BBC Fresh Profile: Hayley Dean and Jo Gill
Filmmakers Hayley Dean and Jo Gill explain why they made their film
Jo (left) and Hayley (right), say they were keen to give Jack (centre) a strong voice within their film.
Why did you pick this subject for Fresh?
We wanted to choose a topic that was thought-provoking and inspiring to young people, and also illustrated challenge and individualism in a positive light.
Disability is often thought of as a taboo subject. We felt strongly it should be highlighted as a different way of living through demonstrating what disabled youngsters are able to do, as opposed to concentrating on their physical appearances or condition. Specifically, we believe it is essential for young people to have an understanding of the reality of being disabled and how invigorating your life can be despite having a disability.
What motivated you to make this film?
Ultimately it was passion of the subject that originally motivated us. Meeting The Kimberley family, specifically Jack, pushed us to go with our gut instinct and try to create an inspirational film.
We wanted to share Jack’s story in the hope others will learn and relate to it. It was important to give Jack his own voice, as too often a narrator is used to establish a story that isn’t their own.
Disability is something we observe often in daily life but not something we all have to deal with on a personal level. It’s about making an audience aware of what is really is like to be differently abled. As demonstrated in the film, there are pros and cons, just as there are with a fully abled individual. In short, it’s about embracing what you have and can do in life.
What camera did you use to shoot your film?
Panasonic 151 camera kit and Sennheiser rifle mic kit.
Who/what inspires you?
Hayley: Nick Broomfield is a big inspiration. I find his documentaries particularly captivating and love the observational style of them. Culture and people inspire me as a filmmaker. I will learn about a person and their story and instantly want to tell it. Experiences trigger my ideas within filmmaking. Something will happen to me or someone I know and it will encourage me to share it with the world. Exploring and searching is also a huge part of my personal inspiration - looking for those stories hidden away in unusual places.
Jo: I think the strength and inner courage of people never fails to amaze and inspire me. When hearing different life stories, it dawns on me how amazing these people are despite not having the easiest start in life. Exploring this through documentary inspires me greatly as I take huge pride and enjoyment in giving people a voice that would not normally have been heard.
The bravery possessed by documentary film makers is also a huge inspiration. Filmmakers such as Danfung Dennis and Louis Theroux who dare to push contributors and stories to the limit in order to expose the reality of peoples lives is admirable, while also maintaining dignity and respect in every way.
What are your plans for the future?
Hayley: I hope to work abroad for a little while, indulging in different cultures and being out of my comfort zone, while exploring my creativity, crafting stories of my own and finding new ones in others to share. Working for a production company that specialises in creating innovative documentaries sounds like an ideal plan. I love directing and producing and have high aspirations for a career in this exciting industry.
Jo: After graduation, I hope to go on to to work as a production assistant in the hope I can develop my knowledge and skills further as a filmmaker, and ultimately discover the type of filmmaker I want to be. I hope that one day I can take my skills and knowledge to America, and collaborate with other filmmakers to produce successful and thought provoking films.
What is the most important thing you have learned so far?
Hayley: Trust. You need to trust your crew, your contributors and yourself, and vice versa. Relationships are key - without trust a documentary will fall to pieces. You are often being allowed intimate access into someone else’s life, now it’s up to them to trust you to tell their story. Patience is also essential. I’ve learnt that by keeping a camera rolling, you will capture moments of absolute gold.
Jo: To be open-minded. And never be afraid to follow a story through despite it not being the original idea or plan. Especially in documentary film making, we found on many occasions a story presented itself to us when we least expected it. Building a trusting relationship with your contributors and crew is key - the more intimate access you have the better the story. Also… always check equipment is working before you travel a million miles away to film!
