Every Nashvillian has a unique story. They all came from different backgrounds, and they have all had their own journeys to where they are today.
For Andrew Yontz, those stories have served as inspiration for mini-documentaries called "Nashville's Own."
"Nashville is so much more than what you originally think," Yontz, a Nashville native, explained, adding that he had a skewed perception of Nashville before leaving for college. "Nashville is Country Music. That's all it is. Nashville is Broadway, that's all it is."
After college, Yontz returned to Nashville and realized that Nashville is much more, and he decided to use his camera and his lens to share what he's seen and what he's learned.
"Nashville's Own" focuses on individuals and businesses in Nashville. There is no criteria for who gets highlighted, instead, it's supposed to be a random selection of people that make Nashville what it is.
Over the past two years, Yontz has told more than 30 stories, and most of them don't embody the stereotype of what Nashville is.
Yontz has interviewed artists, musicians, tattoo artists, shop owners, and baristas, and each one of those stories are unique because of the people, like Eric Bowers who works at a local coffee shop.
"I personally don't even care for coffee, strangely enough, but I could sit down and listen to him talk about the process of roasting and pouring the perfect cup over and over again," Yontz said, adding that he's found that Nashville is filled with passionate people. "There's an electricity behind their eyes and there's just this fire that they breathe when they talk about what they love."
But the videos are not just about the individuals crafts, they're about their stories.
"I believe that this could really uplift someone, I think that it could really give someone hope," Yontz said of "Nashville's Own," adding that all of the people he has interviewed have faced adversity, and all of them have overcome hardships.
Yontz plans to keep telling these stories in hopes everyone can learn from each other's experiences.
"I don't want to have any sort of criteria or qualification, because everyone's story deserves to be told," Yontz said.
Yontz is hoping that "Nashville's Own" can find some financial backing so he can work on the projects full-time, and hopefully expand them to other cities.
If you know anyone who you think should be highlighted in "Nashville's Own," you can reach out to Yontz at andrewyontzproductions@gmail.com or visit his website.
