“Don’t Worry About Me” - A Story About John Bysiewicz
John Bysiewicz, a well-respected race director and prominent figure in Connecticut's running community, faced a life-altering event in 2022.
Following the organization of a local 5K race, he was struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run crash while bicycling. The collision resulted in severe injuries, including the traumatic amputation of part of his left leg, requiring extensive surgeries and a long period of rehabilitation.
Despite this profound adversity, John's resilience and enduring spirit continue to inspire those within the athletic community and beyond.
Creating "Don't Worry About Me - A Story About John Bysiewicz
The documentary was developed through a distinct three-stage process:
Pre-Production: Laying the groundwork, building trust, and developing ideas.
Production: Capturing the story with stunning visual content
Post-Production: Shaping the narrative in the edit
1. Pre-Production: Discovering and Planning
Initial Spark: The story idea originated from a former Quinnipiac University professor, who met John during physical therapy and was inspired by his resilience. Local news coverage provided further details about John's November 2022 crash.
Making Contact: Connection with John was facilitated through Danielle Fillardi (John's marketing coordinator and a former colleague), expressing the desire to share his story for awareness and inspiration.
Building Trust: Before filming, significant time was dedicated to building a strong relationship with John and his wife, Jenny, ensuring a deep understanding of their experience and the story's gravity.
Structuring the Narrative: Careful consideration was given to how to best tell John's story, emphasizing the need to establish context about his athletic lifestyle before detailing the crash. Earning John's trust as a storyteller was paramount.
2. Production: Filming the Experience
Key Interviews: In-depth interviews were conducted with John, his wife Jenny, and his Physical Therapist, Paula. Questions were prepped beforehand to guide these sessions, focusing on their perspectives, especially regarding the day of the crash.
I am espically thankful to John and Jenny for their openness in discussing difficult moments related to the crash and life since.
Capturing Daily Life (B-Roll): Filming extended beyond interviews to capture John in various settings: directing races, working out, attending physical therapy, and navigating daily activities post-crash.
John's willingness to be filmed extensively was crucial for gathering essential visual elements.
3. Post-Production: Editing and Refining
Developing the Story: Hours of interviews and B-roll footage were meticulously reviewed and assembled. The editing process was where the narrative truly took shape.
Timeline Construction: The film was structured chronologically, prioritizing introducing John as a person before delving into the crash details.
Handling Sensitive Material: Editing the crash sequence required careful consideration, utilizing police bodycam footage (shared by John) respectfully to convey the event's reality.
Iterative Process: The documentary's flow evolved multiple times. Background music and sound design were added to enhance key scenes. The editing phase also highlighted where additional specific shots were needed, leading to further targeted filming.
Sharing the Film
After six months of dedicated work, the completed documentary was shared with John, Jenny, and their close network.
Telling John's story was a privilege. Throughout the process, I reminded myself of the impact that John’s story of resilience can have on others dealing with their own challenges.
Jenny Glass
“Brendan was very professional in coordinating times for interviews and filming. He was respectful of our time and displayed sensitivity towards our family’s situation. Brendan made the process enjoyable for me, and I was very happy with the documentary he produced.”
John Bysiewicz
“Brendan Kelly worked on a documentary about an impaired driver crashing into me while I was riding my bike and how I recovered from this crash. Brendan was very professional, prepared and efficient in the production process. I would highly recommend him .”