Chris Calabrese envisioned a normal life for himself, with the capabilities to pursue physical activities with ease as young people would. But things didn’t go as planned. He was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy in 2016, a group of genetic diseases that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass. The disease affected his confidence and mental health, but he managed to defy the odds to create quality films celebrated by a global audience.
On top of affecting his mobility, Chris Calabrese saw his self-worth plummet down to rock bottom because of his disease. At some point, he became suicidal, not knowing what else he could achieve with the limitations of his body. It wasn’t until he grew older that he began to notice how debilitating muscular dystrophy could be. His days were mostly filled with constant pain and suffering, and it reduced his physical activities.
“I see many therapists weekly to keep me on track and to make sure I’m doing alright, and I was put on antidepressants, which have helped a lot, but it’s really hard for me to express the way I feel to my friends and family because no one knows what this disease feels like except for me and the ones who also have it,” expressed Chris Calabrese.
Throughout his journey, filmmaking was the one thing that kept Chris Calabrese pushing forward. He first held a camera at 13 years old as he and his friends used filmmaking as a fun activity together. Soon, Christ grew more interested in filmmaking and went on to make a big purchase in buying a professional camera. Additionally, he purchased video editing software to produce better films. The self-taught filmmaker was determined to succeed in the industry as not many in the field share the same challenges as him.
Since then, Chris Calabrese has been continually creating content for his Youtube channel. For over five years, the content creator has felt happiness and fulfillment knowing that his videos inspire people worldwide. Not only is his content entertaining but also inspiring. Recently, Chris produced a movie called Stay At Home, created amid the pandemic together with his long-time friend Chris Nudo. The filmmaker takes great satisfaction in making something that can inspire people during these trying times.
Filmmaking has taken Chris Calabrese away from his sadness and gave him a sense of fulfillment he hasn’t experienced in a long time. He aspires to make more movies that would help people mentally and be relatable for all viewers worldwide. Christopher dreams of putting out films that would tell his story and others like him suffering the same circumstances. Every day, he strives to take himself out of his comfort zone and become more than his disease.
Instead of wallowing in self-pity, Chris Calabrese chose to see the brighter side of his life, believing that God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers. It took Christopher quite some time before he finally embraced his limitations and strived to make the most out of it. He remains grateful for the life he has and all the precious opportunities that come his way. To learn more about Chris Calabrese, visit his YouTube channel and Instagram account.
