Eran and his team have been busy editing the raw footage since his return from Israel. We wanted to take a moment to provide a behind-the-scenes look at what has been happening recently.
The editing process is divided into two different stages. In the first stage, student Emilie Zuckerman completed the transcript of about 50 hours of shot footage. Eran then selected and structured the transcribed material. Once Eran was finished he sent it onto the film's assistant editor Andrei Litvinov. The second and final edit will be completed by Shashwati Talukdar. Shashwati, is a former graduate student and was the editor of "Patricia Baltimore". Shashwati, who is flying in from Taiwan at the beginning of October, will take the rough cut completed by Andrei and Eran and fine edit it. Eran and Andrei will then supervise the sound mix and the preparation for the creation of the broadcast quality final version.
At this point, the team has completed the 15 minute exposition and the chapters describing Jon's collapse in Israel which included: the army period before getting sick and Jon's AWAL from the army, crying for help in the Old City of Jerusalem, the trip to the mental institution,meeting his father in a Mental institution and flying back to the USA.
In progress are the illness up-and-downs and its impact on the family, juxtaposed with experiences of other caregivers and consumers, as recorded in the five community workshop sessions. As we travel through our son's case we touch on bigger issues of reality and Illusion in the private and public sphere.
Eran Preis
Caroline Guigar
Following his story, Mordechi listened with a warm smile. I asked my cinematographer to tape both of them. Mordechi who understood John's situation, asked him if the Rabbi noticed his special needs when he was there, and John remember a bearded Rabbi who talked to him. "The Fire of the Torah," is a special Yeshiva (religious seminary). We didn't have to wear a hat while sitting there. They accept anyone in need trying to help him get "born again". They did accept John on his first day, but during his night at the hostel and his second day at the seminary, he started feeling that everyone was talking about him. The Hebrew blessing , "be healthy" was interpreted by him as though they all knew that he was un healthy and that something is wrong with him. He left in the early night, he recalled. He started following two people whom he suspected of following him. He heard someone saying "the intelligence are coming" and he replied, "Please bring them on." Someone gave him a few more Shelels (Israeli money).
He called us at home in the US, and Andrea, his mother, told him to take a cab and go to a hospital. He did, and we followed him to "Hadasah" hospital. The emergency room had been renovated, and nothing looked familiar. From the hospital he was taken by a police car to a mental hospital called Aitanim. We drove there. This was the hospital where I saw John for the first time. We set on the bench where we first talked. I recalled thinking that John was manipulating us, and wasn't sick. I read to the camera parts of my journal. The old ward, ward A, was going through renovations and we were able to go inside. We shot John's walking... pacing, in a similar way he paced eight years ago. He showed us the bed he was chained to with another fat patient. He recalled how he and the other patient couldn't stop laughing the whole time. The belly of the other patient was shaking. Then chained him because he didn't stop mumbling, "It's not my fault, it's not my fault". They laughed about their "crazy" situation, being chained to the bed with green belts. Nothing changed for John.
I heard many of his "stories" in the past. They remained non-linear. The details were exactly the same. He was scared that the people he snitched on are still walking the streets of Tel Aviv. His level of concentration was extremely high. In a moment, outside the religious seminary, I could see his eyes moving all over looking for the people who were still there.When he entered a space, he moved in it as though time stood still. He remembered his bed in the hostel, and where he smoked in the hospital. When he recited his story to Mordechi, he was pleading for his help and understanding. Nothing bothered, even angered him more than the feeling that we do not believe him. I saw him, in my imagination running through the narrow, stone covered streets of the Jewish quarter in East Jerusalem.
He told Mordechi that he is reliving his story for the film, and Mordechi told me to take care of him.Tomorrow we are going to the Lebanese boarder where John and his best friend from the Army "Maor" will stand on a guard post and recall the days before he AWALed. For the first time since we came to Israel, John took the bus, by himself to meet his friend and spend the weekend with him. We'll meet them tomorrow for the shoot. I drove him to the bus stop. He was repeating the bus number to himself. He took a backpack with his medicine, a cell phone, toothbrush, and some cloth to wear. On my way back, I watched him by the bus station, with his white hat and T-shirt, lonely. A pretty Israeli woman soldier stood there. I knew he will not talk to her, but wished he did.
