Do you mind can I ask….(to help finish his film)

Aim

Please help us realize the late Simon Fildes' most tender and compelling work.

Simon Fildes was an international award winning Scottish filmmaker, producer and curator.  Sadly Simon passed away from cancer in April 2021 after having lived with MS for over 10 years. Despite the hardship of illness and disability, he was committed to his film-making practice like no other.  In fact, the final email he dictated from his deathbed was about finishing this film.

Read an article about Simon in the Scotsman

Do you mind can I ask you….(what happened to your legs) is a semi-narrative moving image work that reflects on what it’s like to experience having a progressive degenerative condition. As there tends to be a lot of work about despair in the face of challenge, this work’s attitude is quite the opposite. 

In Simon’s own words:

"I walk with the aid of crutches and an occasional wheelchair user. As I travel quite a lot and meet new people around Scotland and internationally one of the first questions I’m asked is along the lines of …“ Do you mind can I ask what happened to your legs? “I tell them I have MS and their next reaction is often to apologise and look away. I often respond by saying yes it really sucks but I’m still alive and kicking and dancing inside. "

Watch Creative Scotland's "In Conversation with Simon Fildes"

Your Support

The film was due to shoot just one week after Simon’s death. It was his greatest wish for the work to completed and seen on the big screen. For those who knew him, this is great opportunity to support his last wish, or to contribute to his memory.

The Team

We have an incredibly accomplished production team ready to realize what we consider Simon’s most tender, compelling work:

Cagoule are an international directing team who make cinematic tv commercials, edgy music videos and exclusive online content. Their combined skills merge live action, movement and motion graphics to create fresh, quirky and imaginative films. Cagoule's directors are Lewis Gourlay and Abby Warrilow.

Tess Letham is an independent dance artist based in Edinburgh, Scotland.  She has worked for the last 8 years as a performer, teacher, and dance theatre maker.

Quee MacArthur, is a soundscore artist for dance, film and theatre. He created a very moving, original composition for the film.  Susan Christie said it best that Quee created "a soundtrack that makes you want to dance and feel close to Simon.

Susan Christie, Independent Curator/Producer Cromarty, Scotland.

Minttu Maari Mäntynen, Photographer, Cinematographer, Edinburgh, Scotland

Eyebolls Broadcasting & Media Production Company are an Edinburgh based production studio with a passion for storytelling in live-action, animation and photography.

DanceLive is a digital and live contemporary dance event produced and managed Citymoves Dance Agency and partners with Screen.Dance.

GO/AT, Simon's award-wining independent media production company specialising in arts projects, documentaries, documentation, promo videos and dance on screen. Check out GO/AT's work.

Praise for Simon

“Simon was an inspiration. A deep-seeing, calm and compassionate artist, whose understanding and insight helped those who worked with him be better. We met back in 2015 and he worked with us on every project since then. He changed our work in unexpected and delightful ways. We’ll miss him.”  

Company of Wolves Glasgow, UK

“His spirit moved so many people all across the globe. Sending deepest condolences to you and your loved ones. Simon was a kind and generous soul.” 

Philip Szporer, Director Producer at Mouvement Perpétuel Montreal, Canada

“I never met Simon in person, but virtually through our love of arts and culture, we came in contact. Because of Simon, I met wonderful and life-long friends like Emma. Simon opened the door of Scottish culture to me and I met the most wonderful people from there, a place I had never visited but always dreamt of visiting. I send you my deepest condolences and I will always remember Simon fondly..May his soul rest in peace and may the bridges of love and friendship he crafted flourish and inspire others.” 

Mubida Rahman, Program Manager at Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India Private Limited, India

In proud partnership with:

This project successfully funded on 24th September 2021