Our Friend Jon follows a group of young filmmakers, each with a disability, as they come together to complete a horror film script left behind by their friend Jon Hernandez, who died in 2013 due to complications related to sickle cell anemia. The film serves as a heartfelt tribute to Jon’s life and creative vision.
Join audio producer JazmÃn Aguilera and film producer, Edward Payson in a virtual discussion on February 25th at 6:00 p.m. EST.
1. Register for the event on this page. Be sure to use the email you want the zoom link to go to.
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2. You will then receive a confirmation email with a unique link to watch the film.
3. Watch the film before the virtual session which takes place at 6:00pm EST on Wednesday, February 25th.
Please note: The film will NOT be shown during the session. The session will be a Q&A with the films producer Edward Payson.
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4. On the day of the virtual session, you will be emailed a link to join the Q&A session shortly before the event begins.Â
5. At 6:00pm EST, the session will begin and you will be let in from the waiting room. Remember to use the Q&A function to ask questions!
Payson is currently in production for Rarity: Retro Video Game Collecting in the Modern Era – Part II, a project that has been in development for the past three years. While the original installment centered on collectors and gaming culture within the United States—featuring 19 in-depth interviews—the sequel significantly broadens its scope to explore the subject on a global scale.
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Part II includes more than 65 collectors across six continents and examines how gaming and collecting cultures evolved differently around the world. Particular attention is given to regions where Nintendo lacked an official presence or was unable to establish a strong market foothold, resulting in players growing up with entirely different consoles, distribution models, and collecting traditions. The film analyzes how these distinct regional circumstances shaped local gaming cultures while documenting and preserving the stories of the individuals dedicated to safeguarding that history today.
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Edward Payson is an award-winning filmmaker and documentary director known for telling character-driven stories that connect with passionate niche communities around the world. His work includes the acclaimed documentaries Our Friend Jon, In Search of All American Massacre: The Lost Texas Chainsaw Film, and Rarity: Retro Video Game Collecting in the Modern Era. Rarity became a breakout success in the streaming market, reaching millions of viewers while bringing retro gaming culture to a global audience and demonstrating Payson’s ability to spotlight subcultures and untold stories. His documentary work has earned Bronze, Silver, and Gold Telly Awards. In addition to his documentary projects, Payson has also directed independent horror films, building a reputation for delivering memorable genre experiences while continuing to explore unique subjects and communities across his work and directed over 400 commercials.
Jazmin Aguilera is a host and senior audio producer for the Boston Globe. Previously the head of audio at Los Angeles Times, Jazmin has a long tenure in the audio industry spanning more than a decade. She was host and supervising producer for The Cut podcast where she produced irreverent audio essays on cultural hot button topics. She was a senior producer and interim executive producer at Conde Nast, producing for Vogue and Pitchfork as well as overseeing audio products for Wired Magazine. She was the inaugural producer fellow with the New York Times working on The Daily where she produced impactful news podcast episodes while simultaneously becoming an International Women's Media Fund grant recipient to report on the Mexican-Guatemalan border. She spent 5 years at the NPR show Snap Judgment, where she produced award winning first person feature episodes. She has won several accolades including Spotify's best podcast episode of the year 2019, Indiewire's second best podcast episode of the year 2019, Third Coast Audio Festival award Gold 2018 and Silver 2019. She and her team produced the podcast episode The Leaked TapeThat Upended L.A. Politics included in the Los Angeles Times 2023 Pulitzer Prize win in breaking news.
Jazmin Aguilera is a host and senior audio producer for the Boston Globe. Previously the head of audio at Los Angeles Times, Jazmin has a long tenure in the audio industry spanning more than a decade. She was host and supervising producer for The Cut podcast where she produced irreverent audio essays on cultural hot button topics. She was a senior producer and interim executive producer at Conde Nast, producing for Vogue and Pitchfork as well as overseeing audio products for Wired Magazine. She was the inaugural producer fellow with the New York Times working on The Daily where she produced impactful news podcast episodes while simultaneously becoming an International Women's Media Fund grant recipient to report on the Mexican-Guatemalan border. She spent 5 years at the NPR show Snap Judgment, where she produced award winning first person feature episodes. She has won several accolades including Spotify's best podcast episode of the year 2019, Indiewire's second best podcast episode of the year 2019, Third Coast Audio Festival award Gold 2018 and Silver 2019. She and her team produced the podcast episode The Leaked TapeThat Upended L.A. Politics included in the Los Angeles Times 2023 Pulitzer Prize win in breaking news.
Edward Payson is an award-winning filmmaker and documentary director known for telling character-driven stories that connect with passionate niche communities around the world. His work includes the acclaimed documentaries Our Friend Jon, In Search of All American Massacre: The Lost Texas Chainsaw Film, and Rarity: Retro Video Game Collecting in the Modern Era. Rarity became a breakout success in the streaming market, reaching millions of viewers while bringing retro gaming culture to a global audience and demonstrating Payson’s ability to spotlight subcultures and untold stories. His documentary work has earned Bronze, Silver, and Gold Telly Awards. In addition to his documentary projects, Payson has also directed independent horror films, building a reputation for delivering memorable genre experiences while continuing to explore unique subjects and communities across his work and directed over 400 commercials.
