This is the story of a father’s devotion to his son in the face of serious mental illness. Peter plays a critical role in helping his son Derek’s journey with schizophrenia. As a caregiver, Peter worries about what will happen to Derek when he’s gone, working hard to stay healthy to be around for as long as possible.
I travelled to Ontario, Canada, to shoot with Derek and his family. Balancing the sensitivity of capturing a deeply personal topic, and gaining the trust of the family, and yet ensuring I captured the emotional context and a diverse range of actuality to build up the picture of Derek’s life, was key to success.
John Harding 