I remember the first time I saw the Power Rangers. They were loud, expressive, and they fought the bad guys with over the top explosions and an amazing library of sound effects.
When I went to school the next day, I gathered my friends and told them the scenario: we were the Power Rangers. We were going to need to unite our powers to call on new Zords to take down the evil monsters. My friends ignored me and went back to the swing set.
I didn’t care. I acted it out myself.
It wasn’t just Power Rangers. It was Star Wars. It was professional wrestling. Eventually it was anime and Pokemon and Twisted Metal. They all sparked the creativity in my mind and left me desirous of the job of storyteller. One day, I would tell my own stories.
After college, I was given the chance. Eventually settling in as a videographer with CBS 21 News in Harrisburg, I was afforded the opportunity to meet interesting people. Not only did I get to meet them, but they trusted me to tell their stories. Victims of great tragedies, mothers fighting to save their children, marchers fighting for recognition of their civil rights. I met and interviewed villains like the members of the Ku Klux Klan who gathered on the Capitol steps. And I met and interviewed real heroes like emergency responders and social justice advocates.
I even met and interviewed the Power Rangers themselves.
But television news comes with its own problems, and facing tragedy everyday can be damaging to anyone’s psyche. So I sought new opportunities and eventually, chose to make my own.
Uproot Creative Services was the answer to my question: how can I continue to be creative, help others, amplify voices, tell stories both real and imagined, and make a living?
We started by being creative. Colin and I entered our first short film contest, creating Coffee in 2015 and cementing our friendship in the process. It was also my first opportunity to tell my own creative story.
Then, we looked to amplify voices. We were informed about several interesting people in the Harrisburg area whose stories deserved to be told– Amanda Carter, for example, who used her experience in the music industry to educate and inspire inner city kids, and is now the CEO of Harrisburg’s LGBTQ Center. We also learned about the incredible stories that led to many small businesses in our area, just like at Metropolis Collective, which aims to be a haven for misfits and outcasts.
The next step was crucial. How could we help others, tell real stories, and still make a living? We set out to find clients with missions we could cheer on. We found the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Central Pennsylvania, and worked with them in their fight to end cancer. We worked with The Millworks to promote their farm-to-table dining experiences. Eventually, we worked with the Carlisle Police Department, helping them to recruit new officers in their drive for safety and diversity.
We took on these clients and built our business up slowly, incorporating in 2017, with working full time starting in 2021, and me joining full time in 2023.
Today, we promote the forests and the river, highlight authors, work with those in health care, support young artists and entrepreneurs, and live stream events promoting mental health.
I get to draw, write, shoot, design, and edit as my career. I get to use my business to make documentaries and short films. I meet incredible people every week.
I am living my dream. And it wouldn’t be possible without you: my friends, my family, our clients, and our cheerleaders on social media.
Thank you all for giving this kid a creative life.