"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.

The Treasure of the Secret Cove

McKenzie (left) and Rachel on the
set of "Milk and Oranges."

McKenzie Harris and Rachel Marley were my students together at the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp (RMCFC) in 2016, where we produced the short film "Milk and Oranges."

This January, McKenzie was in charge of wardrobe on the set of "There," which was written, produced and directed by William and Morgan Willer, two other alumni of RMCFC (2015 and 2016). In the middle of production, McKenzie got a call-back for the lead in the Lamplighter Theatre production of The Treasure of the Secret Cove. As an alumna of RMCFC she received the casting call I sent out to all my former students. The Lamplighter production team listened to over 250 auditions without considering who the actors were. They were shocked to discover McKenzie was also an alumna of the Lamplighter Guild (2017), where I got to teach this summer, as well as Lamplighter Live, where I first worked with her.

Rachel and McKenzie in the
studio for The Treasure
of the Secret Cove.

McKenzie discovered that Rachel was cast as her character's best chum in the production. Our friend and colleague, Nato Jacobson, plays the husband of McKenzie's character. David Sanborn, a friend I've worked with on projects since 2001, plays a mysterious visitor. Nato and Rachel also played smaller roles.

Joyce and I just listened to it, and they all did splendid work! So many nice moments. So much truth spoken so eloquently. It's a wonderful story, based on the classic book of the same title by Amy Le Feuvre. It's about the power of the covenant of marriage, and it's set up in a very creative way! You can order it as a set of CDs or download it now.

I was honored to be a consultant on several elements of preproduction.

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We're about to announce that registration is open for the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp. Sign up for the announcement.

It's a Life Worth Living

I had a great experience playing the role of Charles, who--throughout the film--interviews the main character about his life, which is very much worth living.

Joyce and I saw It's a Life Worth Living as a part of the International Christian Film and Music Festival, which was hosted online this year, due to COVID, and concluded with the awards ceremony, for which I was up for People's Choice Actor of the Year. 

I'm just so glad to be a part of a film like this! The message of hope is so clear and strong! Daniel Jeffries, who played the lead, did a fantastic job of showing the arc from hopeless to hope-giver! Antonio Mireles did a great job of playing the fellow who gave Daniel's character hope. 

Though they were only on screen for seconds, I was so blessed by the work of Gary Bosek and Tori Koglin. Gary plays a goofy flower delivery guy, and Tori plays a young woman at an abortion clinic. Their work took their scenes to a whole other emotional plain. 

My character interviewed the character
of Daniel Jeffries (left) about how he
was transformed from drug addict
to a positive influencer. The character
played by Antonio Mireles
introduced Daniel’s to the Lord. 

I was able to attend the premiere in Pontiac, Michegan, and it was a PROFOUND evening! During the Q/A that followed, cast and crew shared their personal connections to loved ones who struggled or continue to struggle with addiction. It was held at Grace Gospel Fellowship, which has a sister ministry, Grace Centers of Hope, across the street and through 52 homes where they help addicts get off drugs and back into lives worth living. 

Several from their programs were in attendance, and some came to the mic after the film for questions and observations. One was the mother of an addict who thanked Nancy Lynette Parker, who played Daniel’s character’s mom. Pastor Kent W. Clark said the woman was two weeks old in the Lord, and she erupted in joy, declaring the work the Lord was already doing in her life! It was SO beautiful. The pastor said, “God has come to save sinners, and if you are one, you qualify!” Here’s more about that: www.RichDrama.com/MyPassion.

The release of the film is on November 10th and will be available at the following places by then: 

-Bright Horizon Store

-Amazon

-ChristianMovies.com 

- ChristianBooks.com 

- BrightHorizonPictures.vhx.tv 

 - Shopify 

There will be more to follow. It currently can be pre-ordered on Amazon by clicking here.

FYI: It's about a young man dealing with drug addiction, so there are scenes of substance abuse, including with teens. 

I performed in Keith Perna's first feature film, Christmas Grace, and this has been our fourth collaboration.

This was my fourth project with four others, Adam Terrell, Joseph Ouellette, Gary Bosek, and Jared Withrow, who is one of Joyce and my 22 screen children. It's my seventh film with both Timothy Jones and Ryan-Iver Klann, and it's my tenth with Tim Kaiser. It was my 13th film with Rebekah Cook! I worked with Heather Peterson, who I worked with on "Living Word." Her sister Rebecca has also been helping with pre-production, and she was a student of mine at the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp. William and Morgan Willer, served on crew, and they are also alumni and worked with me on their short films "There" and later "Reflection." Since filming it, Tori Koglin played our daughter in "Reflection."

 

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Sign up for the announcement that registration is open for the next Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp Early Bird Deadline and Post Camp Production

With three of our alumni,
Joyce Swingle,
Gwendelynn Martindale, and
Morgan Willer.

Due to some logistics issues we were not able to get the word out in a timely manner about our early bird special to some of our potential acting camp students at the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp. In order to be fair with all who are interested in attending either of our camps we have decided to extend the $150 early bird discount a few more weeks.

The registration website has already been updated to the full price since the early bird discount expired on January 15th. However, we have created a special discount coupon code that you can use to get the same discount. Here’s how it works. Register for either the 2018 Rocky Mountain Christian Acting camp or the Filmmakers camp from our regular camp registration page and enter the following coupon code on the payment screen to receive the discount.

