Back at the Cannes Film Festival for the next week.
Iāll be in Cannes through the 18th meeting with filmmakers and creative teams from around the world. If youāre here too, letās connect. Always excited to meet good people doing meaningful work!!
Last week was one of those weeks that reminded me why what we do truly matters.
Over 4 days, across 6 schools, 2 states, and during Teacher Appreciation Week, I had the chance to interview nearly 30 teachers and students for three documentaries. And I got to film in my nieces schools too!
Teachers are literally helping raise the next generation every single day. Theyāre encouraging kids through challenges, building confidence, creating safe spaces, pushing creativity, and helping students believe in themselves and their futures.
Watching the connection between teachers and students up close was powerful. You could feel the impact in every classroom, every conversation, and every story shared.
To all the teachers out there, thank you for what you do. In our current electronic-centered world, your work matters more than ever.
AI and virtual production are quickly becoming the most talked about and most debated topics in our industry right now. Itās pretty polarizing.
Yesterday I got to spend the day at the @vu.network Summit, huge thanks to @tampa_tim and the team for putting it together.
This stuff isnāt comingā¦ itās already here.
And instead of being afraid of it, I think we have to lean in. Learn it. Experiment with it. Figure out how it actually makes us better at what we do.
Because the tools will change, but great storytelling and human connection donāt.
Grateful for the day and optimistic (and curious) about where this all goes.
Would love to hear your thoughts on where this is going!
Eight years ago, on the first day of spring, I had my last chemo treatment for stage 3b colon cancer....and it snowed!!
I didnāt fully realize it at the time, but that day marked more than the end of a really hard season. It was the beginning of a new chapter. A second chance at life.
With March being Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Iāve been reflecting on how grateful I am to still be here. To be a dad. A husband. To build, create, and tell stories. To simply have more time.
Cancer has a way of stripping everything down to what really matters. It gave me a perspective I carry into everything I do today.
If thereās one thing Iād share, itās this
Get a colonoscopy.
Itās simple. Itās preventative. And it can save your life.
Donāt wait. Donāt assume youāre too young. Donāt put it off.
Early detection made all the difference for me.
Grateful for life. Grateful for more springs.
The industry is changing. Fast.
And SXSW reminded me why that can sometimes be a good thing.
Thereās no denying that our industry is in a moment of real transition. But being surrounded by storytellers, creatives, and innovators this past week left me feeling genuinely optimistic about whatās ahead.
I truly believe this is one of the most exciting times to be alive as a storyteller and creative. New tools, new platforms, and new ways to connect with audiences are opening doors weāve never seen before.
Curious, how is everyone else feeling about where things are headed?
And on a personal note, getting to experience it all with my wife and business partner, Ash, who doesnāt always travel with me, made it even more meaningful.
Great night celebrating the launch of the new @figlancaster magazine at the beautiful new Commons On Vine event space at the @lancastermarriottpennsquare
It was really special to see @makefilmsco and our new studio featured in this issue. Lancaster continues to grow into such a vibrant creative and business community, and itās exciting to be building something here alongside so many great people.
Grateful for the support and the momentum in this city.
Lancaster really is a special place!!
Do you agree that coffee is the best part of the day?
Some of us at @makefilmsco , looking at you, @jordankgraff , can drink pots of coffee every day.
Which is why collaborating with Passenger Coffee made so much sense. Some of our best ideas have started with coffee + a team brainstorm.
Because great work rarely starts alone.
It starts in conversation.
In curiosity.
In collaboration.
And coffee.
Eight months ago this was an idea.
This weekā¦ itās a working film studio.
Our studio is officially done, and weāre already in our second week of shooting inside it, which honestly feels a little surreal. For months this place existed as sketches, late-night conversations, measurements, and a whole lot stress and āokay waitā¦ what if we tried this instead?ā
There were definitely moments where it felt like we were building the plane while flying it, construction decisions, design tweaks, light installs, logistics, and a million tiny details that I spent too much most people will never notice.
Iām really grateful for the MAKE/FILMS, our partners, and everyone who encouraged us when this was still just a vision. This space was built for creativity, collaboration, and storytelling, and seeing it come alive this week is one of those moments Iāll never forget.
Weāre here. And weāre just getting started. Letās make something meaningful.
Life is about the work/life blend.
Had to head to NYC for a client review of a short documentary we produced for a live event, so Makayla came with me and we made a day of it. Saw Wicked, explored the city, and then got to work. Grateful for days when you donāt have to choose between meaningful work and family memories
