Filmmaker Statement

Being a 1990s teenager, with a small stature and an interest in art and film. I was not a typical "masculine male" for those times. Although my teenage experience of self-discovery is not uncommon, more often than not, we kept our struggles to ourselves and not shoved in others’ faces (as was the style of the hyper-masculine male of that time). My story was expressed in sketchbooks, through guitar strums, drum hits, camera clicks and skateboard tricks. It was expressed creatively. In the 1990s, men found themselves increasingly bumping up against the limits of traditional masculinity, yet unable to replace those archaic constructions with coherent new models. Finding acceptance within oneself and society is a journey that every individual must embark on; it is experienced universally. Learning to embrace who we are and discovering our place in the world can be a rewarding experience filled with growth and opportunity, this journey that is worth the effort.