Telling tales that matter
Emotionally challenging: A still from the documentary on the Easter Sunday tragedy
People have generally been attracted to fiction when it comes to storytelling. However, times are changing with the influence of social media and the way we rapidly consume content. As Italian photo journalist Matt Sclarandis and documentarist Riccardo Bianco see it, today, there is a bigger interest in short documentaries with insightful content – ‘stories that matter’.
The two spent six months in Sri Lanka from September last year, creating three documentaries for their new charity project ‘The Tale Brothers’. These travel documentaries are aimed at helping the people and organisations they showcase. Two of these videos are now available, the most recent being ‘The Sky Was Grey’, which was was released on Tuesday, April 21, to coincide with the first anniversary of the Easter Sunday tragedy.
‘The Sky Was Grey’ relates the story of four families who were victims of the horrendous bombings. It speaks of life, death, forgiveness, faith and religion. “We wanted to give an overview on how the people were actually affected by this. To look inside their lives and their stories,” Matt explains.
As Matt puts it, this is probably their first documentary that has such a broad impact.
Shooting the videos itself was emotionally challenging for the pair, who had to try and detach themselves from the people they met. But, at times this became impossible and the emotions poured out.
The stories the victims shared with them left them angry at how a human being “could take away the freedom and lives of others to impose a certain belief. They believe that we as humans don’t have a clue about how the universe functions. So to be that convinced in a belief to the extent of killing the people who don’t believe in the same ideologies as you is just so wrong,” Matt says.
They recall the story of an entire family killed in the blast – the mother, father and three children. That tragedy touched their hearts. Another such moment was when they met Thilina, who remains paralyzed as a result of the explosion. Speaking to her had taught them both a life lesson in forgiveness.
“She forgives the people who destroyed her life and killed her son. It really makes you rethink certain things in your life.”
They believe the contributions earned from the documentary will help these families “remember that they are not alone and that there are people in the world who remember this tragedy.” Once the funds are ready, they will be transferred to the bank accounts of the families.
Under the tagline, “Watch it, Change it,” the videos are sold on ‘Vimeo on Demand’ and 50 percent of the proceeds are donated to the cause each documentary highlights. The remainder is reinvested in the next documentary that will help a new cause.
Every person who watches a video, makes a difference by helping the people portrayed in it. The viewer can follow the Tale Brothers’ Instagram page, or subscribe for more updates on the use of the funds for the cause. This makes it a more real experience, giving the viewer a chance to determine how the story ends.
Sharing a common passion: Matt (left) and Riccardo. Pix courtesy Matt Sclarandis and Riccardo Bianco
Both from Turin, Italy, Matt and Ricardo have been friends for many years and share a common passion for travel, adventure, photojournalism and documentaries.
They were interested in creating a format that would help launch small businesses to further community development. People are used to reading the news with big and catchy titles. However, Matt and Riccardo’s aim is to look to open a door to the real stories, behind an event that changed the lives of many. And through these stories, they hope to help kick-start a small business that changes communities and at the same time create job opportunities. “In this way we can make a much bigger impact with a small help.”
Their first film released in December (2019) featured the story of Pathmasiri, a local fisherman, who has been living in a dismantled boat cabin next to the Mirissa Port for the past 25 years. Pathmasiri had a severe lung condition and needed expensive medication, which he couldn’t afford. By relating his story the Tale Brothers give the viewer the chance to get to know Pathmasiri and help him buy some of his medicines. The video can be accessed on- https://vimeo.com/ondemand/pathmasiri. A month later, Pathmasiri was given the money raised from the video.
While in Sri Lanka, Matt and Riccardo lived in a house in Denipitiya, Weligama, which soon became their main operating base with their equipment and an improvised production studio, where they conceived and edited the three documentaries. These were shot in 4K quality with the use of a Sony FS5, Sony 18-110mm and a Canon 5D Mark IV cameras.
Though the COVID-19 virus has Matt stuck in New York and Riccardo in Nepal, they are hopeful of better days in the future where they can continue their journey, documenting places, people and unfolding stories that matter, all the while, trying to make a difference by supporting causes around the world in their own way.
Though they did not want to give too much away about their upcoming documentary titled, ‘Enemy Line’, Matt and Riccardo reveal that it will focus on the human-elephant conflict in the Southern Province.
For more information on their work and for updates log onto -
Their Instagram and Facebook pages:
https://www.instagram.com/thetalebrothers
https://www.facebook.com/thetalebrothers
and website:
www.thetalebrothers.com
To access ‘The Sky was Grey’ log onto- https://bit.ly/theskywasgrey