Interviews with Filmmakers at the 20th MY HERO Film Festival

Santos Herrera conducted interviews with several filmmakers at the MY HERO 20th Film Festival about their award-winning films, their perspectives on the MY HERO initiative, and their advice for aspiring filmmakers.

Gabriel Diamond 

Gabriel Diamond

During the interview, Gabriel explained how his journey into filmmaking began in junior high when a video production class offered him a creative outlet and shifted the direction of his life. Starting in educational filmmaking, he eventually transitioned to independent films and later secured his dream job at a foundation. This role enabled him to travel the world, telling uplifting stories about inspiring individuals and making a meaningful impact through his work.

Over time, though, Gabriel revealed that he began to question the ethics of "parachuting in" as an outsider to tell stories from communities he had little connection with. This realization led to the creation of The Solution Storytelling Project in collaboration with the Video Consortium. The initiative connects local filmmakers with NGOs, ensuring stories are told authentically by community members and providing opportunities for local talent. Through this project, Gabriel and his team have completed numerous films across Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

For aspiring filmmakers, Gabriel's advice is to start creating without fear, using whatever tools are available, from phones to basic equipment. He emphasizes the importance of telling personal, meaningful stories, seeking constructive feedback, and learning from mistakes. Experimentation, iteration, and mentorship are key to improving one's craft, with a focus on impactful storytelling over perfection.

Diamond enthused:

“I would say do the thing that scares you, that story that is inside you, that you feel like it haunts you and that you know that only you can tell. That kind of is like, is this going to freak people out? Is this too much? Is this this story really needs to be told, and I'm the one to tell it. Lean into that and just experiment and start. I think film school is great. But I think the best thing is really just start ... Make a lot of revisions. A lot of the time it's cut, cut, cut and make it shorter, shorter, shorter and better and more and more impactful. Work your way up to a feature … get a mentor, someone that you admire, and tell someone who will tell you hard truths, get hungry for hard truths and hungry for people who are going to critique your work and not try to make you feel good…Go to shoots, forget your tripod, play, forget your battery, forget your SD card. All the things that we all do. I did it all. Get it out of the way and then you become more and more professional.”

Sonny Depasquale, Founder of Emerging Productions 

Sonny Depasquale

“MY HERO has done a great job in curating short films about heroes from around the world. And so I was really honored to submit my film to this festival because it is now alongside, other projects and content that are just, really deep and (have) important subject matter; it makes me really proud to be a part of it.”

On MY HERO’s Mission

“I think it's really important for organizations like MY HERO to exist, because it gives a platform, to house a lot of this content in one place that, people need to see. Whether it's educators, whether it's people who are like-minded or people who just want to learn, or people who just want to be exposed to what the world has out there. I think having all of this housed in one archive, in one library is just such an amazing tool for so many different people. It's amazing and I am really glad that Bridging Fragments gets to now be a part of it.”

On Advising Future Filmmakers

“Advice I would give to, emerging filmmakers or people that are really passionate about storytelling is just do it. Don't be over concerned about having the right equipment or not having enough money. If there's a story out there, you can find a way to tell it. You know, always have your phone with you …just use that as a medium to tell your story just so you can practice so that you can share stuff. One time I made a film that was completely with just a GoPro, and it made it into festivals. So, just don't limit yourself. Don't compare yourself to other projects out there, with films that might have been made with an entire team. If you're really passionate about story, really your passion and your heart will show through no matter what, devices you use to capture it.

Personal Hero

“I always felt very at home in nature and always loved animals. I just, I guess I always like the underdog. And I've always felt that nature and animals needed a lot of support and help. Especially, as, you know, human populations encroach in their areas … so I would say that my hero was probably Steve Irwin.”

Jess Baron

Jess Baron, founder and executive director of Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom

On MY HERO

“Jeannie Myers and I have been friends for over 30 years,” Jess shares. “We were introduced socially, and the relationship just took off from there. I’ve always looked up to her. I think (a platform such as MY HERO is critical.) Not just important—critically important. Especially now, when teens across America are searching for their place in the world, trying to figure out how they can make a difference and build a life. MY HERO is giving them living examples and opportunities to do just that.”

On the Role of Mentorship:

“Mentorship is vital to growth. It starts when we’re very young. Think of it like those stories about baby ducks bonding with the first thing they see and then following it. We build ourselves upon other people. It reminds me of the Navajo storyteller dolls—the big mamas with little ones perched on their shoulders. We become the people we admire. And when those we look up to take the time to share how they got where they are, when they truly see us and say, ‘I see this in you. Let me help,’ that’s priceless. That kind of guidance can change lives. I love the idea that we become the people we admire.”

