Justin Baldoni On Season 4 of The CW's "My Last Days"

quotWe also broke format a bit this seasonquot he continued amp160quotInstead of appearing in each of the episodes and giving each cast member a amp8216giftamp8217 we wanted to take that time and give them a chance to talk about their experience while watching the show live amp160So each night will feature a round table discussion between myself and the cast about their experience amp160Itamp8217s such a different way of experiencing the showquotOf the individuals featured in Season 4 Baldoni revealed that itamp8217s David Weinlick a father of four battling terminal and inoperable stage IV colon cancer that viewers should have extra Kleenex on hand for amp160quotI think thatamp8217s the power of story of our human stories each is affecting moving and profound in their own wayquot Baldoni shared amp160quotBut Iamp8217d say Daveamp8217s is definitely going to be an entire box of tissue episode buy a few boxes and you should be goodquotBaldoni isnamp8217t kiddingamp160 At a special screening and panel discussion three years ago for the second season of My Last Daysamp160that I attended along with MediaVillage editor Ed Martin boxes of Kleenex were placed on each seat in anticipation of the emotional reactions to comeGiven the subject matter Baldoni has had to find ways to contain his own emotions while working on the show approaching each episode as if he were a student and the participant the teacher amp160quotItamp8217s incredibly humbling and extremely emotional to have someone give you their time when they donamp8217t have a lot of time leftquot he admitted amp160quotTo have someone give you their wisdom all you can hope to do is to hold it and you meet them with the same presence that they are giving youamp8220But I can also tell you that seven years in it stays with youquot he added amp160quotI am still holding the good and the difficult things that come with making a show and making a community like this one amp160I donamp8217t think it will ever get easierquotIn past seasons of My Last Days Baldoni was very handson directing and completely immersing himself in the project amp160However this season he39s crediting Ahmed Musiol and Farhoud Meybodi his partners at his production company Wayfarer for doing the heavy liftingamp160 quotI was directing the feature film Five Feet Apart while they were shooting Season 4 so all the directing credit has to go to them amp160They did such a beautiful job I couldnamp8217t be prouder of the directors they have both becomequotAs Baldoni transitions further behind the camera he39s thankful for the gift the show has given him amp160quotI can confidently say that My Last Days has had a huge impact on my directing style more than anything else I have ever donequot he said quotAfter 25 or so documentaries and now a feature film when you are on set and directing a documentary on the life of someone who is dying there is no room for anything but compassion and an understanding that while you may not capture everything you set out to what you do capture will be so much more beautiful than you could ever imagine because it is raw and real and in the momentquotI39m absolutely gentler and more compassionate than when I first started directingquot he continued amp160quotI have learned that so many things that feel stressful just pale in comparison amp160Itamp8217s as much about the journey as the final productamp160 As long as we approach each day with sincerity and love I wholeheartedly believe the intention somehow magically makes its way on screen amp160What comes from the heart hits the heartquotBaldoni has also found that after four seasons the skillful way in which the participantsamp8217 stories are told has made people eager to share amp160quotIn our experience it seems that when you get diagnosed with something as serious as a terminal illness or youamp8217ve been living with a chronic illness you want to make a difference with your storyquot he said amp160quotThatamp8217s one of the things that make these people superhuman they use their experiences their pain and their suffering to alleviate someone elseamp8217s amp160There is something so kind and rich about thatquotHe is extremely proud of the series one that started as a passion project found a home on YouTube and eventually The CW amp160quotIt became one of the most watched docuseries in YouTube historyquot he saidamp160 quotThat is something that I will forever be grateful for and proud of amp160Thereamp8217s an audience that craves sincere storytelling amp160I39m also proud that The CW was willing to take a risk and put us on the air amp160We recently found out that the Television Academy selected us as one of seven shows they are honoring this year for using the power of television to make an impactamp8220But more than anything I am most proud of the fact that we have been given the honor to be a part of and help create a legacy for these amazing individuals who give us their timequot he said in closing amp160quotI am proud and humbled to have been part of giving their stories a platform and a place for them to share their wisdom and inspire people in a new wayquotMy Last Days is telecast Wednesdays at 8 pm on The CWClick on the social media tiles above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this commentary are exclusively those of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated bloggers

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Justin Baldoni On Season 4 of The CW's "My Last Days"

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Steve Gidlow

"About That with Carl Mayer": Involved Media Connected Audience Fall 2024 Report (Episode 5) - By Carl Mayer

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Justin Baldoni On Season 4 of The CW's "My Last Days"

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Steve Gidlow

"About That with Carl Mayer": Involved Media Connected Audience Fall 2024 Report (Episode 5) - By Carl Mayer

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