Famous Last Words

I played a few roles alongside my friends and colleagues Rachel Marley and Nato Jacobson in a new podcast called Famous Last Words. In Episode 2, I play some minor roles and Sir Isaac Newton. It's produced by Ethan Hill, whose wonderful family worked with me on A Matter of Perspective.

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In A Matter of Perspective, I play a disgruntled office worker, whose life is disrupted in a way that reminds him of his first love.

A Boy's War

I got to be a script consultant on this delightful short, which was nominated for Best Animated Film at the International Christian Film Festival, and it won Third Place for the Fatherhood CoMission at the Christian Worldview Film Festival. This team has been nominated at that festival several times, and last year they won for their film "Father Daughter Dance!"

They used the title I suggested, which was inspired by a book written by a gentleman who was interned with Eric Liddell.

Their thank you to me was naming the film family after mine!

You can watch the film below or if you're receiving this via email at www.Blog.RichDrama.com (3/10/18).

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We have a few spots left at for the 2018 Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

RoboDad

I'm very excited to be working with Light Symphony Productions again on this very creative project! I play a scientist who has developed a robotic father, and I'll also play the voice of RoboDad! We had great fun!

It won the top prize for the Fatherhood CoMission film contest at the Christian Worldview Film Festival, 2018.



Here's a behind the scenes video:



The last time I worked with this amazing team I was blessed to win "Best Actor in a Short Film" at the International Christian Film Festival.

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I play a lead in Providence, which you can bring to your area.

Mission Underground

I got to serve as a consultant on this charming film in which children play adults. It's by the makers of A Matter of Perspective, and they've done a fantastic job!

It's available at www.ChristianCinema.com.

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.

Skydog

During the 2015 Christian Worldview Film Festival Guild one of the classes on offer included the filming of a scene in the upcoming feature Skydog (formerly Lifestone Velocity). I got to play former U.S. Secretary of Defense, Dr. Alistair Walker, and my character was interviewed by the character played by Beth Becka, who was the acting coach on War Room and also played the principal role of Julia in what was the number one film in America when I first posted this, over Labor Day Weekend, no less! Beth went on to serve as acting coach on two other Kendrick Brothers' films: Like Arrows and Overcomer.

Here are the platforms that SKYDOG is on so far: Google Play, FandangoNow, iTunes, Vimeo, Microsoft Xbox, Youtube.  

Performing with War Room's
Beth Becka 

Co-directors Daniel Knudsen and Tim Kaiser had a genius idea! They got a scene filmed which called for a classroom filled with students, and the students got a great opportunity to watch an actual film in process. Throughout the class Daniel would talk to the class about his approach to directing, Beth and I gave insights as actors, and we had a major bonus! As we were setting up for the shoot/class Jim Goodwin, who was doing sound for 19 Kids and Counting at the time, popped his head into the classroom and asked if we could use his help. After he set up his gear the value of the sound equipment on hand jumped exponentially. Jim also popped in throughout the process to explain things like how he was changing the location of lapel mics to work with the camera angles. It was truly an unforgettable experience.

Later in the year I got to coach Jonathan DeRoos for his scene in Skydog while he was a student of ours at The Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp. Other students took up roles from his scenes, so I was able to help Jonathan prepare to be on set in Detroit where the bulk of principal photography took place. In the actual scene he played the boyfriend of a character played by a former student of mine, Vickie Smith.

Committing the scene and the whole
film to the glory of God. Left to right:
Jim Goodwin, Daniel Knudsen,
Rich Swingle, Beth Becka.

This is seventh feature film either directed and/or produced by twenty-something Daniel Knudsen. I've been able to perform in four of his previous films: Creed of Gold, Courageous Love, Indescribable, and I first met him on Christmas Grace. I also performed in two episodes of his series The King's Messengers.

Here's the trailer for Skydog:

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