A Missing Piece: 10 Lessons on Connecting the Past to My Passion
An International Filmmaker’s Tribute to His Late Venezuelan Grandfather
by Asher B. Gudsen (Fernandez)
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.”
A Missing Piece
Sometimes, it takes a complete stranger to hand you the missing piece of your family story.
A couple of months ago, I 🎓 graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Film and Television. This milestone came after almost eight years of service in the Spanish Air Force and two previous degrees—experiences that shaped both my discipline and perspective as a storyteller. For my Directing II final project, my wife Maria and I co-wrote a short film called The Missing Piece. The idea wasn’t just born from creativity—it was inspired by one of the most unexpected and transformative encounters of my life.
Years ago, while living in Tenerife (in the Canary Islands), I met an old man who, by pure chance, had once lived in my hometown in Venezuela. As we talked, I learned something I never could have imagined: he had worked side by side with my grandfather, Edgar, who passed away 52 years ago—long before I was born.
Foto de Mi Abuelo
This is a photo of my abuelo, Edgar Fernandez (at 25), before he passed away at the age of 31. His daughter Belky (15) passed away in the same tragic auto accident.
That conversation changed me. He shared stories and details about my grandfather—things I had never known, because the trauma of his sudden death had kept my family from speaking about him.
When Maria and I began writing the script, I reached out to my relatives to let them know about the project. That step encouraged them to open up, and I began learning more about my grandfather. Though painful, the process helped my family heal wounds we had carried in silence for decades.
Making this short film became more than just a school assignment. It was an act of discovery, of honoring legacy, and of experiencing how storytelling has the power to connect, transform, and heal.
Behind the Scenes
Here I am with my actors Gino and Andre, and part of my crew, shooting an outdoor scene from “The Missing Piece” (April 21, 2025). It required voiceover work, which was a great opportunity to learn.
🎬 10 Things I Learned from Making The Missing Piece
Stories connect generations — A film can bridge the gap between the past and the present.
Research deepens storytelling — Interviewing family members brought authenticity and intimacy to the script.
Vulnerability matters — Sharing personal stories helps others heal, not just yourself.
Film is therapy — Creating this project gave my family a way to process a 52-year-old wound.
Details make it real — Knowing small things about my grandfather’s life helped shape the emotional truth of the film.
Collaboration is gold — Working with Maria reminded me that storytelling is stronger when it’s shared. Feedback from my professor, John Mossman, and my classmates strengthened the script tremendously.
Limitations fuel creativity — Being a student film, every challenge forced me to think outside the box.
Legacy inspires art — My grandfather’s untold story became the heart of a film.
Every story matters — Even a personal family story can resonate universally with others.
I want to help others tell their stories — This film reminded me why I became a filmmaker: to tell meaningful stories that matter.
An Important Moment
Writing and directing this moment expressed the emptiness I had felt, missing a meaningful grandfather figure in my life—before the connection I made in Tenerife.
When Passion Becomes Purpose
What I didn’t mention earlier was that I was discouraged from pursuing an art degree when I was young. My parents encouraged me, not to follow my passion, but my obligations. I was a responsible, hard-working young man and didn’t want to let my parents down. But going into the Air Forces in Spain at 22 years old, after moving from Venezuela at 18, was a choice of duty and practicality, being an immigrant.
Along the way, my work took me across Spain and the U.K., and it opened the door to one of my lifelong passions: travel. With every new place I explored, my love for art naturally evolved into something deeper—a passion for capturing the world through travel photography. That journey is still alive today, and you can see glimpses of it on my Instagram, @bjornpicture.
Eventually, when I moved to the U.S., I decided: no more crushing my dreams. Instead of validating my Spanish degree, I finally decided to go after them. That is what began my journey that led me to graduating with my degree of choice (film and television). But changing my career in my mid 30s was not easy. Higher education in the U.S. is expensive. I faced an internal battle to go back to a stable job, like one I got after I moved here. But I remembered how trapped I felt there. Could there be a way out? A way forward? With faith and a lot of persistence, I applied to multiple scholarships, which allowed me to graduate totally debt free.
Now, with that experience connecting me to my past, I carry more than just technical skills—I carry a legacy. My grandfather’s untold story lit a spark in me, and now I feel a deeper responsibility to honor stories that might otherwise remain hidden. Every frame I capture in photography, every scene I direct, every narrative I weave into film—it all comes from that renewed fire within me. My passion for storytelling is no longer just about me pursuing a dream I once put aside; it’s about giving voice to stories that heal, inspire, and connect us across time and distance. What once felt like a risk now feels like purpose, and I know that this passion is the compass guiding me forward.
En Algún Lugar del Tiempo (Somewhere in Time)
Esta es una foto que tomé (y edité) en la Plaza del Charco, cerca de donde conocí al hombre que conoció a mi abuelo. Esta plaza está en Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, Islas Canarias (España). / This is a photo I took (and edited) at Plaza Del Charco near where I met the man who knew my grandfather. This plaza is in Puerto de la Cruz in Tenerife, part of the Canary Islands (Spain).
What about you? 🌟
Have you been holding back your own passion—telling yourself it’s too late, too impractical, or too costly? I’ve been there. But I can tell you this: passion has a way of waiting for us, like a light that never truly goes out. Sometimes it just needs the right moment, the right spark, to be reignited.
If my journey taught me anything, it’s that it’s never too late to start again, to shift paths, to follow that fire you’ve been keeping tucked away. Your passion matters. It has the power to heal, to inspire, and to ripple out far beyond you.
So I invite you: take one small step today toward pursuing the thing you love. Write it down, share it, or simply whisper it out loud. Let it live again. Passion is not just for the bold—it’s for the willing.
Is your story waiting in the shadows? For decades, my grandfather’s story stayed silent. Yours doesn’t have to. If there’s a part of your past—or your present—that deserves to be seen and heard, I’d be honored to help you share it. Send us a message, and let’s start the journey of giving voice to your missing piece.