Filmmakers Making A Social Impact: Why & How Filmmaker Jacob Holmes Of Eagle Eye Productions Is Helping To Change Our World
Your passion is what drives you — find what your passion is, and let that be the fuel to the fire that drives you, use it to learn, grow, and continue doing what you love even when you may not want to at that moment. Burnout is real, when you’re burnt out your passion will push you through.
As a part of our series about “Filmmakers Making A Social Impact” I had the pleasure of interviewing Jacob Holmes.
Jacob Holmes is the founder of Eagle Eye Productions and The Film Horizons Foundation. Eagle Eye focuses on both client work and film. Jacob’s passion is narrative and documentary filmmaking. His current project is a feature-length documentary shedding light on the challenges and triumphs of infertility. Through his nonprofit, The Film Horizons Foundation, Jacob empowers aspiring filmmakers from small towns by providing them with opportunities to learn and grow in their craft.
Thank you so much for doing this interview with us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to get to know you a bit. Can you share your “backstory” that brought you to this career?
I got my first camera in 2009 as a hand me down gift from my dad. It was a film SLR that he bought in the mid 90’s. That gift set me on my path to becoming a photographer and ultimately a filmmaker. Eagle Eye Productions got its start as an aerial photography company; we got hired to shoot a documentary style video of an event in Franklin, WV. The storytelling of that video is where my love for film began. I immediately rebranded into a production company, investing the money earned from my clients and put it into filmmaking equipment such as lights, sound gear, grip, and everything in between. In March 2023 I directed my first short “Back”. A narrative about the struggles of PTSD, the film is unreleased due to myself not understanding the ins and outs of a copyright free film. I took what I learned in that process, and produced and directed “Called: For Such A Time As This” A documentary about the struggles of pastoral leadership in the church. This film was an official screening at The Christian Film Festival in Aug (2023) and won ‘Best Documentary’ and ‘Best Educational Film’. Most recently it was an official screening at the International Christian Film & Music Festival in Orlando, FL. My current project is my first feature length piece, and I hope I can continue to grow in both knowledge and success with its Summer 2024 release.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I was never warned about the ‘Post-Production Blues’. After “Back” had completed production I felt an unquenchable need to get back on set, and immediately (like within a week) started planning “Called”. Through this process I learned that doing this while also doing client work is hard. I lost some great clients. I learned to balance my time better, which has helped me to produce better films by taking my time in pre-production, and also helped me to retain my clients while planning, filming, and editing movies.
Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?
The client side of my business has allowed me to meet amazing people, community leaders, philanthropists, and civil servants.
On the film side, I have been able to meet industry experts, as well as made connections with Appalachia’s cutting edge of the film industry. I have tried to align myself with these people since I also want to help grow this beautiful region’s film industry.
Everyone I meet teaches me something. Operating a business is an ever changing process, you need to grow with your market, scale with your area, as well as grow your own knowledge and passions. These people have taught me how to do that effectively. Jessica Huff is an athlete, coach, activist, and philanthropist on a national level — she and I started working together over a year ago. I have filmed her basketball team through 2 seasons now, her speaking engagements, and even some of her family events.
She has taught me how to be an effective parent and supporting spouse, while also teaching me not to let anyone get in the way of my dreams and aspirations. One story I can remember is after a devastating loss to the high school basketball team she coaches, we got in the car to drive home. She was quiet, we just lost of course she was. We stopped to get gas and she and her son walked into a gas station. I watched her walk out with a smile on both of their faces, and her arm around her boy. The loss didn’t matter, all that mattered to her was the happiness of her son. I have tried to keep that same mentality in my own life. My movies and businesses are so important to me, I have grown them from nothing — But my daughter? My wife? Irreplaceable…that’s where my success is defined.
Which people in history inspire you the most? Why?
I have found myself inspired by many people over the course of my life. Recently? I am inspired by all of the independent filmmakers who have gone before me and will come after, who did this for their entire life and never got the opportunities that I am getting. When I get scared about the unknown, like distribution and funding — I remember that although it scares me, I owe it to those who have paved the way and never had the opportunities I have now. They are the ones that inspire me, and I hope I can make them proud.
Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview, how are you using your success to bring goodness to the world? Can you share with us the meaningful or exciting social impact causes you are working on right now?
Eagle Eye’s successes have taught me about business ownership and of course, filmmaking. I am trying to utilize those to help people on two fronts at the moment.First, My current film project “Two: Stories of Life, Love, and Infertility” follows multiple couples on their journey to parenthood. The film shows the struggles of infertility, while exploring underlying plots that aren’t often thought about or discussed. The goal of this film is to bring awareness to all of the emotional, psychological, and social dilemmas of infertility. Major storylines include miscarriage, stillbirth, IVF, IUI, male factor infertility, and secondary infertility, while also showing the success these couples have as they finally become parents.
