Filmmaker Statement

Over the course of the pandemic, I would escape with my son to the local national park. It’s here I had the idea of making a film with him that reflected what many of us were experiencing, that is, a sense of isolation and separation from our families, and the growing awareness of our mortality. The Shore is a film about the stages of life and how we must inevitably separate from our parents as we grow older, and in turn, our parents must be prepared to let us go. Having two young sons of my own has made me acutely aware of this cycle. I chose to shoot the film over an entire year, the seasons representing the stages of life. The shoot for the most part consisted of myself with a camera and my son, who stars as the boy. I took a stylistic approach to the storytelling and shot in B&W as I wanted the imagery to be symbolic and bold, and ultimately to get under people’s skin. Despite the film’s surrealistic approach, I hope it touches an emotional and universal nerve in the audience.