NEAR the end of his brother Rob Blair's life, David Ray asked if there was anything he could do for him.
"God forbid he was to pass away, I was thinking, look up an old friend or something," says Ray, a Vancouver filmmaker.
However Blair, who was nearing the end of a 13-year battle with a brain tumour, had something else in mind. The Toronto, Ont. resident had long been an advocate for brain tumour patients and involved in the work of the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada.
"He said, 'I'd like you to do a PSA for them,'" says Ray. Ray, a North Vancouver native and Handsworth grad, was more than happy to fulfill his beloved brother's wish. A director, he's known for films like Fetching Cody and is a partner in Cheap and Dirty Productions with his wife Carolyn Allain.
A day before Blair passed away in August 2011 at age 46, Ray got in touch with the foundation and told them what he wanted to do.
"They immediately said yes," says Ray. The Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, is a national non-profit organization helping those affected by a brain tumour by providing support, education, information and aiding research. According to its website, there are an estimated 55,000 Canadians living with a brain tumour and an additional 10,000 are diagnosed every year.
After further discussion with the foundation, they decided Ray would co-write, direct and produce three PSAs (public service announcements). They were filmed at Ray's parents' house, located on Sunnycrest Drive in North Vancouver, in February.
"It was wild because we scouted houses everywhere and their house just turned out to be the right one, for logistic reasons and for budget reasons of course, but it was really the logistics and the look of it was just perfect," says Ray. "And then the emotional connection - it was wonderful."
A high-calibre crew of professionals working in the film and television industry, many of whom are local residents, volunteered their time for the project. "I went after the best crew I could think of. . . . I started at the very top, my wish list, and instead of as usual, you work your way down, on this one, pretty much everyone, without exception, I approached said they'd like to be a part of it," says Ray.
Some examples of those who came onboard was director of photography John Bartley (The X-Files, Lost), writer Tony Wohlgemuth and key grip Scott Gray. "It was kind of a dream working with these people," says Ray. "You're assembling your ideal, your dream team and having them all show up. These guys and girls could have moved mountains."
In addition to the countless industry professionals who lent a hand, the City and District of North Vancouver also showed full support for the project, and family, friends and neighbours volunteered as extras.
Each PSA has a different message. The first is intended to show a sense of connection and support for those who are affected by brain tumours. It's a re-creation of a memorial Ray and his family held for Blair in the backyard of his Toronto home. Those in attendance released 13 balloons into the sky at sunset, a "sublime moment," says Ray.
"It was hard not getting choked up because all my family were pretty much volunteers in the shot," he says, of the re-creation.
The second PSA shows a child with a brain tumour playing with a brain puzzle.
"The message of that is that it touches all ages," says Ray.
The third depicts a pub scene where a blindfolded man is throwing darts and randomly hitting other pub-goers, an illustration of the randomness of the disease and how no one is safe.
The PSAs are set for release in April, via television and the Internet, timed with Cancer Awareness Month.
While the project was rewarding, filming proved tough at times for Ray. "I was just trying to stay focused to do the work but the emotions were really welling up," he says.
However, overall, he feels a sense of thanks for being able to give back in this way. "The opportunity to create this in (Rob's) memory was just an honour and I'm just so thankful that we could do this for him," says Ray. "He fought really hard for the foundation and for the rights and the awareness and to do this to carry on for him, it was a mixture of emotions. It was a lot of gratitude and I was humbled and honoured to be a part of it and that it was happening at all. Everyone would want to do something like this for someone that they loved and lost so it was just a gift."
Ray knows his brother would be proud. "I think he'd be pretty pleased," he says. "He asked for one (PSA) and we're giving him three, we're bringing our A game to it. I'd like to believe this is what he wanted."
Info: www.braintumour.ca.
