As soon as we met Trey, his confidence and charisma was contagious. Our initial pre-interview with him set the tone for understanding his story. He was reflective and possessed a deeper wisdom than his 25 years suggested. So to begin diving deeper into who he was, not just what happened to him, we needed to meet him in an equally vulnerable way.
Our goal with telling Trey's story was to learn about and capture the moments that defined the young person he is - the food he likes, the hobbies he enjoys, how he likes to relax, and the people he finds comfort in. We let Trey lead. And in doing so, were able to spend time with him golfing, eating Chinese food, and spending time with his cousin, all in the backdrop of an organization that was helping him lean more and more into his authentic self.
Trey's story was screened at Cocoon House’s annual event, An Evening of Silk, in support of the organizations fundraising goals. Both Trey and his cousin, Jayden, were present and sat at the table with us while it played. Their affirmation of the piece was worth more than anything, yet in the end, their story helped Cocoon House raise over $150,000.
Trey's story has continued to be shared on the organization's various channels as a means to not only convince viewers of the impact the organization has on young people, but to demonstrate the resiliency and grit that young people in our community posess. That's the greatest impact of all - to continue to shift the narrative around homelessness.
Collaborated with Cocoon House to build trust with Trey, approached the story with intention, and let the young person lead
Filmed an interview with Trey, capturing both guided conversation and moments throughout Snohomish County that visually told his story
Edited the his story in an attempt to convey an emotive direction, delivering a piece that prioritized his story while uplifting Cocoon House's impact