Following Passion: My Path to Filmmaking
I’m still amazed that, at 41 years old, I’ve gone from painting aircraft to creating a documentary series for PBS. A year and a half ago, I picked up a camera simply to film myself restoring my old squarebody Chevy trucks. But that small step led me down an unexpected path, a path that has transformed my direction and purpose in life. I want to share this journey to encourage anyone who feels the tug of a creative calling to follow it, no matter how improbable it seems.
The Beginning of an Obsession
I never set out to make documentaries. At first, it was just me, my Chevy trucks, and my camera. I filmed myself working on the trucks, trying to capture the satisfaction of fixing up something old. But soon, I found myself taking the camera everywhere, filming anything that caught my eye. My interest evolved into an obsession, and I started asking myself how I could do more with this newfound skill. This curiosity eventually led me to local high school football games, where I made short highlight videos. That’s when I knew I was hooked—not just on filming, but on telling stories.
Shifting Focus: From Sports to History
After the football season ended, I realized that while sports were exciting, they weren’t the stories I wanted to tell long-term. I craved something deeper, something that would allow me to make a lasting impact. So I pivoted, trying to break into corporate videography. But no one was interested in giving me a chance. It was frustrating, yet it also drove me to find a project that would force people to notice my work.
Creating a Calling Card
I decided to make a film that could serve as my “calling card”—something unique and memorable. Since I’ve always loved history, I began researching Amarillo’s origins and stumbled upon the story of the Battle of Palo Duro Canyon. An idea started forming: a story about a lone traveler heading to Amarillo, carrying letters from his uncle who had fought in the battle. With this concept, I began crafting a short film, learning each step of the process on my own. I wrote, filmed, and acted in it, determined to bring this vision to life.
I spent my Christmas holiday shooting the film alone in the canyon at dawn, capturing shots with a drone and setting up scenes myself. The result wasn’t perfect, but it was heartfelt. I entered the film in 20 festivals, hoping to get some recognition. When I was selected by the Cannes World Film Festival, it felt surreal. This success caught the attention of local media in Amarillo, and before long, my work was being featured on news channels and shared online.
A New Opportunity with PBS
The exposure from that short film opened doors I hadn’t even considered. People in the Amarillo creative scene began to reach out, and soon, I was meeting with Panhandle PBS to discuss a documentary project that had stalled. They needed someone to step in and reimagine the project, and despite my limited experience, they trusted me to take on the challenge. Suddenly, I was a documentary filmmaker, working on a 90-minute, three-part series about public art in Amarillo.
Growing as a Filmmaker
Working on this project has been one of the most demanding, rewarding experiences of my life. The daily grind of shooting everything I encountered shifted into focused work on a single, cohesive story. I had to learn to rely on my own instincts as a filmmaker and trust my voice to carry the narrative. I dove into research, interviews, and storytelling, discovering that documentary filmmaking is my true calling.
Today, as I near the completion of this project, I can see how much I’ve grown. My storytelling has evolved, and I’ve found a profound sense of purpose in this work. I’m grateful to PBS for the chance to create something meaningful, and I’m excited about where this path might lead.
Looking Ahead
The journey that started with an old Chevy truck has taken me further than I ever imagined. With no formal education in filmmaking and only a year and a half of experience, I’ve gone from shooting short videos in my garage to producing a PBS documentary that may soon be available nationwide. Each step, each decision, has led me to this moment, and I’m humbled by the opportunities that lie ahead.
To anyone out there who feels the pull toward a creative dream, I urge you to follow it. Believe in yourself, even if you’re starting with nothing but a vision. Life is unpredictable, and you never know where a single decision can take you. Hold on tight—this ride can get wild.
