The Case for Curiosity

By Kathleen O’Heron ᐧ 3 min read

I write here when something is worth thinking through. New pieces from Focus and the Jynx Journal go directly to subscribers.‍

I have a few ideas about what our value add might be. I'd put our production team at the top of that list, without question. The talented professionals who work with us to create film after film astound me. I come away from every project with deeper respect for their work ethic, their creativity, their tenacity, and their adaptability. Just this morning, they were filming on a farm in Ohio. By 9am they had already filmed for four hours and milked sixty cows. That is dedication.

What we do is not the most difficult job on the planet, but it is not for the faint of heart. We've had a knife pulled on us on Skid Row, equipment stolen from the back seat of our car in Oakland (we left the locked car for ninety seconds). A bull charged at one of our cameramen. A swarm of angry bees enveloped our crew while they filmed pythons in the Everglades. We had a very close call with a bear looking for butter, and we retreated from a long midnight hike across lava fields when we felt the heat of the lava flow through our melting sneakers. These moments happen when you film life unfolding in all its chaos and beauty. None of it would have been captured without people who, at the very core of their being, are curious enough to find out what happens next.

This curiosity is our foundation, and for clients commissioning documentary work, it is what determines whether your story gets told or merely filmed. Our approach, informed by our experience in journalism, news, and years of documentary production, leads us into the heart of a story and often takes us, and our story subjects, to unexpected places. With each project our team dives in headfirst, equipped with an open mind and a deep respect for the people who let us film their lives. Through all these encounters, we kept filming because we were driven by the initial curiosity that brought us together with the people we filmed in the first place.

Who wouldn’t want to learn more about CJ Kale, the volcano photographer who treks across the lava fields on the Big Island of Hawaii in the early hours of the morning, laden with heavy equipment, to document the formation of new earth? The bewitching moment, most majestic at daybreak, when molten lava meets the cooling ocean, boils in a cauldron of bubbling salt water, then smokes and simmers and settles on the ocean floor.

Or consider the inspirational Khalil Rafati, whose life journey led him to the depths of despair at 33. Living on Skid Row in Los Angeles, a convicted felon, high school dropout, addicted to heroin and cocaine, he took the hard journey to where he stands today: the model of health and wellness, owner of a multi-million dollar juice chain, Sunlife Organics, living his best life with yoga every morning on the shores of Malibu.

And then there's the Hon. Rachel Freier, who moved from behind the bench in her judicial capacity to the inside of an ambulance as she brought a new kind of paramedic, via Ezras Nashim, to New York's community of Orthodox Jewish women.

Every time our curiosity leads us to a new project, we connect with people whose stories resonate on a deeply human level. Discovering universal truths about resilience, passion, and the human spirit, these are the experiences that fuel our curiosity and propel us toward the next project, and then the next. By approaching people with deep interest and respect, we create a space for them to share their experiences, their perspectives, and their truths. The stories we find there are the ones worth telling.

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For almost 20 years of award winning production, Jynx Productions has specialized in presenting life as it unfolds to viewers across the globe. Our team of experienced, production professionals is passionate about telling the kinds of authentic stories that leave a lasting impression on audiences. And, we’re humbled to know that our work has sparked curiosity and joy, and has entertained millions of people. 

Our clients cover a spectrum of industry sectors. We're always interested in building new relationships, showcasing our services, and we welcome opportunities to talk about collaborations.