WONDER

Filmmaker’s Note

I WONDER what life would be like if kids were given the opportunity to discover their truth, the way they see it, in a safe place? This generation is asking hard questions, forcing us to see that our conditioning is outdated and society is in need of re-education. Too many souls are being told who to be and how to be it. We have a choice: either to accept, nourish, support, and watch our kids grow into more powerful versions – upgrades of us – or, we can continue to condition them with old and outdated belief systems that have already proven not to work. I believe we are well past the days of “women belong in the kitchen” and “men don’t cry”. I grew up miseducated with the conditioning that “men don’t cry”, which forced me to shut down all of my emotions. I went about life thinking that being a real man meant I had to be a womanizer, be violent, sell drugs, and drink. I now know that was unhealthy, and even though I learned valuable life lessons, I would have preferred the allowance to cry. Unfortunately, that’s not what society taught me in the streets, at school, or at home. When I first decided to walk away from the streets and challenge my conditioning, I was scared. I thought the people I loved would judge me. In reality it was quite the opposite. What I found was that they truly loved me unconditionally, and by me standing in my truth and finding my voice, I gave them a little bit of permission to do the same. Wonder is about Sammy finding the courage to explore regardless of what society says is right or wrong. It forces his father Frank to see if he can find the courage to love his son unconditionally or stay stuck in his own systematic conditioning. It’s about starting a conversation that will one day lead to a society where our differences are embraced as an important part of our unique greatness.