COLOR BOOK is a feature film written and directed by David Fortune. The story opens with a young boy and his mother working on necklaces. Soon, we meet the father and learn the they are attending a memorial service, which includes a balloon release. The rest of the story is about the new widower and his son, who happens to be neurodivergent.
Shot beautifully in black and white, this feature is as much an art piece as it is a love letter to fatherhood. Lucky, portrayed by William Catlett, copes with the loss of his wife. Lucky does his best to keep the spirits up of their son Mason (portrayed by Jeremiah Alexander Daniels). The courage Lucky exhibits in all his decisions is astounding, and he is aptly named because sometimes he gets lucky when taking calculated risks.
While Lucky sometimes loses his temper, he is mostly a model father who puts his son above his own sadness and need for time to mourn the loss of his wife. There are quite a few things that happen to the pair that impede their trip toward an in-person baseball game. Some of those obstacles are self-imposed by the innocent antics of the young boy who really wants to take a balloon to the game.
I need to gush about the cinematography in this film. HOLY COW the shots that Fortune gets are just on point! The story he tells between the story is truly marvelous and engaging. I loved the angles and the lighting and the choice to film in black and white was completely inspired!
As an aside, I must commend Lucky for his mastery of mass transit. The many options he takes to get to the baseball stadium is quite inspiring. His tenacity is magnificent. I won’t say if this pair’s odyssey has the expected ending but their journey is filled with meaningful interactions that are incredibly touching.
COLOR BOOK is a profound piece of cinema. Fortune’s cinematic storytelling was made possible by the terrific performances of Catlett and Daniels. In fact, all the supporting actors’ truthful performances helped elevate the brilliance of this quietly beautiful film.
Melody Lopez, Producer, Filmmaker Mixer Podcast (posted by Madelyn, Filmmaker Mixer Correspondent)
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