Notes On Blindness  A Feature documentrary film

Credits

Directors - Peter Middleton and James Spinney

Production Company - Archer’s Mark

Edit (Opening Sequence), Design and VFX : Yasuyuki Otsuki

3 x Nominee BAFTA Awards 2017

Winner - Best Documentary at BIFA 2017

World Premiere Sundance Film Festival 2016

Winner - Sheffield Doc/Fest 2016

Official Selection - Rotterdam Film Festival

Early 1980. John Hull (Dan Skinner), a professor at the University of Birmingham, England, is making a home with his new wife Marilyn (Simone Kirby). In the weeks before the birth of their first son, John grows increasingly alarmed by the progress of black disks creeping across his field of vision. After a series of unsuccessful operations, he suffers a dramatic collapse of his sight. Within two years he has lost the last traces of sight. At this point, he begins keeping an audio diary.

Title Sequence (Sundace)

This version was screened exclusively at the Sundance Film Festival. Since then, the film’s opening has been thoughtfully refined to enhance accessibility and immersion for the audience. While the original title sequence remains a personal favorite of mine, I recognize that the changes align with the director’s vision for a stronger overall experience. I hope you enjoy watching it.

Production Stills

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Trailer Graphics

VFX - Wave Shot

For this VFX shot, I extended the background plate. To maintain the flashing light reflected in the glass panels, I combined several 4K shots to create a background for the CG waves.

Set Extension

Breakdown

Photographic Sequence

The goal was to create a dreamlike sequence by processing Red camera footage to emulate 16mm film. We achieved this through color adjustments and various film effects.

 

Breakdown

Other Compositing Shots