A Touching Short Film About a Rare & Terrifying Disease, Made By a 17 Year Old Director
After witnessing firsthand the devastating effects of an extremely rare disease, Carl Mason, a 17 year old filmmaker, set out on a mission.
![IMAGINE Short Film BTS](https://nofilmschool.com/media-library/imagine-short-film-bts.png?id=34085698&width=1245&height=700&quality=90&coordinates=21%2C0%2C0%2C0)
Carl's neighbor, a young girl named Hollie Carter, was diagnosed with Niemann-Pick Type C in 2007. The genetic disease affects roughly 800 people in the entire world, most of whom are young children, and it has a range of symptoms that can be likened to early-onset Alzheimers and dementia. In truth though, it's far more malevolent than that, as it slowly shuts down the body's most critical functions. Most children who are diagnosed with Niemann-Pick C don't live past their teenage years.
After meeting Hollie and learning about the disease, Carl set out to use the medium of film to raise awareness about Niemann-Pick Type C. His drive and tenacity led to an outpouring of support from a who's who of British film and television professionals, including an award-winning screenwriter and crew members from Broadchurch, Doctor Who, Shaun Of The Dead, Hot Fuzz, Channel 4 Drama and BBC Worldwide. He premiered the film, which is entitled IMAGINE, at a charity event for Hollie in his hometown of Milton Keynes. Since then it has helped raise worldwide awareness of NP-C, as well as nearly $10,000 in donations to NP-C charities.
Here's the film that Carl created:
Here are a few select BTS photos from the set of IMAGINE:
Source: Imagine - Short Film