Constructed across the hanging picture of a candle flickering in a storm, The Candle explores the truth of male suicide, suppression of feelings, and the cultural stigma that stops so many males from asking for assist.
Whenever you get all the way down to it, it’s stunning simply how fragile our psychological well being actually might be. Our brains are able to doing essentially the most extraordinary issues, and but, with the right storm of things, every little thing can seemingly crumble into wreck. It’s a fittingly scary prospect – Dr. John Ogrodniczuk, founding father of HeadsUpGuys, describes it as:
Feeling alone in a relentless storm, combating to carry onto that final glimmer of sunshine in your life” – however in the end, it’s been demonstrated again and again that with the best help methods, encouragement and endurance, these items might be appropriately managed and even overcome.”
Sadly, not everybody will get entry to this aforementioned assist… or is even prepared to hunt it out within the first place. Living proof, despair in males typically goes undiagnosed and untreated as a consequence of a mix of social expectations, lack of know-how, and cultural stigma. In any case, why would the group typically instructed repeatedly to ‘man up’ and suppress feelings ever admit they’re not OK, particularly with the information that they could be judged harshly and even shamed for it?
That is one thing that Revolver Movies director Oleksandr Herasymenko chooses to unpack in his newest movie, ‘The Candle’. Rooted in his personal expertise with remedy, in addition to the challenges that may typically include being a person who should acknowledge and confront inner vulnerability and sensitivity, this PSA – created in partnership with HeadsUpGuys – utilises the sturdy visible motif of a candle flickering in a storm to embody the struggles of all those that don’t know the way or the place to show for assist. It’s hanging, heartfelt and significant work, which, in response to Dr. Ogrodniczuk comes with a transparent goal.
Collectively, we’re shining a light-weight by the darkness, reminding males all over the place that assistance is right here, and hope is actual. You don’t must climate the storm alone.”
Q&A with the Director
Revolver Films director Oleksandr Herasymenko speaks with Little Black Book’s (LBB’s) Jordan Won Neufeldt about making a reminder to not climate storms alone, and why it was particularly essential to create such a message at this particular second in time.
From the highest, the place did this concept for ‘The Candle’ come from? Why was this one thing you have been eager to create?
The concept is rooted in my expertise with therapy over the previous two years. I typically battle to place adjectives to my feelings, so I flip to tales and fairytales – my very own private mythology – as a approach of articulating what I’m going by. It could possibly be a results of my curiosity in storytelling, or maybe my conventional upbringing, the place males don’t sometimes categorical their emotions. (Or possibly it’s a little bit of each).
‘The Candle’ began with a easy juxtaposition: a candle and a storm. I used to be drawn to the distinction between one thing fragile and one thing fierce and damaging. The concept resonated deeply with me. I talked about it with anybody who listened, and other people strongly reacted to it. Just a few of them had goosebumps and that’s once I knew – this was it.
Particularly, what made getting this PSA in entrance of public eyes such a excessive precedence, and why was HeadsUpGuys the best associate for this enterprise?
I consider we’re at a vital level for males. There are only a few optimistic function fashions, and people who do exist typically lead us astray, mobilising our vulnerability for their very own monetary or political achieve as a substitute of guiding us with the instruments to deal with mental health issues. It’s essential to problem the standard narrative and normalise males searching for remedy, speaking about their emotions, and understanding that vulnerability doesn’t equate to weak spot. The truth is, it’s the alternative: energy comes from authenticity and acceptance, not from suppression.
Sadly, males not often attain out for assist as a result of it’s, once more, seen as an indication of weak spot… all whereas male suicide rates are excessive worldwide. This should change, and HeadsUpGuys was an apparent selection. Its values and mission aligned completely with this undertaking. It gives instructional assets, self-check instruments, and much extra.
Inform us about casting – what have been you on the lookout for, and the way did you discover the best individual to convey ‘The Candle’ to life?
First, I wish to say it was an unbelievable casting day. There have been many actors who genuinely cared in regards to the difficulty and have been enthusiastic about contributing to the trigger.
By way of method, I knew the purpose of this undertaking was to normalise remedy for males, so I assumed, ‘OK, how do most males deal with psychological well being struggles?’. Most of them toughen up, construct partitions, and put on what they suppose is impenetrable armor. I wanted somebody who may seize that vitality.
When Steve Kuca walked into the room, we had a short dialog, and I instantly knew he was the one. He had the right mixture of sensitivity and the best bodily presence to embody such a personality. On high of that, he’s an extremely devoted actor. He at all times needed to do one other take… after which one other one. Working with him was an absolute pleasure.
A very good crew is equally essential to any undertaking – who did you’re employed with to convey this to life?
