cwp film center presents: how i see it: rocco 

When Rocco Fiorentino was born four months premature, doctors gave him a less than  5% chance of survival. His unyielding spirit shone through from the beginning, and while  his retinopathy of prematurity left him completely blind, he overcame the odds and  began an incredible life journey. As a child with perfect pitch, he developed into a music  prodigy and performer. 

Rocco went on to a flourishing career as a music producer and audio engineer in  Nashville, Tennessee, where he lives with his guide dog Gidget. His music-filled story  explores the nature of inner vision and deep human connection, and reveals that  sometimes our eyes get in the way of true seeing.  

This short documentary film is directed and produced by legally blind filmmaker Daria  Zawadzki (who has known Rocco since 2013), with co-director and producer Karen  Shapiro, and Emmy winning producer and editor Shaun Kadlec. The film features a  beautiful original score by renowned composer Chadwick Canon, sound design and mix  by Emmy winning Lawrence Everson, and color by Luke Cahill. "How I See It: Rocco"  brings the often misunderstood experience of blind and visually impaired people to life  through a heartwarming and endlessly surprising film with universal themes.

DescriDaria Zawadzki - Creator, Director & Executive  Producer 

DARIA ZAWADZKI is a filmmaker, clinical social worker, non-practicing attorney, and  longtime advocate for people who are blind or visually impaired. She earned a BA in  Psychology from Harvard University, followed by a Masters in Social Work from  Columbia University and a Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law. For the  past two decades, Daria has worked with Lighthouse Guild, where she leads nationwide  virtual support groups serving blind and visually impaired adolescents and adults. Her  earlier professional experience includes counseling in an underserved New York City  elementary school through Partnership With Children, as well as legal advocacy  focusing on special education and public interest law. 

Born and raised in Miami Beach to Cuban immigrant parents, Daria's love of piano led  her to attend a performing arts high school. At the age of 17, just weeks before  beginning college, she was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic condition  that causes progressive vision loss. This journey has deeply informed her personal and  professional path. With her family, she helped found the nonprofit Hope For Vision,  which raised vital funding to advance research toward treatments and cures for blinding  diseases. Daria lives in New York City with Joe, her husband and college sweetheart.  Their beloved children, Dune Rose and Jack Milo, have launched.  

Together with her co-director and cherished friend Karen Shapiro (Kiki), In A Nutshell,  LLC was born. Their first short documentary film, "How I See It: Rocco”, grew from a  humble seed into a gorgeous portrait of a life. Throughout the filmmaking process Daria  experienced the joy of collaborating with and learning from award winning filmmakers,  for which she is forever grateful. Daria is passionate about creating an anthology of  short documentaries, each one about a young adult living with blindness. 

Karen Shapiro - Co-Director & Producer 

KAREN SHAPIRO is a former fashion director and magazine editor whose career has  taken her around the globe, immersing her in the vibrant worlds of style and creativity.  She has collaborated with prestigious publications such as Elle Magazine, Rolling  Stone, Men's Journal, and Maxim. Karen transitioned to styling commercials and videos  for notable brands like Visa and Lexus, as well as styling segments for Who Wants to  Be a Rockstar and Comedy Central, where she honed her skills in visual storytelling for  national networks.  

Born on Long Island, Karen embraced New York City as soon as she could and has  been a devoted New Yorker ever since. She raised her child, Cherry, instilling in them a  kaleidoscopic view of the world. Karen holds a BA in Communications with a minor in  English from Boston University.  

Karen has had the opportunity to collaborate with her dear friend and creator, Daria  Zawadzki, to co-direct and produce “How I See It: Rocco:, a compelling documentary  that tells the story of a blind audio engineer living independently in Nashville.  Throughout this journey, Karen has worked alongside an award-winning editor and  composer, as well as experts in sound and color design, enhancing the project's overall  impact. Karen has gained invaluable insights into the blind community and found the  experience extremely rewarding.  

Shaun Kadlec - Producer & Editor 

SHAUN KADLEC’s documentary Possible Selves, following the journey of two  teenagers from foster care to college, won the 2025 Los Angeles Area Emmy® for best  independent programming. His previous film Born This Way, about the LGBTQ+  community in Cameroon, premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival ahead of its  PBS broadcast and streaming release on Amazon Prime. 

After majoring in musicology at Carleton College as a first-generation student, Shaun  did a yearlong Fulbright Fellowship in Sri Lanka where he studied the power of  storytelling to transform conflict during the nation's civil war. This is when he first  discovered documentary filmmaking. 

Shaun has directed commercial projects in a range of styles, from on-the-road  automotive spots for Xos Trucks to comedic spots for the Courage Campaign. He grew  up between the central valley of California and rural Alabama, a tender-hearted but  unstoppable gay kid finding his way through a challenging world. He lives in Los  Angeles.

Rocco Fiorentino - FILM SUBJECT

ROCCO FIORENTINO is a Nashville-based producer, mixing and tracking engineer,  and musician. He has played piano since the age of two and began singing at age five.  Music has been at the center of his life ever since. Today he helps artists turn their  vision into finished recordings, as an arranger, vocal producer and engineer. He  performs regularly around Nashville and beyond.  

Blind since birth, Rocco does all of this using a screen reader. Along the way he has  built accessible software for the blind to use a swipe keyboard for the iPhone and  developed tools for routing and recording audio on the Mac. This gives more blind  musicians and creators the ability to work as independently as he does.  

“How I See It: Rocco” follows that journey, and the way he hears, builds and creates in a  world designed for the sighted.  

Through his music and his message, Rocco continues to remind us that one person,  one pair of hands, and one voice can truly make a difference in the lives of others.ption text goes here