"Gabe & Gene" (Minnesota Historical Society's Greatest Generation Film Project)

wartez

wartez

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"Gabe & Gene" (Minnesota Historical Society's Greatest Generation Film Project)

I posted this in HVX200 forum already but I figure maybe this place is more appropriate.

“Gabe & Gene” is the story of two elderly brothers that live together in their childhood home. Their lives change drastically as Gabe’s health deteriorates and Gene pursues his lifelong dream of moving to Arizona. Focused on the present rather than the past, it’s a story about family, brotherhood, and growing old.


"Gabe & Gene" (9min39sec 92mb)
 

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I've been following these forums for some time now but never felt a need to comment. That being said, I subscribed to DVXuser today for the sole purpose of letting you know that I love your doco. It is exactly the kind of thing I want to make.

Please teach me everything you know.
 
Wow man... Just finished it.. F&*king awesome. I love how you build the tension, the ending is great... I don't want to give anything away but everyone should be checking this out. Really really awesome work man. When did you finish this? Have you caught up to them since and what did they think of the film?
 
I'm very, very impressed. Great piece of work. Can you give us some details from the project? How long did you spend shooting? How much research did you do? What was your equipment kit comprised of?

Very good story development, character development, and especially composition. I loved it.
 
Hey Ian, Richard and Charlie. Thank you so much for your kind words. I had forgotten about this thread. We shot the doc over a period of 6 months and have probably 25 hours of footage that we are still sifting through for a longer cut. My kit consisted of a tripod, the cam and a shotgun mic. These two were never very comfortable in front of the camera so I had to keep it simple. Since I posted this, Gabe has fallen very ill. It seems has lost the will to live, it is a very sad time for him and his family. I still hold out hope that he can get better but it isn't a good situation. Gene on the other hand is living his dream out in sunny Tuscon, Arizona. We are still trying to get a little bit of funding to fly or drive out there and catch up with him but that's a whole other battle.
 
Sorry to hear about Gabe's failing health.

As I'm sure that you are always looking for feedback from random hacks on the internet, I will give you my 2 cents; Save yourself some money and skip the trip to Arizona. While Gene is certainly entertaining, the story is really about Gabe. The power of the story lies in the extreme sadness and isolation the we see in Gabe. If you take the story out of the small house in Minnesota you will lose a lot of the impact. As long as Gabe doesn't go to Arizona, neither should the viewer.

Again, I loved it. Looking forward to seeing the extended cut (assuming the additional footage warrants one).
 
Really lovely.

I think in a longer cut you could include Arizona. But I wonder if a longer cut is needed? It's kind of a perfect piece as it is. We can already anticipate the story developments - the groundwork is laid out, and because of their ages and Gabe's health, we already have an idea of where the story will go. And, for me, it's that familiar inevitability, which doesn't need to be spelled out or even shown, that is so moving.

But maybe that's an oversimplification of the story and a longer, more complex portrait of their relationship would be interesting in a whole new way. I was interested, for instance, in Gene's response to Gabe's lung cancer - he acknowledged it, but then immediately launched into how much he loves Tuscon. Is this a pragmatism that is familiar between them? Is Gene avoiding his feelings of his brother's cancer? Is he so relieved to finally be on his own, living his own life without having to be caregiver to his brother that he just doesn't want to get drawn into another illness that might obligate him to come back?

I guess I'm actually quite interested in these dynamics, and would welcome a longer piece that maybe takes us out of the family home and shows us a contrast of lifestyles and family obligations (big themes in my own life, actually).

Anyway, you've made me think alot about these two men that I will never meet, and that's exciting to me, so great work.
 
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