helped us gain Chuck's trust. We built a strong friendship with him and as the next couple years passed he became like family to the both of us. Even when we had to pause due to his health, we never stopped speaking with him. He'd call us to talk about life and we'd do the same.

Eventually, Brady and I decided that if we were going to make this film, we were going to do it the right way - in a way that emboldened Chuck, in his own words and with the visuals his story deserved. With the project paused, we had time to save up from a bunch of the little jobs we were doing. We were learning and maturing as storytellers... And as I look back on it now, I know we couldn't have made the same film a few years back. When we went down to West Virginia the week before New Years in 2019, it just felt right. It all happened the way it was supposed to - the definition of a passion project.

I feel eternally grateful that Chuck entrusted us with his truth. He will always be a hero of mine.

Brandon Lavoie - Director

Credits

Director, Writer: Brandon Lavoie
Executive Producers: Brady Darragh, Brandon Lavoie, Jared Levy
Producer: Ivan Lafayette
Associate Producer: Chris Bellizzi
Production Company: Lindytown
Director of Photography: Jared Levy
A-Cam Operator: Jared Levy
MoVi Operator: Sam Wood
1st AC: Andrew Peister
Sound Recordist: Jose Gorritti
Gaffer: Alex Rizzo
Key Grip: Shepherd Lashley
Grip: Andrew Jordan
Drone Services: Flying Monster
Drone Pilot: Dexter Kennedy
Drone Cam-Op: Jared Levy
Drone Tech: Andrew Peister
Editor: Brady Darragh
Original Score: Jonathan Sigsworth
Visual Effects: Casey Drogin
Additional Visual Effects - Lindytown Sequence: Carbon VFX
Carbon Flame Artist: Michael Sarabia
Carbon Executive Producer: Laurie Adrianopoli
Sound Design & Mix: DEFACTO
Post Sound Producer: Samantha Schneble
Color: Nice Shoes
Color Producer: Serena Bove
Colorist: Phil Choe
Color Assistant: Zachariah Lewis

Hey filmmakers! Have a project of your own you’d like us to check out?