Sonja DeVries
Filmmaker / Activist
Gay Cuba
Louisville, KY USA
“I'm gonna do my work, and I'm gonna try to learn from other people's work, but I'm not going to compare the two. We each have what we bring to our work, and it's always unique.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationSonja DeVries
Milestones
My road in life has been direct.
She was working as a freelance journalist, producing articles about Cuba.
An NGO approached her and asked if she'd like to help them make a documentary about Cuba.
She said, "I don't know anything about filmmaking," they replied, "Neither do we," and somehow, the film got made.
Says that once she dove in, filmmaking clicked almost immediately.
She'd always seen filmmaking as a skill she'd up on a pedestal, but once she tried it, she realized she could totally make it her career.
Talking to her documentary subjects intimidated her at first because she hadn't had any schooling in film, didn't feel like she was good enough.
But eventually, she found confidence in herself and in the project, and that was a major turning point.
Says another huge revelation was when she taught herself to learn from other filmmakers, rather than compare her work with theirs.
Career
Filmmaker / Activist
I'm an activist and I make documentary films about issues that are important to me to share with the world.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Film
Non-Profit Organizations
Upholding a Cause and Belief
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Myself:
"What am I doing? I don't belong here."
Challenges I Overcame
Imposter Syndrome
Interviewed By
Washington, D.C.
Next stop is Washington, DC where the UK team interviews Frederick Gregory, Deputy Administrator for NASA. While in DC, the team has the opportunity to meet Dr. Andrew Steele, an astrobiologist who is proving the possibility of life on Mars. The team heads to Kentucky to interview journalist turned filmmaker Sonja Devries.
