About this time, 12 years ago, I experienced a traumatic event in my life, thus altering nearly everything about my life. Now, around this time of year, I always take time to reflect on things and how far I have come since that day. That event was one of the reasons I had to pursue a different path in life. I had no idea how to do it. I just knew that I had to. 12 years later, I finally reached my goal and completed my degree. People congratulate me and tell me that all my hard work has paid off and say YOU did it. As I sit and write this I think to myself… “Did I, Me, Myself, really “do it”?”

What I mean to say is, I couldn’t have risen from that tragic event so many years ago and finally end up where I am now without… YOU. Those of you reading this know who YOU are. Some of you out there may not even know that you’ve had an impact on my life, my career, and my outlook on things. Some of you out there may know exactly to what extent you have affected my life, and even know the details of 12 years ago. Each of YOU is the reason I am the person you know today.

The sacrifice, the hard work, everything that I have done, is because of you in some way. We cannot go through something like this alone. We may start the path alone and the spark of the idea may start with only one person – yourself – but along that path you WILL meet your allies, your friends, your colleagues, and even your enemies. It is the collective YOU that guides and aides the singular I to that end goal. Some folks may come out at the end and have a narrow view of things, believing they did everything themselves. That will only get them so far. Realizing that anything in life always yields better results with collaboration, companionship, teamwork, what-have-you, will always get you farther and only strengthen yourself as an individual.

on set of BRIDGETOWN

I thank YOU, knowing that I may not be able to truly thank some of you enough. Some of you have known me my entire life and others have only known me for maybe a few short months. Regardless of the timeline, I guarantee that there is an influence there. There are those folks that deserve to be singled out and hear my gratitude as well. This letter is only a small way of showing it.

To my fellow filmmakers that I’ve collaborated with over the years, both East and West coast, I have been so very lucky to work with each of you and more so to continue working with many of you. I continue to learn from you and cannot wait to see what we create next. Thank you.

To my military family and friends I have so proudly served with. Some of you are still serving and continue to make me proud. To all of you, your support of this new career I have embarked upon has been overwhelming. It just goes to show that there is nothing quite like the camaraderie of the Unites States Military. Thank you.

To my family… it has been a tough road. It almost seemed too tough at times. Although it may have been difficult to step in when I was young, the outpouring of support and encouragement today has meant everything to me. I have found an outlet to share my stories and my outlook on things and you have all embraced it with open arms. Thank you.

To Emily, my partner, my cheerleader, my other half, you have been instrumental in my development as a filmmaker just this year alone. It has been an incredible ride with you and I can’t thank you for all you have done for me, not just as a filmmaker, but also as a human being. It has been an absolute pleasure to witness what you do on set and I hope it never ends as we continue our journey together. Thank you, more than you know.

To my current parents, Keith and Karen Feher… what can I say? I will be forever in your debt. Keith, you have been a friend, a mentor, and a father when I needed one the most. Karen, you saw a lost little boy so many years ago and took a chance on him. You stepped in when you needed to. You have guided me and nurtured my creative drive. My life would be dramatically different had you not taken a chance on that little boy. The respect I have for the two of you cannot be measured. You both helped to complete my family when it began to break. I now have a sister and so many brothers because of your generosity. Thank you isn’t enough.

To my Mom and Dad… Thank you for fostering the creative bug in me that began when I was just a child. Thank you for allowing me to explore those areas rather than tell me there is no future in such endeavors. Things were hard. I may not have fully realized it as a boy. Today it is all too clear just how hard it was. When you left, there was only anger and confusion. Today, I simply miss you. Thank you for sparking my creativity and trying to balance the chaos with comedy.

To everyone else that is reading this… if it strikes a chord with you, if you feel we have only benefitted from our encounters together as people and as collaborators, then I thank you. We are not in any of this alone.

THANK YOU