The Story Behind

Trustworthy is proof that one person can make a difference. On January 6th, 2021, Stephany Zamora sat transfixed as she watched events unfolding in real time at the United States Capitol. Troubled by how misinformation has fueled the country’s growing polarization, she woke up the next morning committed to do something. She decided to produce a documentary that explores our media, trust, democracy and whether we can find common ground.
All voices heard.

Trustworthy was born.

Over the next several months, Stephany assembled her team, undaunted by the fact that she’d never made a film before. Using the gumption she learned working for successful startups in the tech industry, she connected first with director Dana Richie, then with talent executive Denise Quan — both longtime journalists with experience on award-winning productions. Burning up the Zoom lines, the three women quickly laid the groundwork for Trustworthy, securing interviews with top media experts, reporters and editors, and setting the stage for a whirlwind shoot schedule that would crisscross the country. But with the COVID-19 Delta variant surging, it became clear that flying would be untenable. 

On October 23rd, 2021, Stephany and a crew of nine people she’d never met in person before climbed aboard a 40-foot tour bus named Bandit, and pulled out of a rather bleak parking lot near Los Angeles International Airport. They traversed craggy deserts in Arizona, peered over the border wall in Texas, and barreled through bomb cyclones and electrical storms in the South and East. Stopping for lunch at a BBQ joint in Junction, Texas — population 2,500 — they met a painter named Kevin Geffers, Sr., who commented on the “All Voices Heard” banner emblazoned on the side of the Trustworthy bus.

“Have you run into people who told you this may not be a good idea yet?” he queried. “Not yet, but we just started,” a member of the crew replied. “Well, you got way more support out there than you realize. We just don’t have a voice,” Kevin said.

“When we met Kevin, we knew we were onto something,” Dana explains. “Yes, we were on a mission to speak with experts, but equally important were the everyday Americans who make up the ‘Voices of the People’ we spotlight in the film.” 

During the 23-day trek across America, the crew found folks on the street were eager to share their thoughts about the current state of our media. A common theme began to emerge, regardless of political ideology — that people were not only frustrated, but deeply saddened by the divide that has crept into our communities and personal relationships. They longed for a way to reconnect, and to begin healing our fractured democracy.

“There were challenges along the way with Trustworthy — including the fact that one ‘positive’ nasal swipe could send us home.  But somehow, it always left us in a better place,” says Denise. “We like to think we had angels watching over us. Angels who believed in the purpose behind our documentary. Stephany’s mom was one of those angels.”

“We felt her presence the entire time,” adds Stephany. “My mom was diagnosed with cancer in April 2020 as we were bracing for a pandemic, she was gone by June. She was the kind of person who, when she saw something needed to be done, she did it.”

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. 

“My mom would be so thrilled to see this endeavor come to life. My hope is this documentary will inspire others in communities across America to get involved,” says Stephany. “I know it’s been overused, but be the change you want to see. Host a Trustworthy screening. Start a conversation. Let’s find some common ground together so we can strengthen our democracy.”