For the past four weeks I’ve been directing a major feature film in Portugal and Spain. Along with my wife and partner of 45 years, Jennifer Cluff, I’ve been producing as well.

I’m into my ninth year of living with Parkinson’s disease, and I have to say that at times, it’s been extremely challenging.

Producing. and directing a movie is challenging at the best of times, but add Parkinson’s to the mix and it elevates those challenges to a whole other level.

The film I’m making is The Way, Her Way, the follow up to my 2024 hit The Way, My Way.

Mobility is one issue.

Directing a movie on location, particularly a movie about someone walking a Camino, requires a certain mobility and agility. You have to climb hills, walk across fields, cross rocky creeks to explore different angles, line up shots etc.

I’m not nearly as nimble as I used to be. In fact, I finally succumbed and bought a walking cane from a Spanish dollar bazaar. Cost? €7.50. It’s helped my ability to walk and get around enormously.

But there are other unseen, unspoken aspects of Parkinson’s that have made things difficult for me as well.

Depending on where I am on my medication cycle my speech and articulation can be impaired. I literally find it hard sometimes to speak to the actors and crew and let them know what I want.

Also, at times I don’t have the volume of speech to yell out “Action,” or “Cut.” I’m serious. Sometimes other members of the crew have to do that for me.

Also, one of the major symptoms of Parkinson’s is disrupted sleep. I am not able to sleep for longer than two hours straight before waking up. Most mornings during this shoot I’ve arrived on set with little more than five hours sleep. Usually it’s less than that.

The cast and crew have been incredible in helping me and supporting me. Geraldine Hakewill, the lead actress, has been wonderful in assisting me in so many ways. And of course there’s Jennifer, without whom I could not get through a day.

Little things: it takes me ten minutes to shave. It takes me twenty minutes to get dressed. Tying my shoe laces and buckling my belt take four to five times longer than before I had PD.

That said, Director of Photography Calum Stewart said to me today that he hasn’t really noticed much difference to before – he said I’m still full of energy. Still jumping out of vehicles to explore a location or discuss coverage.

I’m determined to not let this incurable and progressively degenerative brain disease stop me from my purpose – and that is to make movies that impact audiences in a positive and uplifting way. It’s slowing me down, there’s no doubt, but it won’t stop me.

Jennifer is an integral part of what I do.

Without her I’m just a shell.