
“It Became My Therapy, My Hope in the World” | Jennifer Tiexiera, Speak.

Films are made over many days, but some days are more memorable, and important, than others. Imagine yourself in ten years looking back on this production. What day from your film’s development, production or post do you think you’ll view as the most significant and why?
I remember switching off the news the night before and hoping for the best. Instead, I woke up to the news that Trump had won the election—again. One would think that I would be more prepared for this the second time around, but I wasn’t. I was anxious, sad, frustrated and really, really scared.
I shut off all connection to the world that day and dug into my edit. It would be days editing like this, so much so that my four-year-old would start saying hi to each of the kids onscreen whenever she would enter my office.
I think that documentary filmmakers tend to be empaths and want to see their work help others and improve the world around them. This day (and the days following) is where this film and the participants and its center were saving me. It became my therapy, my hope in the world. I knew that we would not only make it through this, but waiting on the other side was an army of brilliant and passionate visionaries and activists. Kids that are going to change the world for the better, teach us how to listen and respect one another, and most importantly, be the leaders and role models for the generations to follow.
This was the day where I knew I was exactly where I needed to be and that somehow I had been blessed with so much more than a job or occupation. It is the day that I will look back on every time one of these kids accomplishes something great, and it will represent every victory, no matter how small, where the outcome is truth, hope and kindness to one another.
See all responses to our annual Sundance Question here.