Profile: Thanos Perdikaris

Why did you pick this subject for Fresh?

Breathless deals with the very sensitive and difficult topic of cystic fibrosis and that is the main reason I chose it. I just wanted to give the sense of how a person with cystic fibrosis deals with everyday life in terms of anxieties and considerations. All in 9 minutes.

Around 9,000 people suffer from CF in the UK. Martin is one of them. He is 28 years old and fights every single day with this condition. He gave me access despite his situation and that’s admirable, because he exposes himself in order to raise awareness.

What motivated you to make this film?

The fact that most of the people around the world they do not even know what cystic fibrosis is. I just want to raise awareness about this condition.

What equipment did you use to shoot and edit the film?

Sony Z7 camera and Go Pro Hero2 for some shots. I used Final Cut Pro 7 to edit the film myself.

Who/what inspires you?

People inspire me - the dynamics of individuals' characters, their experiences, the issues they are dealing with. Every topic I pick, I adapt it towards people who participate in it.

What are your plans for the future?

I am about to finish my masters degree in Documentary Practice at Brunel University in west London. I intend to continue to give voice to people who really need it through my documentaries. I also wish to have the opportunity to communicate my ideas independently without any interventions.

What is the most important thing you have learned so far?

The more feedback you get from different people, the better. I have learned how important it is to listen to what people say about my work and consider the feedback and the comments creatively, in order to improve my technique.