Jon Michael Simpson Shares How He Shot “Hi I’m Blake” Documentary

Jon Michael Simpson is a director, producer and actor based in Austin, Texas. His short documentary followed his neighbor Blake Hyland’s initial recovery from a traumatic brain injury in 2014. This film went on to win the grand prize for Participant Media’s national competition. It developed into Jon Michael’s first feature documentary Hi I’m Blake. That he began directing while studying film at the University of Texas.

Hi I’m Blake was licensed by Warner Bros. Discovery and inspired the Hi I’m…  documentary anthology series that was released on Chip and Joanna Gaines new Magnolia Network. Jon Michael has produced 11 narrative and documentary feature films. In addition to writing, directing and acting in multiple films. Also, commercials, and digital series with entities such as Snapchat and NBC.

He most recently starred in the Shudder Original: Sorry About The Demon which releases January 2023.  He currently serves as an Executive Producer and director for the Hi I’m… series including the episodes Hi I’m Sevy and Hi I’m Travis Mills (which releases on Discovery+ this Veterans day). Links to websites: jonmichaelsimpson.com and HiImBlake.com

Watch the trailer for Hi I’m Blake by Jon Michael Simpson

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indieactivity: How would you describe your work as a director?
Jon Michael Simpson (JMS): I am a pretty sentimental person who comes from a large family of hilarious humans. I think these elements seep into my work. In my life, I’m constantly looking for ways to stretch moments with loved ones. And I am happiest laughing with and making others laugh. I’ve found home footage can be an incredible tool to understand someone’s past. To see them for how they really are. So, in my documentaries I focus a lot of effort in searching for moments.

These moments must play out as longer beasts both in archive footage and in verité moments I capture. Their simplicity creates moving, profound moments. I love the unexpected. I love films that change their stripes and evolve continually. Even as you watch them interest me and I hope that my films can generally accomplish this.

How did you get into directing?
Jon Michael Simpson (JMS): As a kid, I remember finding my family’s home video collection for the first time and being completely mesmerized. I watched them over and over memorizing all the details I could, telling my brothers and sisters about hilarious moments they had to see, and marking my favorites. We started viewing these as a family over the holidays and it was magic sharing experiences that made us laugh, cry and rediscover things like the incredible mustache my dad used to have.

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I loved watching films growing up and equally enjoyed attention and trying to make my family and friends laugh so I began performing at a young age. Performing in theater was incredible and I was immediately hooked by the experience of creating with a team. In college, I studied film at the University of Texas in Austin. I focused on directing and producing while continuing to perform. Then, I remember the experience of creating my first short.

I spent hours writing, editing, and crafting it – it was not really any good – but the feeling that something you wrote could become this living, breathing “thing” was amazing to me. It was over for me after that, and I’ve been fortunate to be able to continue telling stories and hope to continue doing so for a long time.

How do you choose a project to direct?
Jon Michael Simpson (JMS): Whenever I’m thinking about directing a project, I first have to gut check that it’s something I will be excited to wake up to and work on for at least a year of my life. The projects you direct become a major part of your everyday life and thoughts and so I want to make sure it’s a story I can enhance and bring something out of that will be interesting to an audience and myself. I always bounce a project off of my wife whose feedback I trust on everything I do – she is my go-to for the first draft of any idea I have.

I also make sure that I’m going to be able to have the resources and team to make it a success. It can’t be over emphasized how important having people you trust deeply and care about in your corner for a production are – if that’s not in place it’s not worth it to me.

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Why would you choose an actor, writer, or producer? What do you look for?
Jon Michael Simpson (JMS): It’s important to find a producer for your projects that is invested in the material, sees the same potential for where the story and life of the film can go and is able to actively improve the film creatively or functionally. There are so many bases to cover making a project so someone who is comfortable spearheading things on their own and can be relied on in the thick of production or post when quick decisions are needed is so valuable. Thankfully many times these have been good friends of mine which makes the process a dream.

When you are offered a project, what things do you put in place to deliver a good job?
Jon Michael Simpson (JMS): It’s important to me to have a realistic timeline, enough resources and team to support the film and built-in windows to allow for mistakes and experimentation. Building in time to fail and play has been something I’ve learned to prioritize and find is important for all the small sequences that make up a film to come to full fruition. Of course, time is not endless, and resources aren’t unlimited so having talented collaborators you enjoy on your team and setting a strong initial intention creatively to come back to when you get lost in the weeds can be a huge help.

