Jonathan Sprout Wins a Sing for Hope Award at the 20th MY HERO Film Festival

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Wendy Milette
Director The MY HERO International Film Festival
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Jonathan Sprout Wins a Sing for Hope Award at the 20th MY HERO Film Festival

The super catchy and compelling music video ‘Powerful’ performed by Jonathan Sprout and directed by Rodney Whittenberg has won a Sing for Hope Award at the 20^th MY HERO Film Festival.

The Sing for Hope Music Video Award, sponsored by Sing for Hope Board member Eva Haller and co-sponsored by Guitars in The Classroom, celebrates music videos that harness the power of the arts to create a better world.

The song is about one of America's youngest ambassadors for peace, Samantha Smith from Jonathan’s CD American Heroes #4, written by Jonathan Sprout & Dave Kinnoin and produced by Rodney Whittenberg.

WikiSamantha Smith

Samantha Smith was an American schoolgirl from Maine who gained international attention in the early 1980s as a symbol of hope and peace during the Cold War. In 1982, at the age of ten, Samantha wrote a heartfelt letter to Soviet Premier Yuri Andropov, expressing her concerns about the escalating tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union and asking why the two superpowers seemed poised for war. To her surprise, Andropov replied, inviting her to visit the Soviet Union as a "goodwill ambassador." Her visit captivated the world, as Samantha toured the country, met Soviet citizens, and helped build bridges of understanding at a time when mutual suspicion was high. Her poise, innocence, and genuine desire for peace inspired both adults and children worldwide, showcasing the power of a single voice to spark dialogue and encourage empathy across borders. Sadly, Samantha's life was cut short in 1985 when she died in a plane crash at just 13 years old, but her legacy as a young ambassador for peace endures, remembered as a reminder of the impact one person can have on the world.

Jonathan SproutCourtesy of Johnathan Sprout 

Jonathan Sprout is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and recording artist who has spent the last 22 years creating inspiring and engaging “hero music” specifically for children. His journey began in 1994 after he came across a nationwide survey revealing children’s top ten heroes—a list dominated by cartoon characters and a few athletes whose behavior off the field wasn’t exactly exemplary. This prompted Sprout to ask, “Who are our real heroes, and why aren’t we teaching children about them?” From this question, he was inspired to write songs about real-life heroes.

Since then, Sprout has composed over forty songs and released four albums in his American Heroes series, each highlighting remarkable figures from American history. His music shares the stories of extraordinary people, from Samantha Smith to Neil Armstrong, celebrating their contributions and encouraging young listeners to learn from these inspiring lives.

Jonathan SproutAmerican Heroes #4 

MY HERO interviewed Jonathan about his inspiration for writing the song Powerful and making the video:

How long have you been making videos and writing songs?

I co-produced my first serious video in 2011. It’s about Elizabeth Blackwell, born in 1821. She had quite an uphill battle to become the first woman doctor in America. A true American hero. Here’s the video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzkIuiKf1EU     

How did the idea for the song/video arise? 

I’ve been writing songs about American heroes since 1994 and have four albums about a total of 40 real American heroes. Samantha Smith is the only girl hero I’ve written about. I wanted to write a song that could help empower girls (and boys), helping them see that, as the song says, “Now it may be hard to see, but sometimes little things can be powerful.” It can be the little heartfelt things we do that make a big difference in the world. Case in point: the simple letter Samantha Smith wrote to the Soviet Premier which had huge positive consequences. I co-wrote the song with Dave Kinnoin.

What were some of the challenges, successes, and high points? 

Co-producer Rodney Whittenberg hired actors and makeup artists for the video. I recall having to sit an hour with makeup to turn into the bald-headed Yuri Andropov. We invited children in my neighborhood and their parents to make the drive to the video studios outside Philadelphia. We hired graphics people from around the world to complete the visuals. The whole thing took several days.

Why choose a hero from the 1980s? 

Why not? I’ve chosen American heroes from nearly every other decade. The story of Samantha Smith is a relatively recent one, and easier for kids to relate to, compared to the stories of, say, George Washington and Harriet Tubman.

Do you have a personal hero? 

Many, including Jimmy Carter, Barbara Streisand, and Jane Goodall. These are talented, brilliant people who are using their platforms to help make the world a better place.

How does it feel to win an award at the MY HERO Film Festival? 

Thrilling! I’m content as “the messenger,” helping elevate awareness of true American heroes since it’s critical we learn to differentiate between heroes and celebrities. This is a special treat to receive recognition for the work my co-creators and I have completed!

Find out more about Jonathan here: www.jonsprout.com

MY HERO Film Festival

MY HERO will be presenting the Awards at the 20th Anniversary MY HERO International Film Festival Awards Ceremony on November 16th, 2024 in Santa Monica at the Ann & Jerry Moss Theater at New Roads School, 3131 Olympic Blvd, Santa Monica, Ca. 90404.

Join MY HERO in celebrating 20 years of The MY HERO International Film Festival. Find out more here: festival-information