Film Featuring The Lighthouse’s Tim Paul Wins Awards and Breaks Barriers
Plenty of people around The Chicago Lighthouse have known about the extraordinary achievements and qualities of Tim Paul, who – in addition to working as an Agent in the UI Health Contact Center – has run in more than 20 marathons (including New York, Boston, Chicago and Houston), water and snow skis, sings in his local choir and plays the flute, among many other things.
In early April, the world got its first chance to meet this Renaissance man through a new documentary called “I’m Only Blind.” Tim was greeted with a standing ovation and the Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary at the 25th Annual International Beverly Hills Film Festival. With more than 55,000 attendees annually, this event is considered among the most exclusive film festivals in the world.
The documentary was written and directed by Kamelya Alexan, a Chicago-based filmmaker who has worked on more than 45 projects, including feature films, documentaries, shorts and music videos. Alexan first heard about Tim through a chance encounter with The Lighthouse’s former Vice President of Public Relations, Dom Calabrese. As she got to know more about Tim, his determination, positive personality, and his many accomplishments, she felt that more people needed to know his story.
“I wanted the world to meet Tim Paul,” she says. She notes that despite his affable manner, Tim is an intense competitor who always sets the highest standards for himself and never gives up.
For Tim, the appeal of being featured in this film was having the opportunity to demonstrate that nothing is truly impossible if you are determined enough to achieve it.
“I hope that the film encourages people with disabilities to never stop believing in themselves and to forcefully take on the challenges they face in daily living,” Tim says.
The making of “I’m Only Blind” was a two-year journey, filming Tim’s daily life as well as the training he undertakes for his many races, his participation in community projects and organizations (including Lions International and blood drives), and his employment at The Lighthouse.
Alexan noted that The Lighthouse has played a large role in helping Tim accomplish all that he has and added that the organization made a big contribution to the film’s accessibility. Through a Lighthouse contribution, “I’m Only Blind” includes an audio descriptive narration track that describes key visual elements, including character expressions, settings and actions during pauses in dialogue, making the film accessible for people who are blind or visually impaired.
“I’m Only Blind” was the first film in the Beverly Hills Film Festival’s 25-year history that used audio description, Alexan says.
Lighthouse President and CEO Dr. Janet Szlyk says that ensuring accessibility was critical for this film, given the subject. “Tim told me it was the first time he was able to ‘see’ a piece that was created about him,” says Dr. Szlyk, who attended the film festival.“I’m glad we could make that happen for him, even though I’m a bit incredulous it has taken 25 years to have an audio-described film at such a prestigious event.”
“I’m Only Blind” will receive its Chicago premiere at an exclusive event at CineCity Studios, 2429 W. 14th St., on Saturday, July 12. A limited number of tickets are available for $75 each at imonlyblind.com. Alexan and her producing partners continue to submit the film to festivals around the world and are hoping to set up further screenings in Chicago later this year.
