To our future kids - once upon a time your mom and dad were outlaws. But then they got married and did a number of other equally outrageous things.
Thank you for all who came to the best day of our lives.
When we endeavor to see the best in each other, we remember that we’re part of something bigger than ourselves.
I am so proud to be the Series Producer and EP for this anthology of documentary films for CNN.
For over a year we met every week to discuss potential stories of the past and present in order to identify the ones that would remind us of our shared humanity. In some way, finding these stories would remind me why I do this. These stories are about healing. These stories are about hope. I needed that more than I realized at the time.
Then I had to do the hardest thing and hand off these stories to the incredibly talented directors to bring them to life. They brought layers of depth that i never could have foreseen. These films remind me what makes this country such a special place.
These films show that through our differences, and even our trauma, we are able to dream of a better life. We can solve the problems in our present and not repeat the mistakes of our past. I learned that through the act of letting go I would get more in return than I could have comprehended on my own.
Thank you to the whole team who made this possible, especially my brain trust producing team @rehabforcandy , @blaisedolce , and @marloweblue . Forever grateful to @hannahkuz and @schemeengine for having my back.
EPs: @bunkleya@chas_todd@devinscheme@mm_se@ryrobin@extrakappy
Line producer: @blaisedolce
Producer: @rehabforcandy
Associate Producer: @marloweblue
Field Producers: @brianmc_elroy@monakarrenbach@jykfilms
HOP for Scheme Engine: @jamesrothman
Directors: @markandrewbone@chas_todd@yuisrain@ariannalapenne
DPs: @davidbolendp@gaulporat@leroy_farrell@carella
Editors: @evadubovoy@mm_se@eric__barr@lafresca369@thebrianredondo
Original Score: @lucasellman
Assistant Editor: @trussellgiles
Reps: @hannahkuz@carly_fromm
Production co: @schemeengine
Tonight the first of three episodes that I’m hosting will premiere on @vicetv . The series is investigating the Who, What, and Why behind the anonymous figure known as Q.
I don’t know about you guys, but halfway through the pandemic — I felt like I was taking the easy road by only talking to people that I agree with. In creating this project; I would challenge myself to live a mission that I’ve preached for years in order to understand why millions of Americans were attracted to this digital prophet.
At the start of this project, I imagined that I could find a bipartisan action, legislation, or organization that this series can support. What I learned is that the the institutions of government, academia, and social media are only beginning to catch up to what Q is in the first place.
By the end, I realized that neither social media, congress, or a new president was going to get us out of this mess. It has to be seen as a civic duty, from person to person, to rebuild a connection with someone we may have lost over political disagreements. That is the work that is truly patriotic and will restore the promise that this country represents to the world. We have to realize that just because you block someone on social media doesn’t mean they stop existing. We have a long journey until we are able to address the underlying reasons why people were drawn — by the tens of millions — to Q. But I am hopeful that we can do it.
Thank you for reading my Ted talk.
Hi Instafam, I missed you. A couple of years ago I began producing a documentary series with @schemeengine that gives an inside look at a school filled with brave young people fighting addiction while earning high school diplomas. The four part series is airing on MTV this week. What I’m most proud of is that this series, masterfully edited by @lucymunger , focuses on solutions — not just problems — and celebrates the educators, counselors, and parents on the front lines.
With our fearless advocate @hannahkuz , @mtv not only invested in this project — but they also invested resources in the community and a national campaign around addiction because we made it a deal breaker. There are so many issues deserving of our focus right now, but I hope this series provides ideas, tools, and understanding for anyone who is struggling or has loved ones who are.
Long story short, this project demonstrates how media can be a force for good in our communities when we remember to remember each other. Please watch and let me know what you think!
Dear Dad, I know I’m your son because I grow up to see you in the mirror in ways that I never expected, and striving to be like you in the ways that we are different.
The 2015 earthquake in Kathmandu left millions of kids without parents and forced them to fend for themselves. I don’t know this kids full story, but I saw him being picked on by a bunch of other kids who didn’t appear to have much better to do. I saw them grab him by the collar and push him around while this kid tried to ignore them and just move on selling his cotton candy.
I got choked up watching this happen, and I went over and asked the young man if I could take his photo. The other boys looked confused and pushed in front of him posing like I should take their picture instead. I pushed them aside and walked him away from his bullies and took this photo real quick, but it wasn’t about the photo. I reached into my pocket and gave him 1000 rupee and I wish I could show you his joy when he slipped it in his pocket and gave me a hug with tears in his eyes.
We all deal with different challenges, but it always reveals the true nature of who we are deep down. To all the hard workers out there, there will always be people who have nothing better to do than tear you down — but more importantly there will be people who recognize your hustle. I am fortunate to be in a position to be the latter today, but only because I’ve had great men recognize my hustle and give me opportunities. I hope this small action can motivate this young man to stay focused in his initiative to not let the opinions of lesser people define him.
When I walked past this lady selling garlic on the street I was really struck by the character in her face. I stopped and asked if I could take a photo, and she asked for 50 rupee. I reached in my wallet but only had 10 rupee so I offered her that. She declined. I left her the 10 rupee anyway without taking the picture. I walked away and kept thinking about the image I wanted to capture, but was equally impressed by her turning me down. I went to get cash and returned with 100 rupee (pictured in hand). Game respects game and shout out to those who fight for their fair share.
