FEATURED FILMMAKER: CARMEN VINCENT

Carmen Vincent’s empathetic approach to storytelling has made her a voice for individuals with disabilities through film. As someone who both experiences and documents life with disability, she is passionate about bringing these stories to the big screen.

“As someone with non-visible disabilities, including OCD and CPTSD, I’ve learned to embrace my unique perspective, using it to approach filmmaking with empathy, curiosity, and creativity,” says Vincent. “I’ve often found that my experiences with disability and mental health challenges have made me a more attentive, divergent thinker and a better collaborator, qualities that I believe are crucial in filmmaking.”

While studying Digital Media at Valparaiso University, Vincent took an internship in Palestine that opened her eyes to new stories and new perspectives. But rather than dismissing stories closer to home as less important, she continued to value them. “While I’ve had opportunities to work internationally, my heart has always remained in the Midwest,” she says. “There are so many meaningful stories here to be told.”

“Powerful, meaningful narratives can come from anywhere,” Vincent continues. “One of my favorite films I’ve worked on is Teacher of Patience. This project is incredibly meaningful to me because it tells the story of Emily Felter, a young woman with Down syndrome, and her and her father’s advocacy to educate first responders on how to better interact with individuals with disabilities.”

The Felter family, who live in Hebron, Indiana, invited Vincent into their lives so that she could tell their story authentically, but this wasn’t without its challenges. “During the two years we filmed, the Felters let me live with them for two weeks straight just to be able to capture every little moment,” Vincent shares. “The most challenging thing about making documentaries is navigating the balance between storytelling and respect for the people you’re documenting…You’re not just telling a story; you’re also taking on the responsibility of representing real lives and experiences.”

“Teacher of Patience helped me become more outspoken about my identity as a disabled filmmaker,” Vincent continues. “It was empowering to see how Emily’s story resonated, and it encouraged me to take a more active role in promoting accessibility and inclusion, both on-screen and behind the camera. It was especially exciting to see a small-town Indiana story make it to the big screen.”

Teacher of Patience screened at over 20 film festivals worldwide, was awarded a Chicago/Midwest Emmy, and continues to be used in first responder training today. And Vincent knows that her work is just one example of the incredible filmmaking happening in the Hoosier state.

“The Indiana filmmaking community is full of talent, heart, and passion,” she says. “Sure, we may have to get creative to fund our films, but we get them done. We may have to work harder to meet each other and collaborate, but we’re intentional. We may have to drive through some cornfields to get to where we’re going, but that grounds us. We have an identity, and good stories are driven by strong senses of identity.”

As a nonprofit supporting storytelling across Indiana since 2021, Hoodox is no stranger to the challenges of filmmaking in a state with limited arts funding (34th in the nation according to the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies). But, we’ve also seen the determination and talent of Indiana filmmakers to persist and tell important stories in ways that only Hoosiers can.

“The Indiana filmmaking community is capable of a level of authenticity in their storytelling that’s unlike any other filmmaking community I’ve encountered,” Vincent adds.

Our streaming service, hoodox.tv, is home to more than 120 of these authentic Hoosier stories, including Teacher of Patience. When you purchase a subscription, you’re supporting the work of this community of driven, passionate, and creative storytellers who are making our state a better place.

“Because we’re labeled ‘The Crossroads of America,’ it can be tempting to fear that our stories will be overlooked or not valued. But,” says Vincent, “I’ve found that couldn’t be further from the truth. Indiana filmmakers are telling heartfelt, creative, human stories, and we’re forced to be thoughtful about how we tell them because we have to be resourceful.”

Follow Vincent’s work on her website and Instagram @carmenvincentfilms. Learn more about Teacher of Patience here.

Photos provided by Carmen Vincent.