Some of my favorite childhood memories revolve around a small neighborhood group of friends in Chicago. We rang each other's doorbells, came over unannounced, and asked Mrs. So-and-so, if her kid could come out to play. We rode bikes until the last light of the day would leave us. We imitated Michael Jordan’s last-second fadeaway jumpers, mostly unsuccessfully, at the local park basketball courts. We would go on imaginary adventures and pretend to be the Thundercats, Voltron, Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, Transformers, and The Goonies. We borrowed our parents' hulking VHS camcorders for long swaths of time because our summer movie productions were clearly the top priority.

There are moments when I am working when my mind goes back to those days. It’s not when a shoot is stressful or overbearing that this mental shift occurs. It’s when I am dialed in, the magic is happening, and everyone is working together to create something special that I feel that familiar swell of joy. I am reminded of that group of neighborhood kids with no budget or fancy equipment, but armed with limitless imaginations and a desire to do things together.

While I've done my fair share of one-man-band projects, I believe filmmaking is ultimately a communal effort. Working alongside skilled, passionate, like-minded artists is integral to the creative storytelling process. I'm most inspired when I work in tandem with a team, when each team member utilizes his/her strengths, and when that team pushes each other to tell the very best story possible.

I value shared experiences. Whether through work or leisure, through celebrations or adversities, shared experiences are a gift. I'm fortunate to have made a career that affords so many opportunities to collaborate and that allows me to recapture the joy and magic of those Chicago neighborhood days.