WARRIOR SOULS: AN INTERVIEW WITH “STRONGER THAN YESTERDAY” CREATOR PHILLIP ENKEY

There are souls among us whose warrior spirits inspire and empower us - despite the turmoil and grief that they are going through. Each and every one of us has likely been touched and affected by cancer in some way, whether it’s an immediate family member, friend, or acquaintence. Phillip Enkey’s “Stronger Than Yesterday” approaches experiences with cancer in a delicate and empowering way. In this music video, despite circusmtances, hope can be found in celebrations and memories that live on through our loved ones. In this video, a diagnosis isn’t the end; it’s the beginning of a warrior’s journey.

“Stronger Than Yesterday” took home Best Music Video in the Winter Edition of the Zepstone International Film Festival. Enkey, whose other songs and videos address subjects such as perseverance, will be headlining at the Salt Lake City Taco and Margarita Festival on March 20th. ZIFA had the opportunity to interview him regarding inspirations behind the song.

ZIFA: What inspired you to create this moving music video? Any influences?

Phillip: I am a full time singer, songwriter, and performing artist living here in Utah. Music has always been a healing resource for me since I was young. I am an emotional writer so I have to be moved and really inspired to write a song. "Stronger Than Yesterday" was inspired by my good friend Kent Soper who is featured first in the music video. I was in middle management at the post office over two years ago when he called in saying he would be late because he was finishing a "treatment". I didn't know what that meant so I asked another supervisor who said that Kent was diagnosed with stage 4 Esophageal cancer and was still delivering his mail route even during treatment. I was impressed and humbled by this. I later asked him to share with me what it was like to be him, that others didn't understand. He shared with me that his personal mantra was (paraphrasing but the slogan is exact) "as long as I am ""stronger than yesterday"" then I am doing well". I was so moved by his resilience that I told him I wanted to write a song for him. I then interviewed dozens of individuals and families that were fighting cancer, beat cancer, or had lost someone they loved to cancer. I consider these interviews sacred experiences. I sat in my kitchen with my guitar and the notes from my interviews and wrote this song. Then I was connected with Vincent Pelina, a tremendously resourceful and gifted videographer and producer and we began working on the music video.

ZIFA: Where did you film Stronger Than Yesterday? And how long did it take?

Phillip: We filmed this whole project right here in Utah. We followed each individual in the video at their own homes and work places to capture them in their own world. We wanted this to show authentic real people fighting and living with the effects of cancer. It took 2 total days of filming to shoot the whole project.

ZIFA: So far, this is the highest rated project historically by our jurors. How did you achieve such monumental emotion in such a short run-time?

Phillip: I can't express how honored I am that this received such high ratings from the jurors! They have seen so many projects and bring so much perspective and experience to the table, and I am honestly touched that they were moved by this project. But to be honest, I cant take any credit. I am just a musician. The reason I believe this received such high ratings is because this wasn't just a music video. This was five minutes of video showing real, authentic, humble, ordinary people who have been through and are going through the most difficult things that humans can experience — the decay of their own bodies by a relentless and dangerous disease. This shows them and their warrior spirit in their everyday lives choosing to be positive, choosing to keep loving, keep working, keep believing and keep smiling even though they have every excuse not to do so.

I don't know that I achieved anything monumental here; I was just lucky enough to be behind the scenes while a camera captured these resilient warriors exhibiting monumental and heroic humanism. These people, Kent Soper, Hoa Nguyen, Jenn Booth and Megan Perez are the reason this video is so moving and received such high ratings. I hope to be able to be a fly on the wall in capturing more humans like them in future projects.

ZIFA: What was the biggest challenge you faced during production and/or post-production?

Phillip: The biggest challenge by far was trying to create a story board and presentation that would do justice to these cancer warriors. I felt what I can only describe as a sacred pressure to get this right. This is such a heavy subject that affects so many people. I didn't want this to be another song with a catchy hook and a stylish visual. I wanted this to be a visually stimulating resource and tool for those people sitting with chemo treatment running through their veins, or laying in a radiation machine or preparing their wills and for their families. Trying to create a video that would actually be useful to them, that might actually help them in some small way, felt like a very difficult thing to do.

ZIFA: What was the most memorable moment on set? 

Phillip: The most memorable moment on set was filming Kent Soper at his home. You see him in the beginning of the video looking at a picture board in his home. What you don't see is when Vincent asks him which picture on the board means the most to him, he immediately and without hesitation pointed at the picture that was roughly in the center with photos laying over parts of it. It was a picture of him and his wife. I was moved to emotion so I stepped back into the back of the family room so I wouldn't be a distraction. This man is literally fighting for his life and I wish I could do more for him.

ZIFA: Any lessons learned or things you would have done differently?

Phillip: This is a really good question. I have learned from this to not delay something that I feel in my heart is important and can help people. There were many reasons to not make this video: money, time, resources, scheduling. But when something is this important I have learned to have more urgency and focus so that it can help as many people as possible as quickly as possible. 

ZIFA: Any advice for aspiring filmmakers?

Phillip: The only advice that I can give is to ignore the excuses that delay you from expressing your passion because you can ALWAYS find reasons to delay, reschedule, abort, or self doubt. Just focus on the reasons for doing it and start looking for the help you need to make it actually happen. Get help! I am not a videographer, producer, editor, sound engineer, studio producer, set director or anything that really requires training - haha - I'm just a musician who sings songs on my guitar at local markets and weddings. But I found people who had skills that I don't have and asked them to help me.

ZIFA: How can we find you and follow your work?

Phillip: You can find my music streaming across all music streaming platforms including iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, Applemusic, YouTube music, and more. You can find me on Instagram at Phillip Enkey Music. The biggest thing people can do to help is to watch this music video and pay attention to who comes to your mind that could benefit from the message in this video, and then share it with them. You don't need to mention my name or follow my music; just help get the message in this video to anyone hurting, aching, healing or looking for more strength and help. If you get a chance please tell them I love them, I believe in them, I'm rooting for them, and that I wrote this song just for them.

Thank you again to the Zepstone International Film Festival and all those who make this festival possible for taking time to consider this project and to recognize the warriors that are presented in it. 

Interview: Alicia Oberle Farmer