"Reflection"

Joyce and I got to work on a short film by Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers and Actors Camp alumni William and Morgan Willer (It's a Life Worth Living, "There").

It's now available for viewing:


REFLECTION from William Willer on Vimeo.

We were greeted with my favorite verse, which Morgan remembered from Film Camp and wrote in calligraphy on a card!

I'm playing the role of the father of a young woman played by Joanna Ferbrache (Celebrity Confessions), who is being seduced by my character's arch nemesis, played by Andrew Hurt (Polycarp, "One Day"). I'm also serving as acting and accent coach. We've set it in Florida in the late 30s, so the cast (and some of the crew) were speaking in Southern accents all week. One of them said to me, "I don't know if I'll be able to stop talking like this when we leave!" We were all having a ton of fun in the Florida sun!

On Day Two I got to drive this 193 Chevrolet nicknamed "Ethel," and it was an AMAZING experience!

The production value has been astonishing! The cars, costumes, furniture, and especially the locations, almost all donated in order to help tell the Lord's truths in film. It's going to look like a much more expensive production than it is.

We were particularly grateful for The Banyan Estate, which was a 1927 school house that was refurbished just over a year ago. It's an amazing event space for weddings and business events.

This time last year many of this same crew created the short film, "There," which you can watch here: www.RichDrama.com/There.

You can find this page at www.RichDrama.com/Reflection. We'll announce when the film is released through emailings to which you can subscribe at www.RichDrama.com/Updates.

Click to see the best of the photos Joyce and I took on and around set.

Here are our Production Diaries filmed and edited by Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmaker alumna Morgan Willer...

Day 1


Day 2 (This shows the 1930 Chevrolet named "Ethel" I got to drive.)


Pre-Rigging at the amazing Banyan Estate (I was performing "The New King" on Epiphany while they were setting up.)


Day 3 (Filmed at the Banyan Estate.)


Day 4 (More footage of me driving Ethel.)


Day 5 (This has my favorite line that won't make it into the film.)


Day 6 (We wrapped by lunch! Unheard of!)

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There are still openings for the 2019 Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

One Day

I performed the role of a driver and got to serve as the acting coach in One Day, a short film written and directed by Gwendelynn Martindale, who was a student at the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp, where I teach and coach each summer.

You can stream it here.



After we were done, we sat around a table and passed around a sheet of paper to record all of the miracles we'd witnessed in the creation of the film. Here's what we came up with:

Here is a list of just a few miracles and ways God provided for this film:

• The schedules of such a great and talented company came into alignment.

• Stacey was healed in time for her scenes.

• A Glorious sunset when we needed it.

• We finished the scenes Saturday a half hour early!

• We had a tight schedule and finished on time!

• We had two roads blocked, all of what we hoped for and more!

• Gwendelynn had sustained energy and heath, despite fighting a wisdom tooth surgery infection and a heat rash

• Safe travels for everyone! No deer hit.

• Storm disappearing [Gwendelynn's grandfather watched the storm move around us on his doppler device.]

• Provision for multiple aspects of the film

• God’s blessing and guidance

• Unity of spirit and JOY

• Getting to work on this short film.

• Speeding and did not get caught. (not sure who wrote this line)

• Benjamin survived falling from the top of the playground at the park

• God’s abundant energy that came from everywhere.

• A sweet spirit of unity and encouragement among the cast and crew

• Tears for the scenes lasting longer than possible.

• Traveling safety

• The patience and love on set was amazing!

• Fixing the crane

• Rain stopped for crane shot on Friday when it was supposed to rain all day!

I know there were many more than these but let’s praise God for his mercy and provision for this film.

It was a joy to work with Gwendelynn in both capacities, and I have a lot of friends I got to work with again: It was be my sixth collaboration with both Tim Kaiser (www.RichDrama.com/TimKaiser) and Stacey Bradshaw (www.RichDrama.com/StaceyBradshaw), and my tenth with Rebekah Cook (www.RichDrama.com/RebekahCook).

Ashley and Ethan Ledden are be doing the visual effects, which is particularly exciting since they worked on Beyond the Mask, which had the most visual effects of any Christian film. I first worked with them on Alone Yet Not Alone, and then again on Indescribable. They'll be supported by Jonick Petry, who I worked with in London for The Dragon and the Raven.

Rick Holets is doing the score. We share two credits (Princess Cut and Firefly), but he's worked on several films made by friends.

The fact that Nathan Ashton is doing the sound on this project is actually an answer to our prayer that (if all goes well) we'll be in another film screened at the Christian Worldview Film Festival. We haven't missed a year!

It's impolite to ask a woman her age, but I don't think Gwendelynn is in her twenties yet. For her to pull together this heavy-hitting team is miraculous in and of itself! Then again, we're serving the Miracle Maker!

[Note from February 4, 2023]: 

I thought of this film after seeing a film I just reviewed: Living, because of the similar theme. Gwendelynn has the kind of purpose both films present as more satisfying than anything that could possibly catch our attention. I don't think she spent a dime on any of the vehicles used in "One Day." With great purpose she went after them and got them! 

I want to thank our dear friend who recommended Living. Judith, if you want to be surprised, don't highlight this next bit. The rest of you can see how we were moved to action by clicking and dragging across this "blank" sentence: Immediately after watching Living we ordered Judith The Purpose Driven Life. Then I sent her the link to this page. I also texted her the following quote I'd seen on a tea tag a few hours before watching Living: 

The great and glorious masterpiece of man is to live with purpose.

--Michel de Montaigne

You were made for purpose! Live like it!

I play a lead in Providence, which opened in AMC Theaters coast-to-coast.