“Journey” is a visual and musical tribute to the city of Richmond and a story about coming to terms with the loss of Brown’s best friend and former classmate, John Fergusson ‘15. “Once I heard of John’s passing, I wanted to create something that he could be remembered by,” said Brown. “The way I know how to do that is to express myself through film and music, so I felt like it only made sense to combine the two.”

Broken into sections outlining the stages of Brown’s grieving process, the film incorporates dance, original music and well-known Richmond settings to explore themes of friendship, loss and mental health. “I figured I could create a strong narrative that people could learn from, one that’s digestible and also enjoyable at the same time,” said Brown.

After the screening, Brown answered questions as part of a student panel made up of students from the Center for the Study of Boys. In addition to addressing the filmmaking process, Brown discussed mental wellness and positive coping strategies. “I hope these boys know that, if they need them, they have support systems around them,” said Brown. “Just getting that message to these boys is so important to me.”