Eran Preis
We had two very good shooting days. We are following John's "stations" from the army to the mental institution where I found him and brought him back to the USA. The eight years that went by caused a lot of changes in the locations, yet, John's memories are so strong and vivid that he can re-create the past including faces, changes in locations and more.He was sent from the army after a short trial. The army didn't recognize his mental condition, and claimed that his mental confusion was caused by the drugs he used during his AWAL.
Scared of the Israeli Intelligence who according to his fears were chasing him because while in prison he "snitched" on some people, John took the 40 Israeli shekels (about $10) given to him by someone, and paid his way to Jerusalem. The army sent him to a rehab without giving him money, or even a note. He decided not to go there. He was running for his life. He was wearing the same clothes he brought with him when he turned himself in at the end of his AWAL. Someone in the army prison suggested that he go to the Wailing Wall and pray. We took John to the Wailing Wall and he followed his "past" journey. He bent down touching the Wailing Wall, and remembered telling "God" that if he'll save him from the people chasing him, which he saw all around him, he'll follow God's commandments including not driving on Saturday and eating Kosher.
From now on he did everything running. He was running in the streets of the Jewish quarter. We followed him to the free hostel he stayed in. The guard enable us to film inside while he was sitting at the door studying Talmud.We follow John's his reactions, recording his recollections. He went to the Yeshiva (religious seminary) , "The Fire of the Torah". I called ahead of time and Moredehi, a Torah scholar from South African brought us in. "I wish my father would do a film about me" he told me. He insisted that we won't make noise and disturb the young scholars in the main room. We enter a small class where John remembered sitting and studying on his first day there. I asked John to tell Mordechi, his story. He first refused but ended up telling his prison story and the reason for coming to the place.
Eran Preis
We shot the places which my brother visited and lived in Tel Aviv. It was a very short day- about two hours and Jon did really well- accept for a point when we arrived by his old house where he started to feel a bit faint. I know that this must be so hard on him, but he is being very strong and also we were there to help him feel protected. Again, my father and I have different points of view in our questioning techniques - but, he is the director and I have to listen to his plan and vision.
Sometimes I feel that his questions are not as direct as they should be - (of course mine are almost always too direct) Jon is super smart and sensitive - and can handle much more than any us - he has a great memory and going through a tour of his past is not only interesting, but also brings a reality to his paranoiac and true feelings.
It was always very difficult for me to think about being sent to a country alone, scared, not understanding the language and having Huge issues (such as drugs) on his back. (This drug issue is something I wish we would let go of- but it keeps coming up.)
I went to visit him when he arrived 8 years ago and the situation he was in brought angry felling towards my parents-my family who was here - and probably internal guilt. It was not the place I wanted to see my brother in. Broke, and living in a shit hole. I know that something which he says are true (most of them) but they are extremely exaggerated at some points- but I hope that he is able to internalize the fact that things were safe for him. He has developed so much from the start of the illness - its quite amazing - I am super proud of him.
Abner Preis
Let me introduce you to Abner, my middle son, who is a full participant in the film. He'll be blogging with me and sending pictures. Eran Preis
I am here to help with the movie- last night was the first time I saw the movie intro. I am quite certain that this film will be good. I'm always trying to make sure that my brother and all others who are in the situation of dealing with mental illnesses are represented correctly- and I'm feeling good about this. It will be really critical for us to keep our personal feeling out of this so that others can understand that they are affected by mental illness- "its either your brother or your cousin".
anyway-I was a bit worried if this was really going to help my brother with his recovery- going back to the place which he believes are the cause of his fears. Could you imagine if what he thought was true? then who is the really sick one?Abner
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