Making Beethoven Proud

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.  -Eleanor Roosevelt

There are those who scoff at the notion of “having a dream,” at the idea of following your passion, claiming it a foolish waste of time. They are the ones who follow the safe path. And I am very sorry for those people because a life worth living is so much more than taking the cautious route and steering clear of daring choices. It is challenging yourself to try new things. And when people smirk and ask, “What makes you think you can do these things?” you simply reply, “What makes you think I can’t?”

My son, Brian, has had a dream since he was a boy to become a filmmaker. He made movies on a $25 Digital Blue video camera we bought him for Christmas one year. He and his younger brother, Peter, and their friend, Alex, would post signs around the neighborhood announcing casting auditions for their upcoming projects. These signs also promised concessions, which Alex’s mother learned while driving through the neighborhood one day and happened to catch sight of one of the signs. Concessions??!! We wondered if they were just planning on raiding our pantries for half-empty boxes of stale crackers and a few rogue pieces of old Easter candy hidden behind cans of tomato sauce. But there was never any need to worry because no one ever showed up for their auditions. Ever. That didn’t deter them, though. The boys just ended up playing several parts…or twins… that option was always on the table too. And I do believe that someday, those kids from long ago who laughed at ours for thinking they could be anything special will regret not having been a part of those early dreams.

Brian did pursue his dream. He is a filmmaker. And an award-winning one, at that. His short film, Making Beethoven Proud, is currently making the rounds on the film festival circuit and, and of this writing, has been selected to premiere at many festivals across the country and the globe.

It is a story of perseverance. It is a story of overcoming adversity. And it is a story of choosing to see beauty in the world when only darkness surrounds you. It tells the story of a young music prodigy who must come to terms with a devastating loss and the power of the human spirit to rise and conquer.

I think some of those people who rolled their eyes at Brian’s dream will one day wistfully tell their friends, “I knew him when…” Remember Brian…The Best Is Yet To Come 😎

I am immensely proud of him and his beautiful talent. His short film, Making Beethoven Proud, is making this mama very proud. 

A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work.  -Colin Powell