An interview with Stephan Johnstone, the writer and executive producer of poetic short film Thoughts Become Things on the film’s success and what he hopes locals take away from it.
You can watch Thoughts Become Things by scrolling to the bottom of this article.
BM: Stephan, Thoughts Become Things premiered in Bermuda in May of 2024 and since then, it’s been shown all over the world—in the United States, India, Bali, Barbados, Nigeria, Malaysia and Trinidad. When you first conceived of the idea for the film, did you ever imagine that it would garner this much success?
SJ: Not at all. When Marq Rodrigeuz [the film’s director, cinematographer and editor] and I completed our first short film project, Bermudian Poet, back in 2023, all we knew was that we wanted to do it again. This time, we aimed to push the story and visuals further than we had before. Once Thoughts Become Things was completed, it was actually our friends and family who encouraged us to submit it to film festivals around the world before releasing it to the public. So, we followed their advice—with no expectations and no idea of what might come next. As of today, we’ve been selected by 16 film festivals, 8 awards, and the film has had 12 public screenings across 10 countries. One thing I’ve learned along the way is that being selected for a festival doesn’t always guarantee your film will be screened. Each festival is different, and sometimes selections are made for competition or consideration, but not all make it to the public programme.
BM: Where did the inspiration for this story come from?
SJ: The inspiration came from a poem I had written years ago. After meeting with Marq and deciding to work on another film together, I went back through my catalogue of poetry and came across a piece titled “Thoughts Become Things.” At the time I originally wrote it, I had Bermuda’s bike culture and the Gombeys in mind. Revisiting it years later, the idea of a young Gombey meeting his ancestors in a dream just felt like the perfect fit—it brought the poem to life in a way I hadn’t fully seen before.
BM: Thoughts Become Things tells the story of a young boy on a journey to becoming a Gombey. As part of his becoming, he is influenced by his ancestors, both African and Native American. Tell us, what is the significance of including his ancestors in his story?
SJ: One of our main goals was to ensure that we represented and respected the Gombey culture as authentically as possible. While the short film is not meant to serve as a documentary or a record of historical facts, it is an artistic interpretation inspired by what we’ve learned through our research, conversations with various troupes and cultural torchbearers. It’s widely accepted that the Gombey tradition has African roots. There are countless similarities between West African culture and our own here in Bermuda. The inclusion of the African ancestor crowning the young Gombey in the film symbolises that deep connection to our African heritage. Additionally, through our research, we learned how our culture has also been influenced by the Native American community, which has had a presence on the island for hundreds of years. That influence was something we also wanted to acknowledge and honour within the film.
BM: Did you know when writing this poem “Thoughts Become Things” that eventually you’d want to illustrate it somehow?
SJ: Honestly, I had no idea. I have a large catalogue of both unfinished and completed pieces that I’ve written and simply stored away—some don’t even have titles. But what I did know was that I wanted to start bringing more visuals to my work. So in 2022, I reached out to Marq to help bring some of it to life through film, and that collaboration has led us to where we are today.
BM: In addition to Marq, you worked with some other creative heavy hitters on this project, people like Derek G. Simmons, Jayde Gibbons and Sinead Simmons. What did each of them bring to the table?
SJ: Yes, these creatives all brought so much to the table. Derek G is one of Bermuda’s top producers and musicians. I’ve known Derek just as long as I’ve known Marq, and we’ve worked together on many projects over the years. I knew he had already been experimenting with incorporating Gombey sounds into his music for some time, so he was the perfect fit for scoring this project. Jayde Gibbons is, in my opinion, one of Bermuda’s top photographers. She has a deep love for capturing the essence of Bermudian culture and making sure it’s represented in its truest form. Having her on set to document each scene was a natural choice. Sinead Simmons is a multi-talented creative force who brought her unique perspective to help shape the scenes during the shoot. When Marq and I were discussing the film team, Sinead was someone he insisted we absolutely had to have on board—and he was right.
BM: Most Bermudians understand the history and cultural significance of the Gombey, but this story obviously resonates with a much broader audience. Why do you think that is—what is the universal message?
SJ: The film carries two main universal messages: first, the importance of honouring those who came before us—our ancestors—and second, recognising the power of our thoughts and how they shape our reality. The Gombey, while uniquely Bermudian, becomes a powerful symbol of both of those ideas. In the film, the young Gombey’s journey represents all of us—trying to understand where we come from and how our roots influence the path ahead. The tradition itself was born out of struggle, resilience, rebellion and creativity, and through the regalia, the drum and the dance, that spirit continues to live on. It’s also the intent and energy behind this project that really shines through. Everyone involved holds a deep respect for our culture, and I believe that authenticity comes through in the film. When Derek and I attended the Black Harvest Film Festival in Chicago, we heard from many audience members who had never heard of a Gombey before—but even without that cultural context, they told us they felt the energy and understood the message. That’s when we knew it was connecting on a deeper level.
BM: Six of Bermuda’s Gombey troupes are represented in the film—why was it important to you to include so many of them?
SJ: In the early stages of this project, Marq and I originally planned to feature one kid Gombey throughout the entire film. But as we began our research and met with different Gombey captains, it became clear that we needed to bring everyone together. Including all of the active troupes wasn’t just the right thing to do—it added depth to the story and created something greater for the culture as a whole. By the time we wrapped filming in early December 2023, we had accomplished our goal of representing all six Gombey troupes active at that time. Not long after, three new troupes emerged. We are incredibly honoured to have received the blessing and support from the troupes involved and to create a cultural art piece that we hope will live on as a meaningful contribution to Bermudian culture.
BM: Thoughts Become Things will premiere on YouTube this August. What was behind your decision to publish the film permanently online?
SJ: Our original plan was to release the film online immediately after completing it. But after sharing it with friends, family, the Gombey troupes and other members of the wider community, we were encouraged to take a different route. Many suggested we submit the film to festivals overseas before putting it online, since most festivals won’t accept films that are already available to the public on platforms like YouTube or streaming services. Entering the festival circuit gave us a chance to expose the project—and Bermudian culture—to unique and diverse audiences around the world.
BM: And in December of this year, you’re premiering a documentary called Decoding Thoughts which will give audiences a look into the making of Thoughts Become Things. Why is it important to you that people get an inside look?
SJ: This project has evolved into something far greater than just the film itself—more than we ever imagined. Over the past two years, there have been moments when we weren’t sure things would come together, and then, somehow, they did. It truly feels like the project has been guided by our ancestors. That’s why we believe sharing the story behind the film is so important. Decoding Thoughts will give audiences deeper insight into the creative process, the cultural significance, and the many layers packed into those six minutes. After watching the documentary and then revisiting Thoughts Become Things, we believe viewers will experience the film with a new perspective—one that brings even more meaning and value to the project as a whole.
BM: And finally, what do you hope locals take away from Thoughts Become Things?
SJ: I hope viewers come away with a renewed love and respect for Bermudian culture—especially the traditions that have been passed down through generations. I also want people to reflect on the power of their thoughts and how those thoughts can shape not only our personal realities but also the future of our communities and generations to come.
