SEYMOUR – At an early age, Shelton native Dillon Bentlage knew there was something magical about sitting in a dark movie theater, munching on popcorn and watching characters and their stories unfold in a larger-than-life experience.
From seeing his first superhero blockbuster “Spider-Man” with his grandfather, to re-watching his favorite hobbits in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, Bentlage was hooked on the imagery, the acting, the music and overall immersive experience that took him on a two-hour adventure that made him laugh, cry and sometimes scream.
Bentlage, now 30 and living in Boston, is anticipating the release next month of his first full-length feature film, “Watching Mr. Pearson.”
The film, which Bentlage directed, produced, and co-wrote, will be featured at the Strand Theater (165 Main St.) in downtown Seymour April 10.
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“Watching Mr. Pearson” is about an aging Hollywood actor, Robert Pearson, battling dementia. His caretakers take very different approaches helping the legendary actor reconnect with his life both on and off the big screen.
The lead actor Hugo Armstrong, who plays Pearson, was most recently featured in the Oscar-nominated live action short “Jane Austen’s Period Drama.”
The subject of mental decline hits home for both Bentlage and his fellow co-writing partner Simon Kienitz Kincade. Bentlage’s grandmother battled dementia and passed away a decade ago, as did Kienitz Kincade’s grandfather, who passed away during film production.
“The big reason for making this film is because it’s something a lot of people can relate to,” Bentlage said. “We wanted to explore what it was like for someone who had been really well- known and what it’s like to feel left behind in that world, what it’s like feeling forgotten and forgetting yourself. Our mantra on set is to view dementia as a profound change and not a decline. This film “Watching Mr. Pearson” is really an artistic expression of that.”
Bentlage and his crew consulted professionals in memory care wards, as well as spoke with dementia patients, before delving into the subject. He stressed the film is not an education piece about dementia.
“Our hope is that viewers feel more connected to their loved ones, and see dementia as a change, not a decline,” Bentlage said. “I hope it helps people see other ways to connect with people that are going through it.”
Bentlage, who recently returned from the South by Southwest premiere of “Imposters,” another film he co-produced, has been working in the industry since college. After getting a degree in cinema and literature from Boston University, he landed his first job working in film post-production overseas, in Amsterdam.
When he moved back to the states in 2020, Bentlage and his childhood friend, fellow Shelton native Brian Reilly, formed their own independent production company. At KT Pictures, Bentlage and Reilly produced and edited a series of independent projects, including their coming-of-age film debut “Dilettantes.”
The company’s Valley roots are shown at the start of each of their films, Bentlage said.
“All of KT Pictures feature the Derby-Shelton bridge as its production logo,” Bentlage said. “When the film starts, you’ll see the old train bridge; that’s our MGM lion.”
For “Watching Mr. Pearson,” filming took place mostly in Guilford over 16 days. A New Haven business, Valentino Tailors, is featured in some scenes.
Bentlage said he hopes people come out and support local theaters, while enjoying the film.
“I want to support the local theaters and it’s a great way for people to have a night out and support these small theaters, too,” Bentlage said. “My goal with “Watching Mr. Pearson” is to showcase the incredible cast, make sure the audience sees their work and their passion. Of course, it’s always the dream to have the movie picked up by a distributor.”
Following the Strand debut, Bentlage and the creative team, and possibly one or two of the film’s actors, will be on hand for a Q&A session to take a deeper dive into the making of “Watching Mr. Pearson.”