By Cora Holland
This fall, an anticipated movie adaptation of International bestselling author Brittainy Cherry’s novel “The Air He Breathes” will premier. Director Rachel Helson is one of Louisville’s own and is a Louisville Collegiate School alum. At Collegiate, Rachel’s passion for storytelling and analysis was ignited by her English teacher, Marti Calderwood. She recalls that “Marti was incredibly influential. She taught me to love dissecting how stories were created.” Rachel says Ms. Calderwood also inspired her “to dig deeper or look at a story from a new perspective, and those skills are the ones that [she uses] every day as a director.”
When asked about what drew her to agree to direct “The Air He Breathes,” Rachel mentions the depth and emotional complexity of the characters and the beautiful visual script from screenwriters Brian Frederich and Cherry herself. Rachel explains that she is less interested in films with “cookie-cutter characters”, and that the two main characters “Tristan and Elizabeth’s journey of finding hope and new love after loss was incredibly compelling.”
Unlike traditional TV movies, this project was actually produced for the streaming service Passionflix owned by Tosca Musk (yes, Elon’s sister), and it was approached with a more cinematic and unique vision. “We aimed to create something handcrafted and specific, thanks to the beautiful details in Brittainy Cherry’s book,” Rachel says.
Adaptation comes with its own set of challenges. One memorable hurdle involved “Zeus”, a golden retriever featured in the book. Rachel recalled how the canine actor, the sweetheart “Remi”, wasn’t comfortable being carried by the actor playing Tristan, so the team had to adjust the scene to keep Remi comfortable, but remain true to the book’s intention. Enigmatically, Rachel leaves this topic saying “I won’t tell you what we did, but I think it turned out well.”
Another significant challenge was recreating the distinct neighboring houses described in the novel because, in reality, the two perfect houses were miles apart. This inconvenience forced the production team to use clever camera angles and set design to create an illusion that the two houses were next door. “It was incredibly rewarding to see it all come together seamlessly,” Rachel noted, recalling the moment of triumph shared with her crew.
The casting process is also incredibly important to keep the integrity of the book’s characters. Rachel said that casting was very thorough and meticulous. She explained, “Performance is everything to me. I was looking for grounded, compelling actors who truly embodied the characters.” Ryan Carnes, known for his roles in “General Hospital” and “Desperate Housewives,” was cast as Tristan, delivering a performance that exceeded expectations.
At its core, “The Air He Breathes” is a story about resilience and finding beauty in brokenness. “I hope it connects with those going through tough times and offers a sense of hope and connection,” Rachel expresses. Drawing inspiration from the Japanese tradition of repairing broken pottery with gold (so that the break becomes part of the history and the beauty), she emphasizes, “No matter what you’re going through, don’t lose hope that you can come out the other side an even better version of yourself.”
Reflecting on her high school years and offering advice to current students, Rachel stresses the importance of teamwork in filmmaking saying, “Learn as much as you can about each department. And most importantly, keep making films. Your ambition and taste will exceed your skill for a long time, but keep going. One day that gap will close.”
She also highlights the growing opportunities in Kentucky’s film industry, urging students to get involved locally. “With more productions moving to Kentucky, there are abundant opportunities for training and experience right here. I went to New York University - which is one of the best schools in the country for creatives - and because I live and work in New York City, I’ve had the opportunity to work with some of the best in the business. And, I really believe that the quality of filmmaking talent you find in Kentucky is right up there. So students: know that you live in one of the best states in the country for filmmaking - at one of the best times to learn the craft! Because of the tax incentives, its beauty, and the plethora of immense talent that live in the state, more and more professional productions are moving to Kentucky!”
As the director continues her journey from Collegiate School to the director’s chair, her story showcases that inspiration and success can begin at home. With “The Air He Breathes,” Rachel Helson brings a powerful story to life, reminding us all of the enduring strength of hope and love.
Comentarios