Vivid Silence

About the Project

I received funding to support the development of Vivid Silence, a deeply personal documentary about my deaf brother, his artistry, and our evolving relationship. The support was specifically directed toward three areas: capturing high-quality sound recordings, returning home to gather additional footage, and covering post-production costs such as editing, sound design, and color correction.

The funding allowed me to travel back to Tibet, where I documented key new moments in my brother’s daily life and artistic growth. I filmed his herding work, his new paintings and photographs, and intimate family interactions that reveal how language loss continues to shape our relationship. Importantly, I was able to capture the soundscape of our home, including the wind sweeping the grasslands, the clinking of prayer beads, my parents’ quiet chanting, and the sound of my brother’s laughter. These sounds became a powerful storytelling layer, amplifying the film’s emotional depth.

In post-production, the resources made it possible to begin weaving together five years of footage into a cohesive narrative. Editing sessions focused on balancing the visual poetry of my brother’s artistry with the emotional weight of our shared story. I’m also collaborating with a colorist to elevate the technical quality of the film.

The funding made a significant difference. Vivid Silence is now approaching its final form, ready to be shared with audiences. Beyond a personal story, the project has evolved into a film about resilience, communication, and cultural preservation that I believe will resonate globally.