For the past three years, Gabe Van Lelyveld has been working on a documentary that’s sought to capture a life-changing relationship between two local men, one of them struggling with homelessness and addiction, and the other a passionate advocate for recovery.

Van Lelyveld, a Port Townsend Film Festival alumni, is also the owner of Whaleheart Productions, a video production company in Port Townsend. His documentary, which has a working title of “Damian and Michael,” has become a passion project.

Now he’s turning to the surrounding community to help him get his film across the finish line.

Van Lelyveld summed up his titular pair by describing Damian as an aspiring comic, musician and “spiritual healer,” who’s battling both addiction and the stresses of homelessness, while Michael has a deep understanding of recovery, fueled by decades of lived experience.

“Together, they struggle to overcome their demons, and live lives of creativity, compassion and connection,” said Van Lelyveld. He elaborated that his “extremely intimate” documentary aims to change the way audiences view those struggling with addiction and homelessness.

“Relationship-centered and radically compassionate, it is a story of perseverance, and the will to find enduring happiness, despite one's circumstances,” he said.

Van Lelyveld’s documentary is in the early stages of post-production, and had remained entirely self-funded up until March 19, when he launched a crowdfunding campaign,
at tinyurl.com/dmdocumentary online, to pay an editor, to help him craft the narrative and work toward an assembly cut of the film by June.

With barely half a month left to raise funds online, Van Lelyveld reflected on how his passion project started, since he lives near enough to the Jefferson County Fairgrounds to have observed one of the county’s homeless populations firsthand.

Although Van Lelyveld describes himself as “less than outgoing,” and coming from “a comfortable upbringing,” he found himself quickly engaged by Damian’s warm, funny personality, just as much as he was by Michael’s practical, committed philosophy of care.

“Michael really puts his heart out there,” Van Lelyveld said. “He uses his own experiences with recovery to give back to others, because he knows what they’re going through.”

Michael was physically and emotionally abused at the boys’ home where he was raised until he turned 14, and by 17, he was illiterate and living in an abandoned house in California, while Damian suffered years of neglect from his mother, until he left home at 17, and at 19, he lost his father to suicide.

Damian now lives year-round in a small tent, and does tarot readings on the street, as well as stand-up comedy and music at “open mic” nights, in addition to writing poetry for a local independent arts and culture quarterly, while Michael’s past struggles with substance use disorder and homelessness help him help others in need.

“In the time I've known him, Michael has literally saved at least one life after an overdose,” Van Lelyveld said. “He helps so many people on a daily basis, by feeding them, finding out what their needs are, doing everything he can to connect them with resources, and being an open heart and a listening ear, when people just need to know that someone cares.”

Van Lelyveld likewise spoke not only of Damian’s “oddball humor,” but also his “spiritual wisdom,” which he shares “when people need a little guidance” on a day-to-day basis.

“His poetry and music are heartfelt, and extremely vulnerable,” Van Lelyveld said. “He inspires with his perseverance and vision for a brighter future.”

Just as Damian and Michael have forged a long-term relationship with each other, over the course of Damian’s proceedings through the criminal justice system, Van Lelyveld spoke of the long-term relationships he developed with each of them, over the course of making his documentary.

“Gaining people’s trust, and access to their spaces, were both challenges,” Van Lelyveld said. “At the same time, I was balancing my other work and family responsibilities, as the father of small children. And yet, getting to know, and documenting, the lives of Damian and Michael has meant so much to me. They are both incredible human beings, with real gifts to offer the world.”

Van Lelyveld’s goal is to finish the film by February of 2025, in time to submit it to the Port Townsend Film Festival that spring. With the Port Townsend Film Festival as a fiscal sponsor, he’s seeking to connect with individuals interested in making tax-deductible investments toward the film’s late-stage post-production and distribution.