Our Friend Jon

This movie put me through all the emotions! Happy, sad, laughter, scared. Make sure you have your tissues! You can do anything you put your mind to, and these guys sure did it! They got to honor their friend, while finding themselves in the process! Now I want to make a movie!!! Thanks for the inspiration!

I saw Our Friend Jon last night at the Valley Film Festival here in Los Angeles in the valley. Just a terrific documentary about the making of a movie written by a Jon Hernandez who passed from Sickle cell anemia before the film could be made. The filmmakers of the film within the doc all have special needs or disabilities which don't seem to get in the way of their passion about making Jon's horror film come to life. It was inspiring to see, as my step father had spina bifida which one of the filmmakers, the director of the doc's brother, Garret Payson also has and to see him over come his disability and finish the film is truly inspiring. And a close relative of mine is autistic and my wife has worked with kids with special needs for years - so it was wonderful to see a film highlight the talents of people who often get over looked in our society.

I went into the screening not knowing anything about the movie. The last time I did that was my friend's doc, Dear Zachary, and the result was me being a blubbering mess as I cried my eyes out at the twists and turns of that documentary. Our Friend Jon did the same to me last night although I am happy to say the film has an optimistic ending that should inspire any burgeoning filmmaker.

I highly recommend the film.

I'm an actor and I've been in an Edward Payson film. Not this one. A horror film. That's what Edward Payson is known for: making horror films.

Which makes "Our Friend Jon" all the more striking.

A blessing to the parched soul (and I say that with no hyperbole,) "Our Friend Jon" cannot help but be spiritual refreshment to anyone who sees it and really settles in with the story; with Garrett, with Brandon, with Nick, with the moms, with the friends.

With Jon.

The film is moving in some weird, quiet way. I struggled for a word to describe the sensation, and finding none, created one: humanness. There's no attempt here to manipulate emotion or to make anyone a hero or (despite circumstances) a victim. There's just friendship. Friendship as it actually exists in the private lives we all actually live. It's like being in someone else's home and finding that it is somehow your home, too.

Watch Our Friend Jon. It validates the quiet nobility of our messy, ordinary lives. It makes you long for what is lost, and remember that there is always a future. You'll want to hug somebody. And not a red-carpet hug either. The real kind.

This doc will last.

Our Friend Jon was truly inspiring. Watching the first 10 minutes of the film, I was not only drawn in, but trying to keep my composure. Being a fellow filmmaker, it was amazing to see the stories we have potential to bring to life. Especially seeing someone from Waltham doing it at this level. There are laughs and cries throughout the whole video. Nothing is impossible when you are dedicated and do it with heart. An amazing tribute and experience top to bottom. A really well-done underdog story.

-Zach (HBZ Media)

I just watched this movie at The Widescreen Film Festival in Las Vegas where it won best documentary. A very emotional and awe inspiring story about a group of friends with special needs who make a movie written by their friend who passed away from Sickle Cell Anemia. It's an emotional roller coaster that's best when viewed with a close friend. I hope a major studio buys this so I can see it again.