A quote Jess carries for inspiration is from the legendary Pete Seeger, whom she first met at age six and considered a lifelong mentor:

“Pete said, ‘We’re all links in a chain. No link has to be any stronger or more brilliant than any other link. It just has to be a link. If each one of us does our part, we’re strong.’ That’s something I hold close. Mentorship and connection make the chain unbreakable.”

Skip Blumberg

Skip Blumberg  

In his interview, Skip explains how he became connected with the MY HERO project through Jeannie, who had studied his earlier work with Video Freaks in school. When Jeannie initiated her idea for a MY HERO TV series, she reached out to Skip through mutual friends, leading to a collaboration. Over the years, Skip has been commissioned to create 8 or so films about heroes, some based on assignations and others based on his suggestions.

A major project he contributed to was the Global Exchange, where he and Tony Mendoza traveled to the Balkans and Senegal. They taught locals how to create hero videos and organized shows, combining mentorship, teaching, and filmmaking—an aspect Skip expressed great enthusiasm for.

Skip Blumberg emphasized the value of mentoring in media and storytelling, explaining, "I'm a big believer in learning by doing and making mistakes and pushing the mistakes to create your own style." He highlighted the role of mentors in teaching not only technical skills but also "values and teaching strategies to be successful as a professional career."

On the importance of hero-centric storytelling, Skip said, "Look, the world right now is in rough shape. Wars should be obsolete. It's ridiculous. There shouldn't be wars. Climate change... We need more, better leaders. And so Hero Videos is a route to do that." He believes starting hero storytelling in primary school can significantly impact children as they develop their skills and understanding.

Skip also underscored the need to engage teachers, remarking, "One thing that MY HERO does that's great is they engage teachers. Training the teachers has more of an impact than individual students."

Reflecting on his role as a mentor, Skip shared his broader perspective: "Even though we have smartphones, I think that our species is not that smart. We're still learning how to do what's right." He stressed the importance of kindness and the moral obligation to help others: "In the richest country in the world, we should be able to help everybody... There’s no reason for people to be suffering so much."

Concluding with a call for systemic change, he advocated for wealth redistribution: "Nobody needs $500 million... there should be a tax on wealth. We should take it from them and give it to MY HERO."

Tiffany Shlain (who received the Media Educator Award with Goldie Hawn for their film The Teen Brain)

                                                                                                                 Tiffany Shlain

Advice for Upcoming Filmmakers 

The advice I would have is to just keep on making movies. Like, when I wanted to be a filmmaker, the equipment was so expensive. You know, they didn’t have it like now, where you can make a whole movie on your phone and with your laptop. I made films with old-fashioned film, and now it’s incredible how accessible everything is. We’re in this golden period of democratization of tools. So if you think there’s a story out there that hasn’t been told, tell it. And just keep practicing.

When I was younger, I’d have an idea and make the film, but it wasn’t totally what I imagined in my mind. But the more I made, the closer I got to what I wanted to create. Finally, my vision started coming out on screen.

That process took so much practice and many, many films. Now I feel confident. I’m 54, and I’ve made a lot of films. When I set out to make a film, I still go through those periods of doubt—every artist does—but I trust the process now. I know that in the end, I’ll get the film I envisioned, and that’s a great feeling. But that confidence only comes with practice.

Santos: Do you have any tips for refining work or gathering feedback?

Tiffany: Absolutely. I always show my work and get feedback from people I respect. When I ask for feedback, I have a specific method. I ask: What worked for you? What didn’t work for you? And then I always end with What else worked for you? I call it “The Love Sandwich” at my film studio. This method is important because we’re all human, and getting feedback is essential. But you need to ask for it in a way that’s constructive and doesn’t crush you.

Mentorship

Mentorship is so important. But I think it needs to happen authentically. Sometimes people write to me out of the blue, asking, “Will you be my mentor?” But I don’t know them—that’s not how it works. It needs to start as a genuine relationship. On the mentee side, if there’s someone you really respect, take the time to write them a thoughtful email about why you admire their work. Offer to take them out to lunch or make an effort to connect in a meaningful way. You need to nurture that relationship over time. It takes effort, but it’s worth it. I have people I mentor and so many mentors who’ve guided me. They’re everything.

Read more about the ceremony here: myhero.com/2024-award-ceremony and find more stories about winning filmmakers and their heroes here: myhero.com/select-stories-from-2024-film-festival