Spanish Subtitles
The Spanish subtitle translation of Thoughts Become Things marked another important step in the film’s journey beyond Bermuda. Originally created to support the film’s submission to the Helios Sun Poetry Film Festival in Mexico, this translation explored how the film’s poetry and ancestral themes could be shared with Spanish-speaking audiences.
The translation was made possible through the collaboration of Trevor Johnstone and Maricela. Trevor is the brother of Stephan Johnstone, the film’s writer and executive producer, and Maricela is Trevor’s wife. Their shared connection to both Bermuda and the Spanish-speaking world brought clarity and cultural sensitivity to the translation process.
Trevor, a Bermudian who spent several years living in Barcelona, worked closely with Maricela, who is from El Salvador, to translate the film in a way that stayed true to its original language and intent. Trevor’s deep understanding of Bermudian culture, paired with Maricela’s fluency and cultural insight, allowed the Spanish subtitles to remain closely aligned with the original spoken word while still feeling natural and accessible.
Since completing the Spanish translation, Thoughts Become Things has continued its journey through the Spanish-speaking world. The film was featured at the Colombian film festival MUICA, where it traveled with the festival to five cities, Tumaco, Buenaventura, Cali, Bogotá, and Cartagena bringing Bermudian storytelling to audiences across Colombia.
This translation reflects the project’s commitment to sharing Bermudian culture as authentically as possible allowing the film’s words, rhythm, and message to travel across languages while staying rooted in their original meaning.
Translation note:
The English text below is a direct interpretation of the Spanish subtitles, not a word-for-word translation. Some phrasing shifts to preserve meaning, rhythm, and emotional intent across languages—reflecting how poetry evolves while its spirit remains intact.
You can watch with Spanish subtitles via YouTube. Select Spanish subtitles in the video player to experience this translation.
Los Pensamientos Se Realizan
Tu no puedes atraparme
You ain’t catching me.
ni aun
not even
siendo policía
being a police officer
Vamos, preparémonos para ir a la cama
Come on, let’s get ready for bed.
Tu sabes que tu eres igual a tu padre
You know, you’re just like your father, tomorrow
Mañana estarás súper bien, todos tus amigos estarán allí.
You’re gonna be great, all of your friends will be there.
Yo estaré allí y tus ancestros estarán contigo para siempre.
I’ll be there and your ancestors will be with you forever.
Ellos trabajan en los charcos de la lluvia y su presencia se queda en tu corteza cerebral
We work in the rain puddles on your cortex,
Gombeys en tu mente
Gombeys on your brain
Hachas en tu cuero cabelludo, manchas rojas en tu pelo
Hatchets to your scalp, red stain on your wave
y la fleche irá donde el arco ha apuntado
and the arrow will go where the bow has been aimed
Entonces el futuro se moverá como el pasado fue entrenado
So the future will move how the past has been trained.
Enseñanos a construir y la base quedará fundamentada
Teach us to build and foundation is laid
Enséñanos a manifestar los pensamientos y las cosas se realizaran.
Teach us to will, and thoughts become things.
Danos tus conocimentos y hasta los perdidos se convertirán en reyes
Speak us your words and the lost become kings
Tus palabras se convertirán en alas, entonces tu no podrás atraparme
Words become wings, so you ain’t catching me.
ni aun siendo policía
Even if you was the police
Naturalmente
Naturally
Charcos en tu corteza cerebral, Gombeys en tu mente.
Puddles on your cortex, Gombeys on your mind