Our Friend Jon

This documentary doesn't have to try and give you feels, it just does it. Our Friend Jon makes you take a step back and question your own personal issues and makes you ask yourself, "is my issue really THAT big?" From start to finish it will have you appreciating life on another level!

This was a really emotional film about true friends which all have a disability they are living with. The story of Jon's life as someone who has limited time to live, made choices to live life to the fullest. To think of all of us who are completely healthy... we get lost from realizing how lucky we are. This film is a humbling and touching human experience that I recommend for everyone. The jokes and comradery of these gentlemen finishing the film their fallen friend Jon laid out for them really sticks with you. Bravo.

Highly recommended--a moving tribute to friendship and the power of filmmaking and storytelling. When Jon dies at a young age, his friends vow to produce the slasher film screenplay he'd been developing. This documentary follows their journey as first-time filmmakers, and creates a real sense of anticipation to see the finished "film within a film." Subjects pushing themselves out of their comfort zone, in memory of a dear friend. A story that could easily dip into pathos and sentimentality, but instead holds a steady camera on the subjects and lets them speak powerfully for themselves. Memorable.

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 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.