“Connection” is a film that demonstrates a film making process based on positive interactions between the filmmaker and the collaborators of the film. The process involves two key strategies that are vital components in building strong relationships that allow intricate and personal stories to be told which would otherwise be lost.

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The first part of this strategy involves building a relationship with the people who are in the film. An example of this is the main character, Graham Roberts. Our relationship has grown over a decade and with that passage of time comes trust. Trust allows for the film to have a stronger impact, as sensitive subject matter can be discussed, and both “participant” and “filmmaker” can feel at ease. In regard to the other characters in the film the same approach was taken. I spent time building relationships with both Niall Leahy and Fr Brendan McManus prior to the start of filming along with the other pilgrims.  

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The second part of my filmmaking strategy acts to further build these relationships but this time through my filmmaking practice.  I adopted a “non-intrusive” but instead “inclusive” filmmaking practice. Parts of the film take place during sensitive occasions for the characters in the film. I would like to highlight the filming of mass as one example, and the interview with the main character at the end of their pilgrimage as another. In both these examples the ability to film and interact with a minimalist filmmaking strategy helped to further create a bond and trust to tell the characters story. During these examples I would use smaller cameras, sometimes even mobile phones to capture each moment. This offered a start contract to a more traditional method of filming which could include setting up lights, attaching microphones to the speaker and taking up space with a tripod. The filmmaking approach always prioritised the emotional well-being of the participants in the film