The Opposite of Isolated
A New web series about talking to strangers launches on CBC’s Creator Network
The timely documentary series tackles post-pandemic loneliness by taking to the streets of Vancouver for intimate and vulnerable conversations.
[Vancouver, BC] – “Everybody has a story to tell, if you ask the right way,” says Julian Baisa, the central figure of The Opposite of Isolated, a new documentary web series from CBC. The three-episode series follows Julian leaving his home for the first time after isolation to observe people through the lens of his camera. Searching for moments of connection, Julian engages in vulnerable and personal conversations with real strangers, who open up about their lives, identity, struggles, and loneliness.
The series, co-directed by Ayesha Habib and Leo award-winner Everett Bumstead, is inspired by the storytelling of Humans of New York and the magic of serendipitous interaction with strangers. Following the collective loneliness and disconnect of the pandemic, the filmmakers sought to capture real stories by approaching people on the street to speak with Julian about their lives.
From a story about a retiree’s lost love to a young woman’s journey healing from mental illness to a young man’s bond with his partially-blind dog, the conversations are detailed with poignant moments, treasurable wisdom, and relatable emotions.
“There has never been a more important time to talk to strangers,” Bumstead says. “This is a series about finding beauty in the people and places all around us.”
Filmed with a dreamlike quality that resonates with the romanticism of people watching, each episode takes place in a different outdoors location across the city—a skytrain station, a skate park, and a dog park—and reflects the unique locality of its setting, grounding the series in a distinctly Vancouver framework.
The Opposite of Isolated aired on the evening CBC Vancouver News. Episodes one, two, and three are immediately available on CBC’s Vancouver Youtube channel.
Press kit with hi-res images and teaser clips can be found here.
Connect on Instagram @keep.it.in.the.streets
