Why I Started Honor Films

Three years ago, I sat down with my grandfather and filmed his life story. At the time, I knew what I was creating was special, but I didn't fully understand just how much of a treasure it would become until he suddenly passed away.

Something unexpected happened while making his film. I started asking my grandfather questions I probably never would have thought to ask him simply as his grandson. We talked about his childhood, the experiences that shaped him, what he believed, what he valued, and how he saw the world. As I listened to his answers, I began discovering parts of him I had never known before. I saw parallels between his life and my own. I realized how similarly we thought about people, about nature, and about the things in life worth cherishing. I had always known him as my grandfather, but making his film gave me the opportunity to know him as a person. That became one of the greatest gifts he left me.

Through his film, I was able to capture his wisdom, his love, his personality, and his laughter. Those pieces of him didn't disappear when he died. They're still here. Now I can share them with my son, his children, and his grandchildren. I can introduce my son to the man who helped shape me and know that, in some small way, my grandfather can continue helping shape the generations that came after him.

When he passed away in March 2026, I knew it was time to honor him. The film wasn't just a family treasure anymore. It was something I could share with the countless people whose lives he touched during his incredible 91 years. He loved numbers, and he would've been able to calculate in his head not just how many days 91 years is, but also, how many seconds: 33,512 days and 2,895,436,800 seconds, in case you were wondering.

At his Celebration of Life, we played portions of his film for everyone who had gathered to remember him. Afterward, we had a potluck, and someone came up to me and told me, “What a gift it had been to see him up on the screen. It felt like he was there in the room with us. And, amazingly, he was able to give his own sermon! Thank you for that gift.”

At that moment, Honor Films was born.

I realized that creating these films for other families is the gift I can bring to this world and to theirs. My background as an award-winning filmmaker, along with the training I received while earning my Master of Fine Arts in Directing for Film, taught me how to conduct interviews, tell stories, and create films. But my grandfather taught me something more important. He taught me what those skills can mean when they're used to preserve someone you love.

That's why I approach every Honor Film differently. When I sit down with your loved one, I'm not looking for perfect answers or a perfect performance. I want to know who they are. I want to hear the stories you've heard a hundred times and the ones you've never thought to ask about. I want to capture the little things, the way they laugh, the expressions they make, the wisdom they've gained, the people they've loved, and the moments that shaped who they became.

When the interview is over, I sit down and listen to every single word.

I don't just record a person. I treasure them.

Every Life Deserves to Be Remembered.