Years ago I suffered from an internal infection, as a result of complications from a near
fatal motorcycle accident. I was on bed rest for months, and as a result of the infection,
I was faced with the possibility of losing my ability to father children. This prospect
made my mind race with thoughts of fear, inadequacy, and depression. Fortunately I made it
through, and didn't suffer the loss, but those thoughts were still with me. It was out of
this experience that the first draft of Finding Jacob came.
When revisiting the script years later, I discovered the in depth look of an individual
wrestling with choices. To a man, the ability to have kids is often core to his
self-identity. When you take that away, it could potentially send him into a spiral of
depression and self-hatred. I wanted to explore what would happen when a man that has gone
through this roller coaster of loss, gets the chance to embrace change for the better.
I hope this film resonates with people, as an example of our human experience. If people
feel empathetic to Jacob's experience, I will consider the film a success.