Letter from the Filmmaker

Letter from the Filmmaker

There are only a few things in life that can compare to the experience of giving your full attention to an honest film. An honest film asks of an audience what nature requires when venturing into the wilderness - to explore outside of the known, to be open to experience, to be present to what is happening, to be aware of the mystery in everything, and above all, to be truly awake.  When it’s over, maybe all that’s left is an image of redemption, or an unspoken understanding, or a singular gesture, or a moment of clarity (…as opposed to a tidy, forced, fully disposable ending).   Sometimes such truthful moments resonate and open us to something greater – leaving us to integrate the experience into our heart. Perhaps we gain a deeper understanding of the human condition, or begin to ask greater questions in our own lives.  To have any impact at all, such honest films require the deepest kind of attention. 

WILLIAM AND JULIE:  How could it be that after 40 years together, somehow William and Julie have lost sight of each other and are picking each other apart?  What could lead Julie to poison her husband?  What is the source of their conflict? How dark must it get before change can happen? What if death was a possibility? These are some questions we journeyed with as this film unfolded during production.

THE CAST AND CREW:  White Knuckles results from a deep collaboration between myself, my crew and a terrific cast willing to take risks without feeling judged or vulnerable. Where Larry Strauss (who is currently suffering from Parkinson’s Disease) and Martie Ashworth take the hearts and minds of their characters is incredibly courageous and often feels uncomfortably real.  Their gritty depictions resonate with the kind of heartfelt honesty that is rare on screen, and their acting is the farthest thing from rehearsed ‘performance’.  And what Larry Strauss delivers as a man feeling his mortality in this swan song of his career - is unforgettable. 

THE PROCESS:  Together, myself and the cast further explored a process of guided dramatic improvisation that we have found to be more organic and fulfilling than conventional filmmaking for every artist involved.  As the adventure of this couple became our shared journey – we nurtured a collaborative environment where the story could be shaped through the living present and (not just the screenplay). Basically, the idea was to create, seek out and discover moments of deeper understanding between Julie and William that could not have been pre-determined.   By design, I took the scripts back before the end of production and opted to capture the remarkable conclusion of Julie and William exactly as it happened.

Kevin K. Shah

Writer/Director/Producer