Coupon Code: EB2018
Acting Camp Registration SiteFilmmaking Camp Registration Site

The discount coupon is only good through January 31st and only while we still have space available. Once the camp is full registration will be closed so register now to assure your spot and to take advantage of this extended discount.

If you choose the 3 payment option the $150 discount will be applied to your initial payment. So the first payment will only be $150, the second and third payments will be $300 each.

As of this moment there are only 4 acting camp spots left and only 3 filmmaking camp spots left. So register now to reserve your spot at the 2018 Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers and Acting Camp.

I just got to perform the lead role and coach the other actors (including one of our alumna, Rebekah Stought) in "There" a short film by two of our alumni, William and Morgan Willer. In all we had six alumni from our program involved in the production, and the Willers managed to pull together over a dozen professionals in all!

Two other alumni, Rebekah Stought 
and William Willer.

Before we left they showed us a rough cut, and it's going to look extraordinary! I'm so proud of the Willers and our amazing team!

While we were on set, one of the six alumni of the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp, McKenzie Harris, was cast as the lead in Lamplighter Theatre's next production! We also know Rachel Marley, was cast as the friend of the lead. Rachel has been my student several times at two different performing arts training intensives, and she was on our performance team in Sochi during the 2014 Olympics.

Rebekah Stought performed with me in the last two Lamplighter Theatre productions.

McKenzie Harris
Photo by Ivy Schexnayder

I'll be teaching and directing at the Lamplighter Guild this summer, and their early bird discount (also a savings of $150) deadline will be at the end of January.

You can hear my interview with Mark Hamby, the executive director of Lamplighter Ministries here. Click below or if you're reading this in an email you can click this link, to play it.



I was happy to volunteer my time to the Willer's project, but they agreed to let me perform my one-man play Views of the Manger in their barn on Epiphany, and offer an acting workshop after we wrapped the film.

After Views of the Manger we gathered to praise the Lord for what He accomplished through the piece, and a five-year-old prayed the most beautiful prayers! I asked if I could interview her about the play, and here's what she had to say. Click the arrow below, or if you're reading this in an email you can click this link, to play it.

I shared it as a part of the opening to this morning's service at Westchester Chapel. You can hear my introduction to the interview below...

Dr. Linda Warren preaches on Genesis 3 and the source of all fear. Rachel Taylor opens with prayer.  Jim Warren prays over the sermon and shares about the awesome nature of God expressed in Job 38.

Click the arrow below, or if you're reading this in an email you can click this link, to play the service:



This service is available for download free on iTunes, where you can also subscribe to our podcast. Search for "Westchester Chapel" on the iTunes Store.

If you want to more about starting a relationship with Jesus Christ visit www.WestchesterChapel.org/Salvation.

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Remember, registration is now open for the 2018 Lamplighter's Guild and Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

There

Joyce and I joined my former students William and Morgan Willer who directed and produced the short film, "There."

Joyce served on crew, and I played a father in search of his daughter during a storm who finds that he has to decide between getting her to safety and bringing a woman in labor to the hospital in his two-seat car.


You Should Be THERE: A Short Film from William Willer on Vimeo.

Joyce played my character's wife while the cameras weren't rolling. It was a sociodrama to help get our 22nd screen daughter ready for an emotional phone call. We were all deeply moved by the experience, and hopefully you'll hear that in her performance.

It was an official selection at the Christian Worldview Film Festival and the International Christian Film and Music Festival, where I was nominated for Best Lead Actor in a Short Film.

They created this brilliant fundraising video for the project:

William and Morgan attended the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp in 2016. William was on the filmmaking side, and Morgan was one of my actors. Our film for that year, "Felicia's Pledge": www.RichDrama.com/FeliciasPledge. The next summer the siblings switched places and I got to work with William. Our short film that year was "Milk and Oranges": www.RichDrama.com/MilkAndOranges.

We also got to work with other Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp alumni: Rebekah Stought, who plays the expectant mother, did both camps in the summer of 2015, when we offered two week-long camps back-to-back. Click here to see the film Rebekah directed and the two in which she performed.

Gwendelynn Martindale was a filmmaking student, and she wrote, produced and directed her own short film, "One Day."

Though RMCFC alumna Gabby Campana needed to be out of town during filming, she helped with pre and post-production. While we were there we got to see her in a really fun short she starred in with the Willers.

McKenzie set up a performance and
workshop for me in her church in
Albuquerque. Her brother, Matt,
also worked on "There."

While we were on set, RMCFC alumna McKenzie Harris got a call-back to play the lead in a Lamplighter Theatre production, of The Treasure of the Secret Cove. The production team listened to over 250 auditions without considering who the actors were. They were shocked to discover McKenzie was also an alumna of the Lamplighter Guild, where I got to teach this summer.

Of course, my own bride attended the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp as well. The short she directed (...for one scene, and she did cinematography, lighting and sound for other scenes) is now online: www.RichDrama.com/MilkAndOranges.

Here's a great review of "There":

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Sign up for the announcement that registration is open for the next Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

Felicia's Pledge

This year at the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp we produced a short film, "Felicia's Pledge," which follows another character from the novel In His Steps. I got to reprise my role of John Gray and Ken Lawrence, the director of Film Camp, reprised his role as Pastor Henry Maxwell from the film In His Steps. The rest of the roles were played by our students.

Here's the finished product:



Because Morgan Willer didn't have any lines for her role I challenged her to write and perform a monologue as her character as a part of her preparation process:



Our acting students who had been film students in the past helped film the monologue.

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