THOUGHTS ON CAREGIVING...

Dear friends,

As UNCLE ROY begins its rollout at festivals, we’ve found ourselves reflecting on the themes that feel most pressing in this film, particularly caregiving, memory, and what remains when so much begins to fade.

At its heart, this film asks a quiet but important question and one I’m often thinking of: What does it mean to be a caregiver?

In reflecting on caregivers, it’s important to think about how unseen much of this work goes as we help transition people from one phase of their life to another. For my experience with my uncle Roy, this was through his journey with dementia.

As dementia reshaped his sense of self, the film explores what lingers beyond memory. Roy’s photographs preserved so many moments in time, moments that inspired my own journey as a photographer and artist. Roy’s life’s work made memories tangible for others. And yet, as his own memories shifted, what endured was this immense love and care for him.

Dementia however impacts so many of us… Across the globe, nearly 55 million people are living with dementia, with almost 10 million new cases each year. It often takes recent memories first, conversations from the morning, where the keys were placed, what was eaten for breakfast. Over time, older memories can fade too: life events, familiar faces, even pieces of one’s own history. They may lose the facts, but not always the feeling, specifically in the presence of those they were once familiar with.

For many families, dementia represents one of the deepest forms of loss, watching someone slowly slip away while still physically present. But how we choose to show up in the midst of that loss is so powerful, and something I hope comes through in my film.

As I learned with my uncle, caregiving transforms relationships. It reshapes roles, it’s tender, difficult, and educates beyond measure.

Here are some other things I found interesting as I looked deeper into caregiving: In 2025, more than 63 million American adults were providing ongoing care to someone with a medical condition or disability, that means nearly one in four adults. On average, caregivers devote around 31 hours each week to that work. Some step into this role out of necessity, others out of choice, but all embody a deep commitment.

As we share UNCLE ROY with wider audiences, we are reminded that this story is not just about my family, it is about how we show up for one another, a theme that expands to SO many people.

I’m curious: what does caregiving mean to you, and what have been the most meaningful lessons that have come from it?

And… We have a few updates for you! As we shared earlier this month, we’re having our world premiere at the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival and now we know more details. We’ll be screening on Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 5:00 PM (https://vp.eventival.com/thessaloniki/tidf28/film/1196520). If you or anyone you know will be in the area, please join us!

We can’t wait to share more from the road ahead. Thank you for being part of this journey with us.