This week I experienced a brand new way to feel rewarded for my work. In the 15+ years I've been shooting and editing video, I've had plenty of professionally and personally gratifying experiences. Through a wide range of genres, I've been able to elicit emotion, change behaviors, inspire, teach, motivate, inform and surprise my viewers, but this time it came in a way I would have never expected.
About three years ago we worked on the feature documentary, A Soldier's Peace, which documented an Iraq veteran's walk for peace across Utah. Many people showed their support by walking a small portion of the route with the veteran. The film won several awards in the film festival circuit, but recently the project became rewarding in a whole new way.
I received a call from a father explaining he had recently lost his son to a tragic accident. Searching for anything that could help preserve the memory of his son, he remembered they participated in a small section of the peace walk together. Knowing the event was throughly captured on tape, he respectfully requested we search our footage for any appearances of the young man. Unfortunately, the family had very little video of their son to that point. The father suggested even small glimpses would bring healing. With help from photos, I dove into our archives and began a thorough search. After a short time, I identified 13 different clips where he appeared, amounting to nearly five minutes he was visible in frame. What a success! I quickly informed the gentleman. This was a portion of his response:
"We struggle every day trying to face this terriible loss. To be able to see him as he was and have some memories of him restored to us is a priceless treasure. I know that it will bring my wife and children both joy and tears to see it."
I never could have predicted the most meaningful impact of this film wouldn't even be on our target audience. We are grateful to help this hurting family in some small way. Our deepest sympathies go out to them. And this is just one reason why I do what I do and why I love it.