I had a tremendous crew of people that actually cared in regards to the undertaking. We scouted the situation a number of instances with my cinematographer, Mat Barkley, and my manufacturing designer, Alex Kennedy, making an attempt to determine the perfect time and situations for the shoot. We didn’t have giant followers to simulate storm situations, however fortunately, a lot of the photographs have been tight sufficient to get away with some leaf blowers, which Alex needed to chase the expertise with on the day.
Inform us in regards to the shoot! How lengthy did it take, the place did you movie, and what was the expertise like? Do you’ve got any anecdotes from on set?
Our first location was Toronto’s Woodbine Seashore. We arrived at round 4 within the morning to set every little thing up earlier than the blue hour. And after about two hours of rehearsing blocking, we patiently waited for the solar to seem on the horizon.
There’s a well-known quote by David Fincher the place he says, “you don’t know what directing is till the solar is setting and also you’ve bought to get 5 photographs and also you’re solely going to get two.” Properly, the identical could possibly be stated for a dawn… solely we had about eight photographs to get. With every new shot, we needed to maintain decreasing the ISO. It was hectic, however in some way we managed to get every little thing we would have liked. I’d even say it felt like every little thing was working in our favour – a flock of seagulls flew proper into the shot as in the event that they have been ready for ‘motion’. It was good to see sea-faring birds supporting males’s psychological well being.
Once we bought the final shot, it began raining closely (which was excellent for the scene, in fact), however we had a cart filled with circumstances, stands and different heavy gear, and 500 metres of moist sand between us and our vehicles. It took 4 of us to push the cart, and at that second, I assumed it felt like 4 Sisyphuses have been pushing a single rock. I beloved that rock, and I hope the opposite three Sisyphuses did too.
As for the therapist’s workplace, I knew it needed to really feel like the exact opposite of the seashore, and that might inform each the digicam actions and the color palette of the set. The situation had lovely churchlike home windows, and we determined they need to be the important thing aspect within the composition. To distinction the chaotic, apocalyptic really feel of the seashore, we used extra static and dolly photographs right here.
In whole, it took us about 10 hours to get every little thing.
When it got here to aesthetics and the appear and feel, what have been your foremost goals and ambitions, and the way did you obtain them by lighting and color?
The seashore needed to really feel a bit otherworldly, like one thing from a dream or a delusion. Seashores already carry that timeless high quality – water has been right here lengthy earlier than us and can stay lengthy in any case of us are gone – however I believe the paradox of the story itself enhances this sense. Who’s the person? The place is he going? Why is he holding a candle? We don’t know. All we do know is that he should carry it, and it’s a matter of life and demise. The tornadoes, as I discussed earlier, signify the existential risk to the delicate flame of the candle.
Throughout the board, how closely did the ultimate movie depend on VFX? And as a complete, what was the publish course of like?
The tornadoes have been the one VFX shot we had exterior of further raindrops on close-ups. We tried many issues for this shot – an enormous wave, a small wave, one twister, 5 tornados – however one thing about three tornadoes felt proper. The crew at Pinky Swear VFX did an unbelievable job, and it was a privilege to work with them.
As for publish, I’m extraordinarily fortunate to have had the crew I did. Our colourist, Abe Wynen, tried to strengthen the oppressive blue to make the candle really feel much more fragile as its mild sparkles, as if it’s operating out of breath whereas attacked by the storm from all sides. And the workplace colors are heat and welcoming.
In the meantime, Michael Barker – the editor from Outsider Editorial – nailed the pacing. After some minor changes right here and there, the lower was accomplished, and we spent extra time speaking about life and sipping espresso than redoing the model that he had ready. (Then once more, Pinky Swear and I attempted many, many variations of the principle VFX shot earlier than we landed on the ultimate model. I recognize the crew’s endurance and want to experiment).
Additionally, sound was essential. The deafening, overwhelming storm wanted to indicate hazard the second we opened the spot, revealing info that we couldn’t see due to how tight the photographs have been. Then, that’s contrasted by the peaceable environment of the therapist’s workplace, the place the one issues you’ll be able to hear are a clock ticking and delicate wind that strikes the curtains. Because of our sound designer, Yuzhi Yan, for spending a lot time on it, in addition to Jakub Pietras, our composer from Poland, who wrote such a wonderful rating. The melody provides to the existential tone of the spot, which wouldn’t really feel the identical with out it.
Do you’ve got any classes discovered from the making of this new marketing campaign?
At all times make it as private as you’ll be able to.
Outdoors of that, put together. I’ve been studying that very same lesson since my first undertaking, and I believe I’ll be studying it till my final one.
Lastly, are there any components of the undertaking you’re notably happy with? And why?
I’m proud that we introduced this undertaking to life, and I’m happy with all people who contributed to it: Revolver, Outsider, RedLab, Pinky Swear, and plenty of different impartial artists made it potential. So many individuals share the identical considerations over males’s psychological well being and are able to do one thing about it. However all of us ought to be prepared to do one thing about it. We should act earlier than it’s too late.
