They say it takes a village to raise a child. I don’t know if I ever believed that or not before this spring. Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with a journalist and a radio host from my hometown of Salamanca, New York to talk about whatever success I’ve had as a filmmaker which, in scope, is tiny.

However, Salamanca is a smaller city than Buffalo, Rochester, or New York City, so I can easily understand the feeling of being star-struck when a piece of the film industry is sitting in front of you. As we sat in the local Tim Horton's, I began to ponder my childhood and upbringing, the foundations of my life that they were asking about, as well as how those foundations have influenced what projects I take on or how I go about working on them. It started my contemplation about the phrase, “It takes a village to raise a child.”. As I talked to the journalist about how Salamanca’s social dynamics and academics prepared me to take my steps into Jamestown Community College merely minutes away, I thought about the many mentors I have still working there. Why are they my mentors? Why do they spend so much time giving me their advice and talking about my career as if it’s headed somewhere big? Why do they care?

The answers to all of these questions are rooted in an unfortunate truth rumbling throughout the old buildings that once held thriving small businesses. Older generations often contrast the social dynamics of today’s youth with the dynamics of years long past. To their credit, they are very different, but it is still debated whether kids are progressing towards worse behavior or if discipline has taken a seat behind materialistic desires and aspirations.

I was immediately seen as the weird kid on and behind the camera, often shunned for my love and dedication to being a filmmaker. My mentors loved it though, and saw it as an opportunity for the area to have a silver lining or a brighter side to its society. As one of them reminds me to this day, “Whatever happens to you, write it down. It will be great book one day.”

I was so surprised by how well the film was received, and any and all doubts I had about what career I was on track for went away. I knew whatever videos I made could resonate with people. The passion I had for video productions was paying off in a big way and I was eventually accepted as one of 15 students in the Television & Film Arts program at Buffalo State College.

So off to Buffalo I went, with my car packed full of gear and belongings, even further away from my hometown. It was during the drive that I realized why my mentors cared. My efforts to bring Hollywood to Western New York is something that I care about, whether I make money or not. It was my passion that they cared for most, because it’s so hard to find in my hometown anymore. As sad as that is, I wish it was untrue.

If there are any kids in Salamanca’s school system who are avoiding the media curriculum because they think Hollywood is so far away, or that there isn’t a path between them and doing what they love, I can tell you that hard work is the only thing in the way. Authenticity, passion, hard work and kindness can only help you in the journey. Take it from someone who’s had experience in living out those work ethics behind an audio board, being an assistant and waiting tables.

As I told the journalist, I am more than grateful for what the people of my hometown and surrounding areas have done for me. I can’t wait for the day where I’m able to help out in some way by hopefully bringing passion and kindness back to that area, or at the very least, repay people who’ve paved the way for me. Until then, I’ll write about what happens to me.

Hopefully it will make a great book one day.