Tell us a bit about your organization and what your specialty is in the film and video space.

SSYY Productions is my company that I create film and music projects under. Something Divine is my film that I directed, wrote the score for, did the audio engineering for, produced, and executive produced.

What is your organization’s ethos and how does it set you apart from industry competitors?

To take ideas, create original concepts, and produce them whether film or music.

How can people join or learn more about what you do?

Go to my social media (Instagram. YouTube, X)  or my website.

Tell us about your Telly Award winning piece. What’s the story behind it?

Something Divine director Thomas Essig went on his first pilgrimage in 2017, led by Ray Cappo (Raghunath), and discovered a most interesting connection of spirituality in India and the straight-edge punk scene.

“I found the basic message in both worlds to be similar. Be good to others, heal and transform yourself to create a kinder world.”

Something Divine is inspired by an unlikely marriage of hardcore straight-edge punk music and spirituality made relevant by Ray Cappo (Raghunath), lead singer of the bands Youth of Today and Shelter. Originally the film was to be a biopic of Ray. However, during the process of combing through the footage and interviews it became clear that there was a bigger message than a story of one man. A story about all people.

Punk rock broke the rules of what music is. Something Divine stays true to the essence of being a punk, it breaks the rules of documentary filmmaking. Thomas intentionally left out the names of interviewees and bands until the credits. To stay true to the philosophical teachings of many spiritual practices that we are temporary in the human form, but we are all connected. We all have stories. Rich or poor. Educated or not. The labels do not matter. We can learn from each other to have compassion and understanding for each other.

Rapture in the beautiful cinematography. Listen to the words spoken. Is there a guru on the mountain with the secret message/answer? No. Something Divine is an experience of what it is to be connected beings with spirituality as a guiding light. It is just truth.

You are not the body. You are not the mind. You are Something Divine.

What are you most proud of about this piece? What was your biggest challenge during production and how did you solve it?

The film was designed to speak to everyone on a personal level. To inspire one to change. To love. I do small private showings around the country. Why with a film as successful as Something Divine? To talk to people, to share my personal experience of going to India for spiritual practice. To give people a chance to talk to me on a personal level. I am very proud of the effect the film is having on individual lives.

As far as production, I would have to say post-production audio mixing. There are 36 tracks of audio with talking, interviews, live music in clubs, in the streets of India, street noise, recorded music. To make everything audible was a four-month challenge of being meticulous. I wanted to give the viewer the experience of being in India, in the streets, in the clubs as they are sound wise without building in any artificial effects. I solved it by time and patience.

Do you have any advice to other filmmakers based on your career or your team’s approach to work?

Love what you are doing. If you are in this for fame and financial reward, your work will suffer. You will suffer. Be proud of your ability to create art. Do not be attached to the outcome. That just creates anxiety.

Can you share a behind the scenes story or fun fact about the making of your piece?

India is a country that is kinetic. Having been to India a few times myself, my cinematographers had never been. My direction to them was this: you never know what is going to happen here in India. Always be ready to shoot and capture your amazement on film. And that they did. We created a beautifully shot documentary based on a simple direction. Be amazed.

Tell us about the most memorable response you got from this work.

True story from a showing outside of Pittsburgh. I did a showing to about 30 people. During my introduction of the film, an older priest walks in and sits in the center of the audience. Being the film is based in Hindu beliefs (Bhakti Yoga) and straight-edge hardcore punk, I was curious as to what his response would be, if any. At the end of the film I talk to the audience, take questions, etc. After all is said and done the priest comes up and introduces himself. “Hi, I’m Father Dan. I want to tell you I had a feeling to be here and see this movie. Actually, so much so I just came from my chemo treatment. You see, I’m dying. I want to thank you for doing this movie. I can now go in peace after seeing it.” I began to cry and we hugged. It was such an emotional moment, I was left without words.

Complete this sentence: ‘Great video storytelling is…’

… being truthful.