Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer John Kaplan will show his new 54-minute feature length film chronicling his cancer journey at 7 p.m. April 21 on campus in room 134 of the Communication Arts and Sciences building. The screening is free and open to the public.
Now more than one year into remission and back to health, Kaplan’s goal for the “Not As I Pictured” film is to get thousands of free copies in the hands of any patients, survivors and caregivers who would desire one, says Ka¬plan. The film is serious, but upbeat, life-affirming, and even humorous at times. Working with leading cancer educa¬tion organizations, Kaplan plans a pilot distribution program this fall in Florida, where he is a professor of journalism at the University of Florida. Early next year, the free distribution program will go nationwide.
Bringing the film for its first campus appearance to Michigan is no coincidence. A considerable portion of it was shot in Detroit. When schoolteacher Todd Koehn’s younger brother Ryan, a Detroit firefighter, was himself diagnosed with brain cancer, he found a Pulitzer Prize-winning picture of Kaplan’s on the Internet. The photo of rock star Phil Anselmo of Pantera would become Ryan’s inspiration to live. Todd Koehn wrote the photographer, having no idea that Kaplan was himself fighting cancer, too. What transpired was a surprise visit to Michigan. As Kaplan puts it, “I don’t want to give away the film, but it was a wild rock ‘n’ roll day never to be forgotten.”
The Koehn brothers will be on hand to take part in a discussion with Kaplan following the film. Todd is an MSU graduate. Ryan, now also in remission, and back to his normal life as a firefighter, was in the news earlier this year as he a fellow fireman ran into a burning house in Detroit and pulled a 5-year-old to safety less than a minute before the house collapsed.
“Nobody asks for cancer,” says Kaplan. “But this film, in its small way, really does help give people the cour¬age to know you can make it back to the other side; to health and the joy of every day.”
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