By Caroline Benjamin

“I’m not telling someone’s story, I’m helping them tell it to a greater audience.” This was alumnus Jess Speight’s (‘17) response when asked about his role in the production of In This Moment, a documentary focused on former Collegiate coach, counselor, and mindfulness expert Alex Peavey. 

Alex Peavey. Photo credit: @thepeaveyproject via Instagram.

Alex and his wife Sarah Peavey (‘01) are well-known in the Collegiate community for their involvement with the school and the impact that their guidance has had on many students. However, their influence extends to not just their students or players, but also to those who are inspired by their story of battling cancer. Alex was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer in 2017 while still coaching and teaching in the Upper School. As he was under the age of 40, this diagnosis was uncommon; he was only expected to live for another few months. Today, in 2025, Alex is not just surviving, but he is “choosing joy,” using his experience to focus on the things he loves.  

Speight was drawn toward Peavey’s story due to his close relationship with Alex and Sarah and his appreciation for the impact that Peavey has had on him and others. After Collegiate, Speight went on to play football at The University of Michigan, and he stated the importance of utilizing the mindfulness tools that Peavey gave him throughout his Collegiate athletic career. In the five years Speight spent at Michigan, he earned a degree in economics and a master’s in business management. So how did Speight’s skill set apply to producing documentaries? 

In college, Speight started and ran a non-profit called The Uniform Funding Foundation (TUFF). The foundation brought in pro athletes from Michigan’s alumni base to talk to local kids. Speight was moved to share these athletes’ stories to “more than just these 40 kids,” so eventually, “everything manifested into filming short documentaries for professional athletes.” 

The Shaun Nua Project. Photo credit: Rain Dance Productions.

Speight stated that making these documentaries gave him a greater purpose: “For the first time I felt truly called to something.” He founded Rain Dance Productions in September 2023 to share, according to the company’s website, “extraordinary tales of athletes, artists, and everyday heroes who conquer life’s storms.” After producing “The Michael Leon Project” and “The Shaun Nua Project,” Speight decided to feature one of Richmond’s everyday heroes in a longer film. “I love Alex and Sarah; I personally am inspired by their story and want to share that with more than just the Richmond community.”

In This Moment follows Alex through medical appointments and the Peavey family’s day-to-day routine. The hour-long film also features interviews with Collegiate alumni, including NFL quarterback Russell Wilson (‘07), and Christopher Newport University mens lacrosse coach Mikey Thompson (‘06). Wilson played varsity basketball at Collegiate under Alex, and Thompson excelled on the varsity lacrosse team when Alex was the assistant coach.

Speight talked about how much he enjoyed the many months he spent hanging out with Alex, Sarah, and their two kids—Bodhi (‘30) and Jane (‘32)—who also appear in the film. Peavey stated in an interview with The Richmonder that the idea of participating in the production of a film about himself wouldn’t have been something he entertained, if not for his family’s relationship with Speight. 

Image credit: The Peavey Project via Facebook.

Through his interactions with Alex’s former students and players, Speight said that “I saw Alex and who he taught, but I also saw who they’re teaching.” He commented on the “ripple effect a teacher can have on a community,” and related this observation to a Henry Adams quote: “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” Speight revisited this quote throughout the filming process to reflect upon the roles that his former teachers and coaches—like Upper School Director of Student Life Beth Kondorossy, who coached Speight in track and field—had in the shaping of his character. Overall, Speight stated that this time gave him “such a deeper appreciation for teachers.”

The production of In This Moment was a year-long process made possible by Speight’s relatively small production and post-production teams. While being interviewed, Speight shouted out each member of these teams, naming specific qualities that made their involvement vital to the film. Jordan Lehning—a producer and composer who has worked with stars like Kacey Musgraves and Willie Nelson—is credited for the soundtrack of In This Moment. When mentioning Lehning’s role in the film, Speight said, “He crushed! If you have the chance to watch [In This Moment], make sure it’s on some good speakers.” Lehning is only one example of the talents in this “small but mighty” crew. Speight also explained that the close-knit nature of the team allowed him to “feel everyone’s personalities and their contributions.” Additionally, the film was influenced by more than 50 people that stepped forward to talk about their relationship with the Peaveys. 

When asked about the end goal for In This Moment, Speight expressed his desire to make the film easily accessible, so that anyone can be inspired by the Peaveys’ story. In order to reach this goal, he plans to show the film in festivals throughout the country over the next year or so. Speight also mentioned the importance of leaving In This Moment up for interpretation. One of his favorite things about the piece, he said, is that everyone gains something different from watching the film. 

The audience at the premiere of In This Moment at The Byrd Theater in December. Photo credit: @raindanceprods via Instagram.

Ashley Grace Johnstone (‘26), who attended the premiere of the film at Carytown’s Byrd Theater on December 22, 2024, was inspired by Alex’s use of mindfulness. As an athlete, she said that she hopes to implement mindfulness more in her daily life. Johnstone stated that the practice is helpful “before games, when I feel stressed out, just to help bring my attention back to why I’m really playing and what I’m playing for.” She admired Alex’s ability to recenter himself before going into a challenging situation. Additionally, she stated that although she did not know the Peaveys personally, the film “gave me the sense that I knew him and that I’d known him forever.”

Virginia Syer (‘17), who got to know Alex during her Senior year at Collegiate, commented on his character: “Mr. Peavey is just the real deal—a man of integrity and full of humility and grace.” She also said that her biggest takeaway from In This Moment “was when [Alex] explained that every action has an equal and opposite reaction—so the depth of suffering has an equal and opposite reaction of good—like the creation of the Peavey Project and more people learning how to practice and implement mindfulness.”

The incredible turnout of 900 people at the Byrd Theater for the premiere of the film is a testament to the impact that Sarah and Alex Peavey have had on Richmond. The Peaveys’ story, beautifully portrayed by Speight and his team, has already inspired thousands and will hopefully reach even more by the end of 2025.