Briefly explain your latest work?
JMS: Hi I’m Blake. It is my first baby and features a documentary. It is a personal film to me that follows my childhood neighbor Blake and his family’s recovery. After a gymnastics accident leaves him severely brain-damaged, Blake Hyland creates a platform to bring awareness. To give hope to everyone he meets on the road to recovery. While his family wrestles to restore him to his former self. 

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Hi I’m Blake gives an intimate view into the hardships and successes families face. When life suddenly turns on its head and rehabilitation becomes everyday life. After the traumatic brain injury, his family must determine if they are willing to paint a new picture for their lives. The story has universal themes that extend beyond Hyland’s own experience. To raise needed awareness about brain injuries and the communities they impact.

Traumatic brain injuries, due to their widespread reach and lack of awareness, are known as “The silent epidemic” by health professionals. Hyland’s constant struggle with defining and redefining when Blake will return to his former self strikes a chord we can all relate to in our own lives… “When will we get there?” “When will normalcy return?” 

Hi I’m Blake follows the six-year journey Blake and the Hylands face as they wrestle with the expectations for what life should have been and the hope of what lies ahead. Though the road to recovery is not the picture the family once painted for their lives, it is one that is full of humor, joy, and inspiration for those looking for courage in trials of their own.

Explain key challenges on your last film?
JMS: Hi I’m Blake was my first film and one I worked on for nearly a decade so there were numerous…numerous challenges I experienced that eventually became invaluable lessons. There were several times I wasn’t sure where the story would go or what to do practically as a next step. It was a film that needed a day, a week, a year, and a helping hand at a time to fully form. 

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From a narrative perspective, one challenge was the reality that having a brain injury means a lifetime of recovery. Blake’s journey wasn’t going to simply wrap up in a bow in a year and I would be lying if I said I knew exactly where the story was heading initially. As we followed Blake through key events in his recovery I constantly wondered “what’s the ending we’re heading for?” This eventually revealed itself in Blake’s goal to attend his former school and graduate high school.

Once this clicked, I set out to follow Blake. And his family’s attempt to achieve this. It led to incredible moments following Blake through the hallways of his first days at school. Raising financing for the film was another constant struggle that was made possible by so many generous people. Myself and our core team donated our time, gear and vehicles for years. In fact, my first car, I used to film with the family was a gift from my friends in college!

All that to say, the project has humble beginnings and we attempted to raise funds with every approach you could think of. Organizing fundraising events and one on one meetings with caring individuals excited about the impact the story could have are what helped the film get from A to B in the beginning. The project finally found a breakthrough in financing five years into the process. I was connected to Kathy Collins, Massage Envy’s CMO at the time. We were connected through the Hylands who ran a franchise of theirs.

Massage Envy happened to have an annual conference on the horizon, were moved by the film and wanted to help the project reach completion. They were generous enough to match donations at this event where we raised enough to complete filming and finish the mix and color of the film. A year later the film would land on the doorstep of Chip and Joanna Gaines and lead to a licensing deal and spin off documentary anthology called the Hi I’m… series with their new Magnolia Network.

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I was in complete shock when I got the call from the head of their network. It’s amazing to look back at the steps that took place to arrive here. The film is now available to rent and buy anywhere you get your films.

What ‘thing/situation’ helps you during production?
JMS: Creating an environment that doesn’t feel rushed (even if behind the scenes things may feel hectic). You want the set to be a place where the entire team feels at ease. A place where you are able to creatively work together to achieve the same goal.

Explain a creative choice you took on a recent production?
JMS: In the edit of Hi I’m Blake I wanted the audience to experience what it was like for the Hyland’s to raise their son again after his traumatic brain injury.  To highlight the reality of this new picture we show similar beats throughout the film like Blake’s first steps as a child and set them next to his present day first steps after his accident. The effect I think leaves a lasting impression and are some of my favorites in the film.

Who is your favorite director?
JMS: Christopher Guest is a national treasure, and his movies make me laugh very hard. He’s a master of dry humor and the performances in his films are wonderful. Everyone in the cast is playing for honesty and not going for the laugh and you can feel it.

What advice would you give male/female directors around the world?
JMS: Making a film is a rollercoaster. The best way to find success is to surround yourself with friends and mentors to figure out the next step. I don’t mean this in a hokey way. My advice would be to find close collaborators. That you enjoy creating with, can support one another in projects. And keep each other level headed when you fail or are riding too high. You don’t have to have the whole monster tackled at once. Just keep showing up (and stepping away when needed) to focus on one step at a time. So, you don’t get lost in unfulfilled expectations or a project not going the way you initially hoped.

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