The story spans Philadelphia, PA, Baltimore, MD, and Wilkesboro, NC. While the epidemic reaches so many corners of the country, problems and solutions tend to be localized to each area. Establishing a clear sense of place for every location allowed for us to better contextualize and delineate the different chapters of the story.

We filmed establishing and textural material with a fair amount of intent. Whenever possible, we allowed ourselves the time to hike the camera a little further up the hill, or wait for the right light.

The workflow was predominantly single-camera, with Cooke Panchros on a Canon C300mk3. The lenses are easily manageable for a documentary crew and can take on a range of interesting looks depending on how they are used.

For interviews, gimbal, and some establishing frames, we brought along a Canon C70. The smaller camera was also useful for sensitive situations where a larger camera would be distracting or intimidating.

Interview coverage included two people, the subject and an on-screen journalist, Adam Smith Perez. Effective cross-key lighting would have been more involved than we wanted, so the producer and I were intentional about selecting locations with soft and expansive natural light.

The subject in the interview frames (above) organizes support groups in his neighborhood. We aimed to create an interview space that felt topical and conversational, while also supporting the technical asks of a two-person setup.

The CDC estimates that some 2.4 million Americans are living with Hepatitis C today. Around 70% of new infections are due to injection drug use. While the statistics are a little numbing, there is a path forward. A cure exists, and treatment is available. Relationships and community can be as helpful as medical attention. Stigmas ought to be reconsidered and people ought to be respected as people.

Thanks to Cameron and Andrew Petrilak (prod.) for bringing me on to this one. And a big thank you to McKinley, Devin, and Nicole for giving their time and sharing their thoughts.