Jeff Gomez interviewed by “In Search Of Heroes Program” roving reporter Nathan Turner. Jeff answered questions about heroes and heroism in a way that inspires and educates.
Nathan Turner, roving reporter for the “In Search Of Heroes Program” interviewed Jeff Gomez, CEO of Starlight Runner Entertainment, at the 2009 San Diego Comic Convention. Nathan asked Jeff a number of questions about heroes and heroism. His answers were thoughtful and inspirational.
Jeff Gomez is a leading expert at developing entertainment properties into highly successful transmedia franchises. Jeff conceived, co-wrote and produced one of the most successful cross-platform storylines of the decade with Matel’s Hot Wheels comic books, videogames, Web content and animated series.
He has gone on to work with such franchises as “Pirates Of the Caribbean,” “Tron” from Disney, James Cameron’s “Avatar” for 20th Century Fox, “Halo” for Microsoft and “Transformers” for Hasbro.
Nathan Turner: Hello, we are at the San Diego Comic Convention. We are here speaking with Jeff Gomez. Jeff tell us a little bit about yourself.
Jeff Gomez: I am the Chief Executive Officer Starlight Runner Entertainment. Starlight Runner is a production company that operates out of New York City. What we do is that we create vast universes and assist major studios and video game companies and book publishers with implementing these huge universes across all these different media platforms, video games, comic books, novels and everything you can conceive of when it comes to these giant fictional universes
Nathan Turner: What are some of the projects you are focusing on right now?
Jeff Gomez: We are always involved, believe it or not, with the Walt Disney Company, including Pirates of the Caribbean. We have a lot of fun with that. We have worked on Halo, Transformers, Avitar, the James Cameron Avatar and an array of other huge properties.
Nathan Turner: So Jeff, I hear you got started out as teacher. Tell us a little bit about how that came about and how that lead into what you’re doing with yourself now.
Jeff Gomez: I went to college in New York City, where I was born and raised. After college I decided that I wanted to become a school teacher. I taught public school, creative writing, in the Bedford-Styveson section of Brooklyn. It’s a tough neighborhood. The kids had a lot of problems but we worked together. All of us learned tremendously.
Nathan Turner: What in your opinion is a Hero, the definition of a Hero?
Jeff Gomez: To me a Hero is someone who is capable of looking within themselves and giving to someone else with no expectation of anything in return. That to me is the kernel, the grain that you will find in all Heroes that you encounter in life.
Nathan Turner: Why is Heroism important for our children, posterity and society in general?
Jeff Gomez: Heroism is vital, especially in these times. The reason that it’s vital is because when somebody does that, when somebody truly gives, makes that sacrifice, it is inspirational. It is also aspirational. Young people can look up to that person and go, “You know what, he gave, and I received and now I want to give back and pass that along.” When enough people come together to do that, great change can take place.
Nathan Turner: Who are some of the Heroes that have impacted you in your life and sort of guided you on your way, so to speak?
Jeff Gomez: To me one of the greatest Heroes I’ll ever encounter is my own mom. We were involved in tough times. We didn’t have much money. I was a kid who was a dreamer, who wanted to escape these harsh realities and instead of yelling at me my mom gave me the toy dinosaurs and the books and the mythology. She said , “Be whatever you want to be.” She had no expectation for what that would be. She just allowed me to blossom and flourish for myself.
Jeff Gomez: It started with my mom, then what I had. There weren’t, unfortunately, other Heroes in my immediate sphere. I began to look into the media and into books and biographies where other people did things that I would wish to do. Then I figured out how they did it. I took their values and made their values my own. That made me able to grow up and accomplish my dreams and do Hero things as well.
Nathan Turner: One last question. We see Heroes every day. Are there any that you think go unsung? Who are not recognized perhaps for the work that they do?
Jeff Gomez: To me the noblest human being is the human being that passes on wisdom. A teacher, teachers, to me, everyday must think of new ways to communicate ideas to young people that will light them up and make them want to realize their own dreams. They give with very little expectations of anything in return
They give the training and the wisdom that young people need to blossom themselves. Teachers are the unsung Heroes in our society in my opinion.
Nathan Turner: We’ve been speaking to Jeff Gomez here today. Thank you very much Jeff.
Jeff Gomez: Absolutely.