Second, I have started The Film Horizons Foundation — also known locally as the Tri-State Film Club. A club with brand new aspiring filmmakers, and industry experts with Hollywood experience. The club’s mission is to give mentorship, development, and collaboration to any aspiring filmmaker through real life experiences and the opportunities to participate in live sets. Our vision? To create a film market in the Appalachian region, and expand into other small town non-traditional film markets. Providing small town filmmakers who may not be able to get into large markets, a way to learn, develop, and collaborate with other like minded creatives.
Many of us have ideas, dreams, and passions, but never manifest it. But you did. Was there an “Aha Moment” that made you decide that you were actually going to step up and take action for this cause? What was that final trigger?
One of the couples in the film, the main couple, are cousins of mine and their persistence and faith they had after the miscarriages, the treatments, the tears, and the hopelessness was utterly inspiring to me. I was so moved by their persistent, almost stubborn faith and resilience that I decided everyone needed to hear about it. Upon announcing the film and the early trailer, the movie garnered international attention and I have had people from all over reach out to me to tell their stories as well. That is when this went from a piece about my cousins to a piece about infertility using their journey to progress the story. Those who struggle with infertility are some of the strongest people I have ever met.
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
The movie has not yet been released. I am hoping this film can help someone who has been wanting a family and doesn’t have one. My prayer is someone sees it and decides they aren’t ready to give up, and a year from that moment they are holding their own son or daughter.
It is also my hope that those who have gone through loss learn they aren’t alone.
Infertility is not uncommon — as a matter of fact, you see it everyday. It walks by you on the street, laughs with you at the office, eats with you at family gatherings, and socializes with you as friends get together. If you do not struggle with infertility — I hope this teaches you that the question “When am I gonna get some grandkids?” can be one of the most devastating statements someone can ask…”Why do you only have a dog? Everyone else our age has kids” is an alienating question to ask. I hope this brings awareness and fosters understanding.
Are there three things that individuals, society or the government can do to support you in this effort?
Society — You can support this effort by seeing the film and telling other people about it — the more people that see this; the more understanding they may have of what goes on behind closed doors for these couples, and hopefully that understanding makes you think twice about forcing kids on men and women who “just haven’t had any yet” — They may not be able to.
Governments — Should stay out of the way of couples’ chances to have a family. Rulings such as the one in Alabama cause mothers and fathers to have to overcome ANOTHER obstacle that stands in the way of having a family.
Individuals — This goes out to those struggling with infertility — Don’t give up, remain persistent, and always know — you are not alone. It’s okay to cry, be angry, scared, resentful, and to lose hope; tell your stories, and help those who are going through what you are or did.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why?
Your passion is what drives you — find what your passion is, and let that be the fuel to the fire that drives you, use it to learn, grow, and continue doing what you love even when you may not want to at that moment. Burnout is real, when you’re burnt out your passion will push you through.
Your team is the most important resource on a set — treat them like it. Open sets, collaborative teams and a welcoming atmosphere is what will create the opportunity for everyone to grow, including yourself.
Take criticism with open arms and a smile — but always stay true to your message and vision. Often times I get tunnel vision in my work, I have am image in my head, and there may be a better way to tell the story, but don’t give up your creative vision and ownership.
If you are taking clients — your clients fund your movies, do let the rush of making a movie affect the time you spend on client work. Create a business plan that is conducive to client’s needs and the filmmaking. Someday, I hope filmmaking will be my main job, but I do love working with my clients. I wouldn’t be anywhere without them.
The last is for my camera nerds out there — Glass over Body — if you have a few grand for a camera, that can get 2 lenses and have more of an effect on the final product.
If you could tell other young people one thing about why they should consider making a positive impact on our environment or society, like you, what would you tell them?
Find your passion and all you will want to do is teach others. Once I found film, all I wanted to do was help other people find it no matter their financial status, location, or ability. I found a community that I feel like I belong to, and can help progress. You cannot make a positive impact on something you are not passionate about. Don’t worry about making an impact — Find your passion.
We are very blessed that many other Social Impact Heroes read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, whom you would like to collaborate with, and why? He or she might see this. 🙂
I am self taught — If I had to pick one person to collaborate with, I want to work with the person whose movies have modeled my own filmmaking style after. Christopher Nolan is who I believe to be the most talented filmmaker of all time, for a number of reasons.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
There are two that I say constantly, the first is for business — It is a quote of my own.
“No one will support you (or your business) better than you — so do it, proudly and relentlessly”
And for my aspiring filmmakers out there-
“Pick up a camera. Shoot something. No matter how small, no matter how cheesy, no matter whether your friends and your sister star in it. Put your name on it as director. — There, you’re a filmmaker”
(James Cameron)
How can our readers follow you online?
To follow Eagle Eye my facebook link is: https://www.facebook.com/EagleEyeWV/
To follow the progress of my film “Two” there is a sign up link on the homepage of my website: https://www.eagleeyeprods.com
This was great, thank you so much for sharing your story and doing this with us. We wish you continued success!
Filmmakers Making A Social Impact: Why & How Filmmaker Jacob Holmes and Eagle Eye Productions Is… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.