5 Major Influences From Jason DaSilva

TAA When I Walk, looks at his severe form of multiple sclerosis that he was diagnosed with at 25 and how his life changed in the seven years that follow. Here DaSilva gives us his five influences. premiers at Sundance today

1. Performance artists. Because of my artistic training, I have a set of performance artist that, like me, put themselves out there. Artists like Marina Abromovich come to mind. Video artist Vito Acconci is an example of somebody who created work by putting himself in extreme situations in order to convey his resounding motives to his audience. Experimental filmmakers Stan Brakhage, Yoko Ono, and Michael Snow come to mind as influences for the film. I wanted to create something out-of-the-box.??

2. Another influence for myself, and probably the most important is the need for the disabled person’s story being revealed. I feel that there's been a deficit of media talking about disability rights, it's been portrayed as a health issue. This has disenfranchised people from telling their story and concerns properly.??

3. My drive of the filmmaking process. My ability to be open has been a strong pillar of strength for me.

??4. Another influence for me is my partner–in-crime, Alice Cook. When I was exhausted, she forged ahead with the project. There's no way that this film would have been done without her and without her creative mind. Through this process, Alice has shown her skills as a producer and creative director capable of bringing a film to fruition.   5. Getting into Sundance.