The Heart & Soul Gala Film
Behind every scholarship is a person with hopes, challenges, and a future taking shape.
For the University of St. Thomas Heart & Soul Gala, I wanted supporters to get to know the students whose lives their generosity had touched. Through their stories, the film explores what that support makes possible—and what those opportunities mean to the people receiving them.
Heart & Soul Gala — Featured Film
What We Wanted to Share
We wanted scholarship supporters to see the difference their gifts make in a student’s life. Hearing directly from students offered a personal connection to the opportunities they were helping create.
My Part in the Story
Creative Direction · Interviewing · Video Editing
I directed the shoot, conducted the interviews, and edited the finished film.
My starting point was getting to know the students: what mattered to them, what they had experienced, and how their education fit into the lives they hoped to build. I wanted to give them room to speak in their own words and follow the moments that deserved a little more time.
In the edit, I brought those experiences together into a clear story for the gala audience, keeping the students at its heart.
What I Hoped People Would Take Away
I hoped attendees would leave feeling connected to the students they were supporting, with a clearer sense of how their generosity could open possibilities in someone’s life.
More Stories, More Time to Listen
These two conversations explore faith, family, and the moments that change how we see our lives. Dalia and Edgardo each shared something personal, and I’m grateful for the trust they placed in me to help tell their stories.
How Time Away Changed My Perspective — Dalia Sifuentes
Anger, Venting and Prayer — Edgardo Giron
What Stays With Me
The moments that stay with me often begin with a follow-up question or a little space to keep talking. Giving someone that time can help us discover what matters most in their story.
Shaping the finished piece calls for another kind of care: choosing what helps the audience understand, keeping enough context, and letting go of strong quotes when they pull the story off course. I want the result to be clear and faithful to what the person shared.