Optical Opium Productions

Sometimes what looks like a dead end is actually the opening scene.

I’ve been collecting a few surprising origin stories lately: ones that didn’t start shiny or successful. But they did start.

And that made all the difference.

Swipe through if you’ve ever felt behind. Or like your story doesn’t fit the blueprint. You’re not alone, and you might just be in good company.

This was my “comeback stronger” 💪🏿 summer since injury took me out last summer for my 5K race. I said to myself not only will I be back but I’m doing the 10K as well. And that we did! I crushed my goal time and I had fun doing it. was such a vibe. The energy from the onlookers made you want to give it your all.

My wife was super supportive and the loudest person in the crowd 😅. Ez says he was proud of me but he was there for the perks … snacks. Shout to the homies Andrel, and Emily coming through to cheer me on.

There was .co sighting in his natural habitat behind the camera while I was running! And I ran with .kay_captures in the 10K as well. It was a dope day. I crashed immediately and woke up to a burger and fries haha … I deserved it 😅

Some stories don’t need to shout. They stay with you because they slow down. They listen. They mean something.

This week’s newsletter looks at what filmmaker Richard Linklater can teach us about presence in storytelling: on screen, in content, and in brand voice.

A few thoughts are in this post. The rest lives in the latest issue of The Backstory.

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I was tired, running on no sleep, and I’d just left my passport on a conveyor belt.

This wasn’t how I planned to start my trip to Toronto. But here’s the thing—this moment became the story. Not the hotel. Not the gear. Not the perfectly staged shots I thought I needed. The story was in the scramble, the honesty, the human parts.

And that’s where most creators—and business owners—get stuck. They think storytelling starts with the best camera, the perfect script, or some polished brand voice. It doesn’t.

Your brand doesn’t need a flashy ad.

It needs a story. One that feels honest. One that connects.

A brand story video builds trust. It tells people who you are, without saying too much.

If you’re a business, nonprofit, or founder looking for a filmmaker or videographer to help you tell it right. This is where we start.

This birthday was a sweet one because I crushed my time I set out to beat which was under 25 mins. But there was a little twist to it if you listened to the last video on this carousel haha.

Big shout out to who coached me through hitting my personal best today.

This has taught me at my big age of 33 that my body still has a lot more potential and I am on a journey to unlock it.

Working out and training has been a release even when business is stressing me out. This is something that has been a game changer for me thing last year and a half. While am I a proud of myself and I will celebrate this. I have my eye on the Edmonton Marathon 10 K event at the end of the summer. So we are back in the lab very soon because I want to do it in under an hour. Anyone want to do this with me?

I used to think I created for myself: My vision. My ideas. My goals.

But the truth is…I don’t.

I create to offer value. To give you a glimpse of your own potential through my process, my failures, my stories.

And I create because a creative God created me to.

This isn’t just art. It’s alignment. Purpose in motion.

I’m learning as I go, and teaching as I grow.

Your story doesn’t need to be epic.
It just needs to be real.

That moment you almost quit.
That win that felt like proof.
That photo you never shared but still think about.

Someone out there needs to hear it.
Not for likes, but for connection.

This week, share one piece of your story.
Because someone might just see themselves in it.

The best stories don’t just entertain…they connect.

That’s why storytelling isn’t a nice-to-have in branding. It’s essential.

Your audience isn’t buying a product.

They’re buying meaning, identity, emotion.
A story they want to be part of.

Let this be your reminder: You don’t need more features. You need more feeling.

👇 Tag a brand that makes you feel something.

This reminded me: 👉 Great brands don’t just market. They move people.

On this trip I lost my passport, got in the wrong uber but we still created a good video on things to think of when vlogging while traveling. 🧳

This was a fun one to shoot. Write “416” in the comments or my dms and I’ll send you link.

I’m not gonna lie. Business isn’t always poppin off and neither is it always glamorous but I sure do love what I am building.

I have many irons in the fire and we are getting ready to push out a lot more than we have ever since the existence of being in business. I’m doing all of this to offer more value and give away more free game. So the keyword is more. We are doing more but with intentionally.