Seasonal Reflections
Every once and a while, when I take a moment to step outside my daily routine and break the spell, one foot in front of the other, stumbling through the daily motions of life in this body, I find myself truly in awe. Teenage Wren could never have imagined that he’d be afforded such incredible opportunities: that he’d have seen so much of the world beyond the tiny New York town surrounded by corn fields and dairy cows; that he’d spend his days peering through a viewfinder, sharing stories of life and love and tumult and pain; that he’d be loved and in community with such wonderfully unique and inspiring people. But this summer has offered a bounty of these moments and I’ve been so deeply grateful, both for the magic and for the reflections.
We premiered Chisom’s film Food For the Soul to a packed house at the Kimmel Center for BlackStar Film Festival. I’ll be honest—I was incredibly anxious. I’m rarely excited to share my work publicly. It feels impossible to watch without the pain of the many imperfections and all that I wish I would have done differently. But as we settled into the shorts program and the first frames flickered across the massive screen, I finally felt a release. It wasn’t perfect, but it was out in the world and in front of other people. The collective bouts of laughter that rippled throughout the audience and the screams of excitement filled me with a joy and pride that I hadn’t expected. Film truly is such a collective experience – from production through consumption – and really is meant to be enjoyed with others.
The following day we learned that Food For the Soul won the audience award for best narrative short. Truly an honor. I’m so proud of Chisom for her vision, persistence, and her capacity to rally and inspire so many folks in her cast and crew and community to bring their best and support her.
Just one week later, while I was on set shooting another documentary, I received the exciting news that a short film I worked on last year was nominated for an Emmy. I’d been on larger projects with Emmy nods before, but this was my first film nomination for which I was the DP. Underdogs debuted at the Philadelphia Film Festival in October 2024. Directed by Maria Vattimo, Underdogs is a tale of perseverance and triumph. Despite their home gym and rec center literally falling to pieces, the Vare gymnastics team found a way to keep practicing and bringing home medals. We shot with the team for more than a year as they continued their training in a makeshift basketball court-turned-gymnastics studio in North Philly. Maria did a beautiful job of guiding the ship over the course of many months and keeping the film consistent despite long lapses between our shoot days. It was really special to witness the joy on the faces of team members, family, and community on opening day of their new gym in South Philly. Fingers crossed we can bring home an Emmy later this month and get even more eyes on Maria’s work and the incredible talent of these young gymnasts.
It’s been a joyous, whirlwind of a summer and I have more exciting projects to share soon. In the meantime, I’d like to encourage you all to support the necessary, boundary-pushing, and timely work of Land Based Jawns, an organization started by my wife, Dr. Ashley B. Gripper. Land Based Jawns is a spiritually-rooted, Black woman-owned business that offers education, mentorship, and healing rooted in land stewardship, ancestral knowledge, and self-determination. Ash has a big, beautiful vision for land to create a safe, educational, and sacred space to pour into her people and communities.
They’re hosting a fundraising event - Shape Change Gala - two weeks from today, on Friday, September 19, and it’s going to be incredible: DJ Dandara, live poetry from Philly poet laureate Trapeta B Mayson, and dinner and cocktails intentionally and thoughtfully curated by local chefs, all in the lush and beautiful space at Awbury Arboretum. Use promo code “OEB” for a friends and fam discount of $100. A time will be had! I hope to see you there.