Candid by Michael Scanlan
T.J., a young student photographer, chronicles the break-up of his family after his mother walks out. The demise of the family and its devastating effect are captured in dramatic and photographic flashbacks. T.J. tries to make sense out of all this, but no one is willing to talk or listen: not his mother, his girlfriend, or teacher. Using his photographs, he reflects, All Art is enlightening. But does it have to be so painful?
“In our production, we leaned into the idea that T.J. is not just living his life, he is documenting it, almost desperately trying to preserve something before it disappears. His camera becomes more than a prop. It becomes a lens through which he processes grief, confusion, and responsibility. Each image represents an attempt to hold onto connection, even as those connections slip further out of reach. But the play challenges both T.J. and the audience with an important question: does capturing a moment mean we truly understand it?”
- Jamesyn Whitlock
Process
At its core, Candid follows a teenage photographer trying to make sense of his world as it unravels around him. After his mother walks out, T.J. 's family begins to fracture, and the relationships he depends on like his parents, his friends, even his girlfriend, begin to fall apart. Through a series of fragmented memories and photographic snapshots, we watch him try to reconstruct what happened, searching for clarity in moments that feel incomplete and unresolved.
How do we bring his story to life?
By bringing in these classic 80’s pieces, we are able to set the complete scene for T.J.’s story. By utilizing the era of clothing, the current technology, and by researching the current events, the world of their house slowly comes to life. By using a minimal set that only consisted of their dining room table, it keeps the audience engaged on the wide range of events that take place throughout this production.
What makes Candid so powerful is its refusal to offer easy answers. T.J. is not just a victim of his circumstances, he is an active participant in the unraveling of his relationships. His choices, reactions, and inability to fully communicate contribute to the fractures around him, forcing him to confront the weight of his actions. This complexity is what makes his story so human. We see ourselves in his mistakes, in his attempts to make sense of things too late, and in his desire to go back and change what cannot be undone.
And yet, despite this, the story is not without hope. Within the isolation, there are moments that are brief, quiet, but significant. They remind us that connection still exists. These are the threads that tie people together, even when everything else feels broken. In building this show, we wanted to highlight those moments just as much as the loss, emphasizing that even in disconnection, there is still something worth holding onto.
Publicity and putting Candid together
The goal for promoting and capturing Candid was to put together a cohesive and time accurate publicity shoot that correctly aided the show we were trying to express. By finding a location that helped match the aesthetic of Candid, we were able to utilize it to create an intriguing and captivating publicity experience for our audience.
My Best Friend
Family Portrait
Rico is someone T.J. can truly rely on, someone who knows him better than he knows himself. Despite all of this, he never listens to him. He never listens to anyone.
A normal family portrait that captures their family dynamic while also showing the “fake” characteristics that each character is masking behind
His Whole Heart
Karen, T.J.’s girlfriend, loves him so much. Until, he pushes. He feels so alone that he disregards what other people are going through. In Karen’s eyes, the only thing she can do is walk away from that unexplainable pressure.
The Final Product
Why Candid?
When people watch this show, I encourage them to notice the small details. The moments that might otherwise pass unnoticed. Life is not made up of grand, perfect resolutions, but of these fragments: the things we say, the things we don’t, and the moments we choose to remember. Candid invites us to reflect on how we move through our own lives in how we connect, how we listen, and how we choose to be present with one another.
If this story leaves people with anything, I hope it is a reminder to savor those moments while you have them. To capture them not just through a lens, but through genuine presence. And more importantly, to remember that you are never truly alone. Even when it feels like no one understands, there are people in your life who care, who are listening, and who want to support you, sometimes in ways that are quiet or easy to miss. Connection does not always look the way we expect it to, but it is there. Even in times of isolation, even when things feel like they are falling apart, there is still beauty to be found and there are always people who will stand beside you, whether you realize it or not.