Film Update: I Didn’t See You There

POV caught up with I Didn’t See You There director Reid Davenport to provide a window into the making of his film and reflect on the journey since the cameras stopped rolling. The following are his words, lightly edited, for clarity and context.

How did you first get involved with the project? When did you know this story was going to be a documentary?

I bought my first camera that I could operate on my own. I wanted to shoot video from my wheelchair. It was literally an experimentation, seeing what did and didn’t work. Gradually, I began pairing clips with voiceover. That’s around the time producer Keith Wilson came aboard. I still wasn’t sure if it really was a film until we started getting film grants.

What were the biggest surprises and/or challenges you encountered during the filmmaking process?

I think the biggest surprise was how many people got the film right away. It’s not your traditional documentary; there isn’t a profound plot, and much of the footage is abstract. It was incredibly gratifying [to get that response]. The biggest challenge was shooting alone, which I had to do because of the nature of the film. Filmmaking is a collaborative process. During production, I usually rely on people for reference. That just couldn’t be the case for this project.

What informs your form and approach to documentary filmmaking? What and who are your biggest influences?

I look for stories about disability that can be framed in a political way. Documentary film has yet to do this in any significant way. I find these topics to be rich. I think the politicization of filmmaking comes from filmmakers like Errol Morris and Marlin Riggs. Specifically for I Didn’t See You There, my influences include Kristen Johnson, RaMell Moss and Chantal Ackerman.

What has happened with you since the film wrapped?

I Didn’t See You There is a purposefully opaque personal film, so I keep the details of my life outside the film to myself.

What do you hope your audiences will take away after watching the film? What is the most memorable response you’ve received from an audience?

The film team and I have tried really hard to be non-prescriptive, so I really can’t say what I hope the audience will take away. Best reaction: Judy Heumann, the mother of the Disability Rights Movement, said of the film, “I Didn’t See You There is the first film that captures the way I hear my wheelchair and feel my body as we move through the world… The film made me, for the first time, get a view into my world and the world of so many others that is never discussed or considered.”

I Didn’t See You There premiered on Monday, January 9th and is available to stream through February 8th, 2023.