Short Film by Sibling Survivor Jeff Orgill

By Jeffrey Jay Orgill

In February 2009, after breaking up with my girlfriend and moving out of our home, my dad invited me to move in with him and I found myself living back in the house where I’d grown up.  This was a bit troubling to me for many reasons– primarily the state of disrepair the house had fallen into and the story behind that.  When I was asked to be on a “Men and Grief” panel at the American Association of Suicidology being held in San Francisco I decided to make a film on the subject which I would show at the conference.

My dad had suffered extreme grief from a family tragedy, my younger brother Brian’s suicide, and the house had become a stark reflection of his inner suffering.  I’d made another short narrative film which focused on my mom’s experience soon after my brother’s death and now I was making a short documentary about my dad and youngest brother’s experience with grief.

My approach was to just start taping using a small Sony DV handicam.  They soon got used to my constant shooting and interviewing.  My dad and Jayson were both very open to talking on camera.  These talks were actually the first time I’d discussed any of these emotions or events at length with either my dad or my brother.  And they had a camera pointed at them the whole time.  It was very brave and generous of them to share such private thoughts and moments from their lives.

I hope that “Grief: a family healing” will encourage others who’ve suffered this tragedy of losing a loved one to open up and re-connect with family suffering grief, a very complex, painful emotion.

Watch the short film on YouTube here.

2 Responses to “Short Film by Sibling Survivor Jeff Orgill”

1. Phyllis, on November 4th, 2009 at 1:34 am Said:

   Dearest Jeff Orgill,

   My heart goes out to you and your family. I watched your youtube film… it was very touching. It’s difficult to connect with your family when everyone’s lives have been affected so drastically. It’s so painful that one would rather just leave it in silence. But, I know that isn’t how to cope.

   I just lost my younger brother back in January. The holidays are coming up and I know it’s going to be very very difficult. I still wake up some days thinking that it isn’t real…but it very much is!!!!

   Thank you for sharing your story with the rest of us out there. May this world treat you and your family with much love and heart.

   Best Wishes,
   Phyllis

2. anthony pedone, on November 18th, 2009 at 10:04 am Said:

   man, i would love to see this short. i lost my brother, though not to suicide, about 10 years ago, and watched myself and my family spiral into what seemed like an endless black hole of withdrawn, destructive behavior. I was already a pretty bad drug addict, but went even further into my destructive behavior by banging a ridiculous amount of heroin and meth. I committed robbery, car theft, identity theft and finally ended up in prison.

   I can not imagine the compounded affect this must have had on my family. It was a selfish act on my part, being the oldest brother, to not be there for my family. You are a champion, Jeff.