Filmmaker's Statement

Being a filmmaker in the end stages of ALS presents extraordinary challenges, as the disease systematically robs the individual of muscle function and the ability to speak. For a profession that relies on vision, communication, and hands-on collaboration, the near-total paralysis brought on by ALS means turning to trusted partners to realize a specfic vision. Every task, from writing scripts to providing feedback on edits, requires tremendous effort, incredible resilience, and patience… Lots of patience.

The once-seamless creative process becomes a monumental logistical undertaking, demanding innovative solutions, unwavering support from collaborators, and an uncommon level of dedication. Yet, for those like Patrick who are determined to keep telling stories, these obstacles only deepen the passion and underscore the enduring power of creative expression in the face of immense physical limitations.

A couple of years ago, Evan got an email from Patrick.

It was brief.

"Hey, do you want to make a film with me?"

And the script was attached. At its core was Patrick’s usual foray into the uncomfortable, but then there was the part about what happens on Wednesdays and Sundays. 

Evan’s thoughts as he wrote the treatment: 

“My biggest obstacle was how to stay true to Patrick’s vision, but then also how do we make a film about taking a shit that isn’t absolutely revolting?” 

In The Hemingway’s 9 minute run time Patrick and Evan set out to express the amount of effort it takes to simply write the first sentence of a script using an eye tracker. The pace is intentionally slow and frustrating. Once past that initial obstacle, they ventured into a narrative that was able to wander in and out of Patrick’s mind, follow a flow of creative consciousness that was trapped in a body that wouldn’t do as it was told anymore, while telling the story of a fallen comrade that touches on the regrets we all feel as humans.