Sarey, what drew you to working with Blueprint 1543, and what attracted you to its mission?
Figuring out the meaning of life basically! Haha… Multiple domains of knowledge can inform the answers people need in order to thrive. The world is changing so rapidly, as information travels globally in an instant and technology develops exponentially. We need to be able to recontextualize the ancient wisdom that we find in our spiritual traditions. Wisdom is informed by knowledge, and that knowledge can come from both the observable universe and from our sacred stories. Jesus teaches me to forgive endlessly, and psychology can help me learn practically how to forgive. We are called to love our neighbor, but what is the “loving” thing to do when deciding whether or not to give my child a smartphone? The conversations we have when we do interdisciplinary work are so rich, and I really get excited about being able to synthesize them and share them with broader audiences.
You have quite the career pivot in your background. What led you to make that change?
That’s right. I spent about 12 years working in the entertainment industry. I worked in TV, film, and the music industry. I loved working with creative people and doing a lot of problem-solving, but it was very demanding. At a certain point, I felt burned out and needed to switch gears. I took a sabbatical to get a masters degree in theology at Fuller Seminary, with an emphasis in theology and the arts–so that’s where my interdisciplinary work began. I got a lot of practice expanding spiritual concepts into cultural artifacts, as well as recognizing the meaningful commentary the arts can bring to matters of faith. Synthesizing theological ideas, informed by the arts and sciences, is definitely part of what I’m called to do with my life. Another part of that call is storytelling; storytelling creates the kind of emotional impact that can affect change and empathy in a person, and that’s what makes it such an exciting tool to me.
What excites you about the future?
Being part of something new at Blueprint is thrilling to me. My sense of adventure loves imagining new possibilities. I can’t wait to see what we’re able to actualize through the first few years of projects; I can’t wait to work with extraordinary people and develop an array of creative content that will give real momentum to beautiful, new ideas.
Who are your main role models or influences?
Krista Tippett and Fred Rogers come to mind first. Come to think of it, Mr. Rogers definitely brought together faith and science by creating a children’s television show, informed by the latest research of child development experts and his background as a Presbyterian minister. Krista Tippett is a master at bringing out the best from diverse experts, as well as seeing all of life as somehow spiritual.
What do you spend your time on when you’re not working?
I create independent film projects both on my own (as a writer-director), and in collaboration with my husband. We like good food, good TV shows, and good TV shows about food.
What’s your favorite movie?
So hard to pick just one, but I’ll go with Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. “I have been, and always shall be, your friend.”
