Finding Home in Filmmaking: 2014 Alumnus Makes His Directorial Debut

Watching Mr. Pearson tells the story of a once-famous Hollywood actor slipping into the fog of dementia. The film follows his attempt to reconnect with the world through performance — and the friendships he makes with his caretakers. It explores themes of aging, memory, identity, and the unwavering power of human connection and forming new friendships.

“As a filmmaker and producer, I find myself constantly navigating the industry’s complex landscape, witnessing talented creators struggle to bring their visions to life.,” said Dillon. “I want to make films because I need to make films. Watching Mr. Pearson is my journey back to the joy of filmmaking, free from the pressures and approvals of others. In many ways, this film mirrors the desire to rediscover my passion for the art form that is cinema, rather than the business that is movie making.”

Dillon is the co-founder of the production company Karen Twins Pictures, or KT Pictures, along with his lifelong friend Brian Reilly. The team has expanded to include Dillon’s friend Simon Kincade as a producer and two other writing partners and collaborators. Since its inception, KT Pictures has worked on multiple short films, three feature films, and an international web series titled Play It By Ear. The series was accepted into the
Nashville Film Festival, HollyShorts, Dances With Films, and Catalyst Content Festival.

Through rediscovering his passion for filmmaking, Dillon said he wanted his next project to be something meaningful and impactful. The inspiration for the film stemmed from personal experience as both he and his creative partner Simon have experienced the pain of loved ones with dementia. Dillon noted that they learned to view dementia as a change, rather than a decline.

With the idea in mind, the team worked endlessly and the film took a year and five months from first draft to final render. It was filmed entirely on the coast of Guilford, Conn., at Villa Louise, with the actor Hugo Armstrong attached to the role of Mr. Pearson. Dillion shared that he was blown away by Hugo’s performance in the film Wedding Day and knew he wanted to work with him. As production came to a close, Dillon recalled how he knew Hugo was the right for the role as his performance elevates the film to the place it is meant to be as “he put years of history behind his eyes and brought gravitas, passion and energy to every scene.”

Watching Mr. Pearson will be in select theaters across Connecticut in the towns and cities of Bethel, Seymour, Madison, and Mystic on April 9 through April 12.  Dillon said he encourages the audience to watch the film with an open mind and invite viewers into a world where storytelling is an intimate, soulful expression. 

“Through this project, I wanted to make a poignant movie with themes about legacy, isolation, and golden-age melancholy but not at the expense of hope,” said Dillion. “The film serves as a reminder that in the pursuit of leaving a legacy, the most enduring legacy is one’s unwavering love for the craft.

Dillon graduated from Boston University in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in cinema studies and a minor in literature. Following graduation, he moved to Amsterdam where he worked as an editor for three years at Storm Productions, a post-production film company.