We have the opportunity to be involved with a BAFTA nominated documentary maker who is interested in giving people with GBS a voice, and letting a wider audience know about the affliction. If you live in England or Wales and would like to get involved, please let us know.
To whom it may concern,
Thanks for taking the time to consider this approach. I am a BAFTA nominated documentary maker and I have been given the opportunity to contact you by GAIN in order to explore the possibility of making a documentary film about Guillain-Barré syndrome. We are at the very early, pre-commission stages, but are currently in discussions with the BBC, who are very interested in this film being made.
I am particularly interested in Guillain-Barré syndrome and its associated conditions – it is a personal ambition of mine to make this film. 7-years-ago I was diagnosed with CIDP (chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy) a chronic form of Guillain-Barré syndrome. I feel that there’s a lack of understanding in the public about my condition and you may well feel the same.
I hope very much to try and make a film that will give people with these neurological illnesses a platform that helps to give viewers a true understanding. I also hope it can give a strong voice to people living with them, whether directly or indirectly, as a carer or family member.
I am in the research stage of this project and I’m keen to start the process of meeting people affected by neurological conditions, with a view to deepening my own understanding, and also to see if there are any people who might want to be involved in a documentary film. I am particularly interested to speak with family members of people currently affected by acute Guillain-Barre syndrome.
If you are interested in learning more about the documentary, or if you are potentially interested in being involved in its production in any way, whether purely during the research stages, or perhaps during the filming stage, then please do get in touch. Any conversations will be in the strictest confidence and with absolutely no commitment to being involved in the final film. It’s also worth knowing that if you do agree to film after taking time to consider it, that does in no way commit you to anything long-term. I’d only want to film with you with your complete agreement at all times and you’d have the ability to stop whenever you wanted.
Please email a brief overview of your experience (a few sentences only please) along with your name, address and phone number, diagnosis and year of diagnosis. Emails can either be sent direct to myself or if you prefer, to Gill Ellis at GAIN Head Office to be forwarded on to me.
Direct email: xavier@marblefilms.co.uk
GAIN Head Office email: office@gaincharity.org.uk
Subject line: ‘GBS documentary research’
Best wishes,
Xavier Alford