It’s a bit hard to put into words how appreciative and grateful I am that I was able to experience a night like I did on Wednesday.
It’s a bit hard to put into words how amazing and incredible it is to attempt a Kickstarter campaign and have 137 people decide to back your project and ultimately help you accomplish your goal.
It’s a bit hard to put into words how many people it really takes to make a creative idea possible, an idea that after countless drafts and continuous edits and last-minute iterations could somehow become an 18 minute piece that can be called a short film.
It’s a bit hard to put into words how overwhelmed, humbled, and touched I was to look out at an audience of 100 people; my family, my dearest friends, my community, members of a beloved circle, members of the cast and crew, that showed love in the greatest way—coming together to watch a film, albeit short, that could not have been possible without an entire village that helped to make it happen. That took an entire village to be able to walk, to run, and to fly.
I spent most of my time during the event struggling to process everything that was in front of me. It felt like I was on cloud nine. These moments that turned to minutes, minutes that turned to hours, hours that have turned to days wondering, even now, did that night really happen?
I am encouraged and strengthened to have lived a moment which I will never, ever forget. A moment that I will never take for granted. A moment that, despite my very best efforts, feels absolutely indescribable.
When these moments occur I often rely on the only phrase I can think of…
Thank you.
Thank you to those that I’ve known since the day I was born. Thank you to those who I’ve grown up with—through elementary school, middle school, high school, college, and beyond, and all you teachers who sowed the seeds, guiding me along the way. Thank you to all of you—you friends of friends, you parents of my extended brothers and sisters, you restauranteurs and connoisseurs, you champions of us all, champions of art, champions of creativity, champions of depth. Champions in every right.
The blessing that was Wednesday seems to be that there was a night where we were all together. Where we were sharing space and sharing time. Sharing love in the company of so many truly special people that breathe life into my days.
That “Chasing 24” was able to do that on May 25th, 2022 in a time of so much uncertainty and turmoil and confusion feels like the greatest gift of all.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention some people who I’ve been kicking myself nonstop for forgetting.
Valerie Niemeyer, Noah Gallo Brown, Ahmad aka Retro Futurum, and Victor Roman who contributed their original artwork to help promote the film.
Rebecca Sullivan, who spent countless hours offering me her beacon of knowledge and constant advice and being the ultimate assist with respect to the gift fulfillment. Thank you for your never-ending encouragement.
Brandon Dolson, the colorist. Kevin Middleton, who contributed to the sound.
I would be remiss if I didn’t re-mention cast and crew members, who I really, really wish could have been there. Aishé and Victoria, fellow actors. Haley, the director of photography. Evelyn, the editor. And Taigé, our director.
Truong, who took photos despite a freshly broken toe! Thank you!
Luam. My man. My brother. My family. I wish you had stood up and taken a bow, so the audience could have had an appropriate opportunity to salute you. Thank you for being a co- executive producer on this film with me. For believing in me. For believing in this project.
Justin, thank you for opening the theater up and giving us a platform to celebrate.
Thank you every one of the 137 donors.
To every single one of you in the audience…it’s a bit hard to put into words.
Thank you. Thank you forever and ever for sharing that night with me.
I saw my life before my eyes.
With love,
JCY
