Behind the Scenes of Courage – A Film Rooted in Heart, Culture, and Community

I’m so excited to finally share more about a project that means a lot to me, Courage, a short film written and directed by Eric Hernandez. The trailer is officially out, and the website is live! Check it out to learn more about the story, cast, and creative team

Team Photo! Myself, Pyet, Eric, and Adam!

Photo by Jonathan C Ward

I joined Courage as a producer when my friend and former co-worker, Adam Conte, came on board as Assistant Director. When he told me that he and Eric were intentionally trying to build a Native American-led crew, both behind and in front of the camera, I was immediately in. That kind of intentional representation is something I deeply believe in, and I was honored to help bring that vision to life.

From day one, Adam, Eric, and our Director of Photography, Mario Contini, were constantly on Google Meets hashing out logistics, building our shot list, and locking in our crew. Mario did so much more than his role as DP—he also helped us build out the Camera and G&E teams in LA, personally reaching out to the crew members he trusted and wanted on board. One of the first things I did as a producer was create a spreadsheet to help manage the budget and organize our growing cast and crew. It was a whirlwind, but the best kind.

A screenshot from one of our first Google Meetings going over the script breakdown!

Adam deserves a huge shoutout. He’s an incredibly talented and detail-oriented Assistant Director who truly kept things on track. He took on a ton of responsibilities, always keeping the production moving while also making sure Eric had the space and support he needed to focus on directing. You could see how much Adam cared about this story and about making sure Eric had everything he needed to succeed.

And speaking of Eric, he absolutely killed it as a first-time director. Sure, there were a few industry-standard things we helped explain along the way, but he dove into the entire process with passion, humility, and excitement. He had a great instinct for working with actors, knew how to keep the energy on set high, and never once lost sight of the heart behind the story. Even with long days, last-minute fires to put out, and the usual chaos of set life, Eric stayed positive, thoughtful, and grounded through it all. He was a true leader from start to finish.

We filmed in LA over the course of five packed days—nonstop prep and filming from sunrise to sunset. We were lucky enough to shoot at Eric and Pyet’s home, and let me just say… Pyet and her team kept us so well-fed. Seriously, we were spoiled with incredible food every single day, thanks to @chefnekia, @paigemurtaugh, and @islandsmokengrill.

And I have to talk about our cast for a second.

Mateo Ulibarri, a three time world champion hoop dancer, made his acting debut in this film—and he was amazing! Mateo drove to LA with his incredibly sweet and supportive family, and it was such a joy to watch him learn and grow on set. He was quiet and reserved the first couple of days, but as he got more comfortable, he started making suggestions and really lit up—especially when he got to film scenes with Eric’s real life uncle, Terry Goedel, a nine time world champion hoop dancer! Watching those scenes unfold was pure magic. Terry played himself in the film, and it felt like the ultimate Easter egg. He brought such presence and grace to every moment, we all got chills watching his scenes. Seeing three generations of hoop dancers come together for this story was something I’ll never forget.

Eric’s incredibly kind fiancée, Pyet, who also happens to be a celebrity chef, made her acting debut in the film too! Not only did she work so hard keeping us all fed behind the scenes, but she was also amazing on camera. Seeing her on set in her teacher wardrobe was such a treat—she was so natural, and we were all cheering her on.

We also had the honor of working with PJ Vegas, a super talented musician who played Eric’s father in the film. PJ was such a gem on set—his presence, energy, and performance were more than we could have hoped for.

And of course… the insanely talented, Academy Award nominated Cara Jade Myers. We were all a little starstruck when she walked on set! She was so generous with her time, working us into her busy schedule because she genuinely believed in the story. Every time she stepped in front of the camera, she brought her character to life in a way that felt effortless, taking Eric’s notes, the script, and adding her own magic and personality to it. She was truly a dream to work with.

Our Table Read!

It was amazing for the cast to introduce themselves and go over the script together.

Now let’s talk about our crew. Because we had some absolute industry legends join this project.

It was kind of surreal. These artists took time out of their packed schedules because they believed in the story that much. To say it was an honor is an understatement.

Of course, there’s our Director of Photography Mario Contini, who brought so much vision and intention to every frame. His portfolio includes massive, beautifully shot projects like Beef, 1923, and Everything Everywhere All At Once. Mario has built such a strong and successful career with his incredible eye and calm, steady energy on set.

Then we had Ari Robbins as our Assistant DP and Steadicam Operator. Ari has worked on massive projects like La La Land, Everything Everywhere All At Once, and so many more. He’s a legend in the Steadicam world and has pioneered so much of the movement work seen in modern cinema. Having him on set brought a level of quality and care that blew us all away.

We also had Dino Georgopoulos, another industry giant who has pioneered the DIT (Digital Imaging Technician) field. Dino brought in a truly mind-blowing computer setup and worked closely with our DPs to color grade footage in real time. He handled an insane amount of technical work—processing footage, ensuring everything looked flawless, and managing color right there on set. It was next-level.

Having these people, at the top of their game, come and support this film because they believed in Eric and the story we were telling... it just meant the world. Their dedication to art, storytelling, and uplifting meaningful voices was clear in everything they did.

Courage is more than just a short film; It’s a reflection of community, identity, and the power of representation. I’m so proud of this team, and I can’t wait for everyone to see the full story soon.

Stay tuned for more updates, and in the meantime, make sure to watch the trailer and browse the Courage website to meet the full cast and crew!