“Offering participants the option to request changes or even opt out entirely” | Luke Lorenzen, A Still Small Voice

Every production faces unexpected obstacles that require creative solutions and conceptual rethinking. What was an unforeseen obstacle, crisis or just an unpredictable event that you had to react to, and how did that event affect or make you rethink your film?

I started this project with an interest in further developing my ability to connect and build trust with the people I photograph. But it became clear that the depth, connection, and intimacy that I felt would be central to this story could only happen if the participants (chaplains and patients) felt safe and comfortable sharing deeply personal moments on camera in a way that which surpasses anything I have shot before. Offering participants the opportunity to request changes or even remove themselves from the project entirely if their comfort level changes over time has become a central part of fostering trust, comfort, and collaboration. Granting this right from the outset of a project was new to me as a director, and I felt uncomfortable at first despite my feeling that this was the right approach given the delicate nature of the project. Over time, this more open process during shooting and editing led to a special kind of collaboration that made possible what I believe to be a common level of intimacy in the final film.

See all the answers to our annual Sundance question here.