Ben Byer was a 31-year-old actor and playwright in 2002 when he was diagnosed with the neuro-degenerative disease ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
Nine months later, Byer began traveling the globe with a crew that includes DP Roko Belic (“Genghis Blues”), meeting other ALS patients, facing the psychic ramifications of the deadly illness, and exploring innovative treatments for the as-yet incurable disease.
Byer’s feature-length documentary “Indestructible” is now in post-production and slated for completion next year. Proceeds from a July 24 Rock Bottom Brewery fundraiser benefit Byer’s nonprofit production company ALS Film Fund, to raise finishing funds for the project.
ReelChicago spoke with Byer, his sister and producing partner Rebeccah Rush, and editor Tim Baron.
ReelChicago: How did the idea for “Indestructible” emerge?
Ben Byer: It grew out of an audio diary that I kept for about a year before I began shooting. I began to do audiotapes because my hands had been weakened by the disease and I have been a regular journal writer my whole life. I didn’t really think that the diary would be of use when I began to shoot, but then it became sort of an obvious precursor to the film footage. It all evolved quite naturally.
RC: How has the focus of the film changed since you began working on it?
Byer: I initially wanted to make the movie as much about other people as possible, and felt the need to expand outward with the subject. This probably had something to do with my own denial about my health. Acknowledging that I am an ALS patient became one of the major elements of the story. Over the course of making the movie, I realized that my story was central to the film and had to be told.
Tim Baron: The movie started with Ben and a camera, driving himself around the country interviewing people with ALS. As he kept on working and more people got involved, the scope of the film just grew and grew. Ben ended up in the middle of some extraordinary situations that nobody could have predicted when he began to film. From my perspective, looking back through all the material, there’s always been this idea of being on a journey, exploring the world of ALS, and I don’t think that has changed at all.
RC: What do you hope to accomplish with the film?
Byer: To cure ALS.
Rebeccah Rush: We expect “Indestructible” to raise awareness, educate, entertain and inspire the world about ALS and help create a positive change for the future.
Baron: My hope is that we can also make a film that will be moving and meaningful for people that don’t necessarily have a connection to ALS. It’s not about how long a person has to live?it’s about the possibilities life has to offer.
Byer: The movie can be presented in a way that is a departure from these types of films before. Just because you have a hugely serious topic doesn’t mean that you should abandon all of the fun, creative and light aspects of filmmaking that will make it enjoyable to watch.
Rush: One of the unexpected elements of the film is that even though the subject matter is terminal disease, Ben is a really funny guy and there are aspects of this situation that have been remarkably entertaining.
