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From rising Director and Writer Alex Stulac comes a short-film, “The Hero In Us”, exploring the origins of the Friends of Jack Foundation. The upcoming release will make its world premiere at the Friends of Jack Foundation’s Annual Celebration on September 28 at Arch of the Meadow in Rochester, Massachusetts.
Through a blend of animation and live-action, “The Hero In Us” is a superhero origin story like no other. After defeating his nemesis Chiari, the young superhero Jack Fearons faces a devastating setback, landing him back in the hospital. While his mother Jill Fearons looks for her inner strength to get through this tough time, Jack searches for his new place in the world, discovering his true superpower.
“We wanted to make a superhero film about a real-life superhero,” said Stulac. “We were very ambitious about the entire project, and the blend of animation and live-action is evidence of that. Besides the spectacle of animation and the superhero motif, the symbolism of animation and live action together helped drive home a few of the themes. The animated portion is reserved for Jill’s journey, who, as a mother with a child in the hospital, feels like this experience “isn’t real’ – this can’t be happening. When Jack, or any child, returns home, it’s time to face a new reality – live action.”
This film reimagines Jack’s real-life struggles, detailing his development of Chiari Malformation, the complications of his surgery, his serious brush with death, his miraculous recovery, and the subsequent discovery of his talent for the piano in an adventurous narrative. All the while, Jill is by his side grappling with the fear and uncertainty of a mother with a very sick child. The hospital’s Child Life Specialists play a particularly important role in helping Jill cope with her new reality.
The goal of the film is to demonstrate the resilience of children who face medical hardships and to find silver linings in the struggles that they experience. In Jack’s case, the damage done to his brain from swelling due to hydrocephalus unlocked a hidden talent in him. Without any formal training, shortly after his surgery, Jack was able to sit at a piano and play music from his ear. In fact, the musical theme of the film was written and performed by Jack.
“The making of this film grew from your basic fundraising video to something more than I could have ever imagined,” said Peter Cohenno, Executive Director of the Friends of Jack Foundation. “Alex has brought together an amazing team to tell Jack’s story in a way that goes so far beyond what is usually seen in the non-profit world. This has morphed into a short-film that I believe is going to connect new audiences to our mission, while spreading the message about underfunded child programs like Child Life.”
The “Hero In Us” features Jack and Jill, both playing themselves. The debutant actors are joined by veteran Jordan Demario, who voices Jack’s doctor, and Jack’s younger brother, Liam Fearons, playing “Young Jack”. Chris “Gazelle” Arsenault, Darby Nolet, Mira Wellington, and Brendon McGlothin also make their debut in the film. Kaitlyn Deguzman provides the animation, with Noah Arnold (Cyan Lens) serving as Director of Photography and Brody Pazol (Sound Alchemist) handling the sound.
Additional screenings and festival appearances are being planned for the future with dates to be announced.
More information about the film is available at www.friendsofjack.org/theheroinusfilm.
