Constructed across the putting picture of a candle flickering in a storm, The Candle explores the fact 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 will be. Our brains are able to doing essentially the most extraordinary issues, and but, with the proper storm of things, every part can seemingly crumble into damage. 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 repeatedly that with the fitting assist programs, encouragement and endurance, these items will be appropriately managed and even overcome.”
Sadly, not everybody will get entry to this aforementioned assist… or is even keen to hunt it out within the first place. Living proof, despair in males typically goes undiagnosed and untreated attributable to a mix of social expectations, lack of information, and cultural stigma. In any case, why would the group typically advised 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 robust visible motif of a candle flickering in a storm to embody the struggles of all those that don’t understand how or the place to show for assist. It’s putting, heartfelt and significant work, which, in keeping with Dr. Ogrodniczuk comes with a transparent function.
Collectively, we’re shining a light-weight via the darkness, reminding males in all places that assistance is right here, and hope is actual. You don’t should 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 necessary 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 had 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 means of articulating what I’m going via. It might be a results of my curiosity in storytelling, or maybe my conventional upbringing, the place males don’t usually 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 harmful. The concept resonated deeply with me. I talked about it with anybody who listened, and other people strongly reacted to it. A number of of them had goosebumps and that’s after 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 fitting accomplice for this enterprise?
I imagine we’re at a essential 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 an alternative of guiding us with the instruments to handle mental health issues. It’s essential to problem the standard narrative and normalise males in search of remedy, speaking about their emotions, and understanding that vulnerability doesn’t equate to weak point. In truth, it’s the alternative: energy comes from authenticity and acceptance, not from suppression.
Sadly, males hardly ever attain out for assist as a result of it’s, once more, seen as an indication of weak point… all whereas male suicide rates are excessive worldwide. This should change, and HeadsUpGuys was an apparent alternative. Its values and mission aligned completely with this mission. It provides academic sources, self-check instruments, and plenty extra.
Inform us about casting – what had been you on the lookout for, and the way did you discover the fitting individual to carry ‘The Candle’ to life?
First, I wish to say it was an unimaginable casting day. There have been many actors who genuinely cared concerning the subject and had been keen about contributing to the trigger.
By way of method, I knew the aim of this mission was to normalise remedy for males, so I believed, ‘OK, how do most males deal with psychological well being struggles?’. Most of them toughen up, construct partitions, and put on what they assume is impenetrable armor. I wanted somebody who may seize that power.
When Steve Kuca walked into the room, we had a quick dialog, and I instantly knew he was the one. He had the proper mixture of sensitivity and the fitting bodily presence to embody such a personality. On prime of that, he’s an extremely devoted actor. He at all times wished to do one other take… after which one other one. Working with him was an absolute pleasure.
crew is equally necessary to any mission – who did you’re employed with to carry this to life?
I had a tremendous crew of people that actually cared concerning the mission. We scouted the situation a number of instances with my cinematographer, Mat Barkley, and my manufacturing designer, Alex Kennedy, attempting to determine the very best time and circumstances for the shoot. We didn’t have giant followers to simulate storm circumstances, however fortunately, a lot of the photographs had been tight sufficient to get away with some leaf blowers, which Alex needed to chase the expertise with on the day.
Inform us concerning the shoot! How lengthy did it take, the place did you movie, and what was the expertise like? Do you might have any anecdotes from on set?
Our first location was Toronto’s Woodbine Seashore. We arrived at round 4 within the morning to set every part up earlier than the blue hour. And after about two hours of rehearsing blocking, we patiently waited for the solar to look 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 received to get 5 photographs and also you’re solely going to get two.” Nicely, the identical might be mentioned for a dawn… solely we had about eight photographs to get. With every new shot, we needed to hold decreasing the ISO. It was hectic, however one way or the other we managed to get every part we would have liked. I’d even say it felt like every part was working in our favour – a flock of seagulls flew proper into the shot as in the event that they had been ready for ‘motion’. It was good to see sea-faring birds supporting males’s psychological well being.
Once we received the final shot, it began raining closely (which was good 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 vans. It took 4 of us to push the cart, and at that second, I believed it felt like 4 Sisyphuses had been pushing a single rock. I cherished 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 may inform each the digicam actions and the color palette of the set. The situation had stunning churchlike home windows, and we determined they need to be the important thing factor 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 part.
When it got here to aesthetics and the feel and appear, what had been your fundamental goals and ambitions, and the way did you obtain them via lighting and color?
The seashore needed to really feel a bit otherworldly, like one thing from a dream or a fantasy. Seashores already carry that timeless high quality – water has been right here lengthy earlier than us and can stay lengthy in spite of everything of us are gone – however I feel the anomaly 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 dying. The tornadoes, as I discussed earlier, signify the existential menace to the delicate flame of the candle.
Throughout the board, how closely did the ultimate movie depend on VFX? And as an entire, what was the publish course of like?
The tornadoes had been the one VFX shot we had exterior of extra 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 unimaginable 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 glints, as if it’s working 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 reduce was completed, 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 respect the crew’s endurance and need to experiment).
Additionally, sound was essential. The deafening, overwhelming storm wanted to suggest hazard the second we opened the spot, revealing data that we couldn’t see due to how tight the photographs had 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 refined 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 might have any classes discovered from the making of this new marketing campaign?
All the time 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 mission, and I feel I’ll be studying it till my final one.
Lastly, are there any components of the mission you’re notably pleased with? And why?
I’m proud that we introduced this mission to life, and I’m pleased 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 issues over males’s psychological well being and are able to do one thing about it. However all of us must be keen to do one thing about it. We should act earlier than it’s too late.
