Hero's Journey: Winners Announced in the Posttraumatic Growth Story Challenge
A few weeks back, I shared a story contest that came my way: Hero’s Journey: The Posttraumatic Growth Story Challenge. Here are the top three winning shorts from the competition. Amazing stories of overcoming challenges across the board.
I’m blown away by the connection of these filmmakers to their subjects, finding visual accompaniment to illustrate trials by fire. Josh Herzog uses de-focused shots to bring us into the headspace of Kelvin, who lost his sight in early adulthood, mixing the visuals with powerful insights from his interview in DeafBlind Potter. We see his hands crafting on a pottery wheel as he tells us how he “didn’t trust my hands.”
Tim Yao’s Second Response focuses on the volunteers who stepped up after the recent L.A. fires, and the strength that emerges in times of crisis.
These projects are just two of the runners up, you can see the list of winners and watch full videos here, the top three films below:
1st Place
Second Chance Rescue
Directed by Wray Sinclair
LA based director Wray Sinclair’s, moving portrait of Jensen Ramos, who was sentenced to three life terms at age 17. His life began to transform when a dog rescue program introduced him to purpose, compassion, and the courage to change. In 2020 Governor Gavin Newsom commuted his sentence giving him a second chance at redemption. Now a father, husband, and business owner, Ramos trains dogs and mentors others, living proof that redemption is possible.
2nd Place
The Inadequacy of Language in Life After Death
Directed by Lillie Wojcik Foster
New York based director Lillie Wojcik Foster’s deeply personal meditation on grief and memory, the film blends original music, voiceover, and mixed visuals to process the loss of the filmmaker’s mother to cancer and the endurance that followed.
3RD PLACE
No Leg Power
Directed by Tristan Ortiz
Florida based Director Tristan Ortiz‘ powerful story of CJ Bellamy, a talented athlete with hopes of making the NBA until a tragic accident changed everything. That could have been the end of his story, but, for CJ, being wheelchair bound was the start of a new one. Through the fitness regimen CrossFit CJ found resilience, and purpose.
If you have a moment to check out the winner’s page, you can enjoy the films in their entirety.