Healing Through Storytelling After Surviving a Mass Shooting with Ashley Hoff
Art Heals All Wounds
11/09/22
•44m
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Today, I’m joined by Ashley Hoff, an executive producer of the new Paramount+ documentary "11 Minutes." The four-part series offers an insider’s look into the mass shooting that took place at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 1st, 2017. In our conversation, Ashley opens up about her experience being a survivor of this tragedy and details why she felt called to highlight other survivor’s stories.
Through first-hand accounts from eventgoers and first responders, as well as real body cam and cell phone footage, “11 Minutes'' is a truly immersive, effective approach to storytelling. The documentary illustrates the light that came from such a harrowing event and the power of healing in community.
Fifty-eight people were killed in the immediate aftermath of the shooting and two survivors later died of their gunshot wounds. Hundreds more were injured. Even though it’s the largest mass shooting in the US to date, it cycled out of the news in about a week. With “11 Minutes,” Ashley hopes to portray the lasting impact of this event and facilitate healing in a safe way.
Ashley shares how she and her team crafted the series in a way that respects the various narrators while providing powerful, necessary visuals. She describes the public feedback and praise that the film has garnered and highlights how it’s touched people from all walks of life. Ashley also dives into the turning point when she decided that she would tell this story and celebrate the resiliency of this survivor community.
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Castbox, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Topics Covered:
● How to tell a story in a way that honors the victims of a tragedy
● The thought process behind the decision to use real-life footage instead of reenactments
● How Ashley and her team chose the narrators who are featured in the documentary
● The prolific moment that made it clear to Ashley that she was meant to make “11 Minutes”
● The simple, yet impactful message that Ashley hopes viewers will take away from the documentary
Guest Info:
● Watch "11 Minutes" on Paramount+
Follow Me:
● Art Heals All Wounds Website
● Art Heals All Wounds Instagram
● Art Heals All Wounds Twitter
Previous Episode
The Art of Being Human and Sharing Stories for Healing with Kimi Culp
November 2, 2022
•44m
Today, I’m joined by Kimi Culp, founder and host of All the Wiser, a podcast that explores nonfiction storytelling through conversation. On her show, Kimi gives people from all walks of life the chance to tell their story in a way that maybe they've never had a chance to do before. We discuss Kimi’s deeply empathetic approach, what inspired her to illuminate people’s lived experiences, and reimagine what it looks like to heal in community.
To kick off our conversation, I asked Kimi how being bipolar and sharing that she lives with that condition informs her show. She explains why she decided to share that part of her life with her audience and describes the incredible ripple effect that it’s had on her community. She also illustrates how she supports herself as a deeply emotional person, which can be challenging given the content of her show.
Kimi shares how some of her potentially controversial episodes, like Sue Klebold's and Amanda Knox's, came to be. She talks about what draws her into people’s stories and how she goes about finding guests for the show. Kimi and I touch on how podcasting and really hearing someone’s story from their perspective has the potential to heal us as individuals and a society. She also highlights how she sees the show progressing and the decision to donate $2,000 to a charity that is near and dear to each storyteller’s heart.
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Castbox, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Topics Covered:
● How Kimi started to come to terms with her bipolar diagnosis
● Where Kimi’s deep sense of empathy comes from
● Honoring what it’s like to live the full human experience
● The intimate nature of podcasting for both the content creators and listeners
● Kimi’s dedication to ethical storytelling
Guest Info:
● All The Wiser Instagram
Follow Me:
● Art Heals All Wounds Website
● Art Heals All Wounds Instagram
● Art Heals All Wounds Twitter
Next Episode
New Visions for Rwandan Filmmakers with Ganza Moise
November 16, 2022
•49m
Today, I’m joined by Ganza Moise, a Rwandan writer and filmmaker, to talk about his art and the Rwandan film community. We unpack the themes and artistic direction of two of his recent independent films, “Sensory Overload” and “Mazunga.” Ganza describes the unexpected ways that he frames characters and explores philosophical, existential questions that so many of us grapple with. He also touches on the transitional nature of his generation and highlights some of the filmmaking and distribution challenges in Rwanda.
“Sensory Overload” is an audio-visual experience based on Natacha Muzira’s poem about the liberating power of imagination. He explores similar themes in “Mazunga,” which is about a taxi motorcyclist who is forced to face his internal conflicts when the whole world shuts down during the pandemic. In our conversation, Ganza explains why he’s drawn to these types of stories and breaks down his artistic process.
I ask Ganza about the generation of Rwandans who teeter the Millennials/Gen-Z line. He illustrates how he and his peers are doing a lot of talking, thinking, and creating to find their cultural identity in a country that is very ambitious, but also mourning the atrocities of genocide from the not-to-distant past.
Part of the country’s rapid growth is reflected in the film scene. Ganza is the co-founder of KIRURI mfn, an arts production and distribution company. He shares his insight into how Rwandan filmmakers are getting their work in front of larger audiences and how he’s working to amplify their art.
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Castbox, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Topics Covered:
● What drew Ganza to filmmaking
● Powerful scenes and themes of “Sensory Overload” and “Mazunga”
● How Ganza seeks to make sense of his experiences and internal conversations through art
● Challenges that Ganza and other Rwandans of his generation are currently facing
● What’s happening with the independent film scene in Rwanda
Guest Info:
● KIRURI mfn YouTube
Follow Me:
● Art Heals All Wounds Website
● Art Heals All Wounds Instagram
● Art Heals All Wounds Twitter
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