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While most people his age were settled in their careers, 50-year-old was learning to direct, winning awards and swapping computer code for camera shots.

“It’s not about age. It’s about what we’re all here for, and what our desires in life are,” Sonedecker told �þ���ҹ����ӰԺ��ѹۿ� State Today.

Enrolling at �þ���ҹ����ӰԺ��ѹۿ� State in 2023, the junior digital media production major has taken a long journey to get where he feels he belongs. The former Air Force member and information technology professional found his calling during the pandemic after more than two decades in technology.

“When COVID hit, it really shook everything up. I kind of stepped back and thought, ‘What do I want to do now?’ And I knew I found my niche,” he said.

Sonedecker initially bypassed college, enlisting in the Air Force, where he trained and worked in information technology.  

After more than six years of service, stationed in Texas, Oklahoma and Ohio, he returned to school and earned a degree in marketing information systems from the University of Oklahoma, where he continued in the IT field, spending more than 20 years building what he thought would be a stable career.

When he was in high school, Sonedecker discovered a passion for photography, but he sold his camera equipment to cover living costs while in the military.

Now well into his IT career, Sonedecker returned to that passion and began photographing his children’s sporting events. Positive feedback from other parents encouraged him to expand into nature photography on hikes with his wife and eventually into video.

“I actually said to my wife, ‘Can I take a night class at Tri-C?’” Sonedecker said. “This was during COVID, and things had slowed down while we were all remote. I used that flexibility to start small video side projects and take that class.”

In the course, he was required to make a two-minute film with no dialogue, telling a story through visuals alone. He wrote the script, filmed it himself and submitted it to film festivals at the suggestion of his instructor.

“�Ę’ hit the film festivals like nuts. Everybody loved it. And I was just like, ‘this is exactly what I want to do,’” Sonedecker said.

After losing his IT job during the pandemic, the success of that first film made his next step clear. He enrolled in his full four-year program at �þ���ҹ����ӰԺ��ѹۿ� State to fully immerse himself in filmmaking.

In 2024, Sonedecker wrote and directed a short film called “Stolen Valor,” working with senior digital media production major Jen Kelly as a producer, as well as many other �þ���ҹ����ӰԺ��ѹۿ� State students, alumni and outside help.

“�Ę’ started out with one simple concept: Don’t immediately assume you know what’s going on and take a side. There’s flexibility and understanding in where somebody’s coming from,” Sonedecker said.

The short film examines the personal and social impacts of falsely claiming military service. It reflects Sonedecker’s belief in nuanced storytelling, using his military background to explore judgment, empathy and belonging.  

Centered on Chris, the main character of the film, and his struggle to maintain a fabricated military identity, the film follows him as he attends a meeting for a veterans’ support group. There, he is confronted by veterans and questioned at a local ceremony, his lies slowly unraveling.  

Viewers witness the heartbreaking reality behind his actions, that his son recently died in combat, and in seeking an outlet for his grief, Chris turns to the group, which welcomes him and gives him his first laugh in weeks.

The film won several awards at the Vegas Film Festival, but Sonedecker said the project’s true success came from the team’s effort and being part of a project that everyone was proud of.

Now, looking back, Sonedecker notes the transition wasn’t without challenges even with the continued successes in pursuing his long-held passion.

“I walked away from a very large paycheck, and that was hard,” Sonedecker said. “But we’ve made it work. The support I got from my family was everything.”

His wife has been a constant source of support, often participating in projects and keeping him grounded through the demanding schedule of filmmaking.

“Over time, I’ve grown to realize how important this is to him, that this is actually going to be his career after this, not just like a hobby,” his wife, Laura Sonedecker, said. “So, I really come to understand that and try to be as supportive as I can.”

Everyone who collaborates with Sonedecker can see the drive and focus he brings to his work, made possible by the unwavering support of his wife.

“The passion, the love that he has for his wife, is very evident in his work,” Alexia Blanton, a senior digital media production major, said.

Blanton met Sonedecker while working on a film she wrote called “.”  

Blanton said collaborating with a nontraditional student like him can initially be intimidating, wondering if she’d be good enough. But after spending time together, she quickly realized it only helps.

“I’ve never met anybody more passionate about filmmaking in my entire life,” Blanton said. “It’s almost like taking your own little class. It’s like having a professional with you, walking you along it.”

She came to appreciate him even more when collaborating on a project, where his mentorship and quick thinking made a real difference.

“Working with him was eye-opening. Seeing how quickly things can change when camera gear fails or audio equipment malfunctions. Ron thinks on his feet and guides you through it,” Blanton said.  

Looking ahead, Sonedecker hopes to inspire others to pursue their later-in-life passions, as he did.

“Find a way to do it. Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself,” Sonedecker said. “Don’t sell yourself short until you’ve tried.”

Learn more about the Digital Media Production major at �þ���ҹ����ӰԺ��ѹۿ�.