1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 2: Hey, Ritchie, thanks for joining me. 3 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:08,000 Speaker 1: Hey, thank you so much. Michael, happy to be here. 4 00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:12,080 Speaker 2: Richie John's a filmmaker director of the new movie Still 5 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:15,080 Speaker 2: Hope in theaters I Believe February, the fifth Steellholpe movie. 6 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:17,320 Speaker 2: Dot Com is the website. It tells the story of 7 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:21,160 Speaker 2: a teen girl who is sexually trafficked, rescued, and then 8 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 2: returned home where she faces new challenges. Ritchie, this issue, 9 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 2: of course, of trafficking, it's receiving more and more attention 10 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 2: in our society, but perhaps not as much as it 11 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 2: should receive. What drew you to this project? You want 12 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 2: to why did you want to make this movie? 13 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 1: Yeah? Yeah, The way the project happened is a total 14 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:41,040 Speaker 1: that's not odd. That's God's story. It's a phrase that 15 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:43,080 Speaker 1: my family and I use. I hohe people will you 16 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 1: know say like, oh, that's a funny coincidence, or I 17 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 1: isn't cool how that happened. Originally, And there was a 18 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 1: group of filmmakers in Missouri that's actually where we shot 19 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 1: the project that was trying to get this project going. 20 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 1: Had a very clear vision to tell a story about 21 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 1: traffic ea survivor. They partnered with the Ministry in Texas 22 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 1: called Pure Hope Foundation, and that's where the stories came from. 23 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 1: But basically they had started did a lot of the 24 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 1: initial work of taking two different girls true stories, combining 25 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 1: them into one character and craftiness journey of being abducted rescued, 26 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 1: and then the second half of it, and this is 27 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 1: what was really intriguing for me, is that the second 28 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: half is focused on recovery. And so initially my wife 29 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:27,760 Speaker 1: and I were interviewing to produce it. We connected with 30 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 1: executive producer Brent McMahon, and Brent had asked, after having 31 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 1: a few different meetings, asked if I would consider directing, 32 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 1: and so that was a huge honor and we built 33 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 1: a great relationship and ultimately entrusted me to tell to 34 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 1: tell the story, and so then you know, we dove 35 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:46,840 Speaker 1: in and so it was, yeah, it was heavy, you know, 36 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 1: telling a story like this, but even though it is heavy, 37 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 1: you know, at the end of the day, it tells 38 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 1: the true story of courage and hope, and that's what 39 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 1: we want people to get to, you know, at the 40 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 1: end of the phone, still hope. 41 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 2: Like you said, stop at the Rescue, it continues a 42 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 2: lot a lot of these movies stop at the rescue, 43 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 2: it leans into the recovery restoration, which is it difficult 44 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 2: for this young woman. The young woman's of course name 45 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:10,639 Speaker 2: is is Hope. What what made the filmmakers? What made 46 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 2: you guys want to continue that story? Like, you know, 47 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 2: what what made you want to make it a story 48 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:18,080 Speaker 2: about her recovery and restoration? 49 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's you know, it's a good question. And there's 50 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:25,679 Speaker 1: been so many great films that kind of tell the 51 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:29,080 Speaker 1: first half, right, and you know, there's been some that 52 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 1: kind of, you know, make it a little bit more action, 53 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 1: you know, and sense the sensationalized elements of it. Right, 54 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:37,880 Speaker 1: some famous films out there, right that just kind of 55 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 1: been or they take place internationally, and so for us, 56 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 1: we had really a few different goals with telling the story. First, 57 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:46,880 Speaker 1: we wanted it to take place domestically, right, it takes 58 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:51,640 Speaker 1: place small Midwest, you know, perfect home, right, family, they 59 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:53,960 Speaker 1: go to church, how the movie starts, and so one 60 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 1: of the biggest things is we wanted to communicate that 61 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 1: this can happen to anybody, especially the technology, and Hope 62 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 1: meet somebody online and he isn't who he says he is, 63 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 1: and that's how she gets abducted and there's an element 64 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:11,080 Speaker 1: of that that is true to one of the survivor's 65 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 1: stories of just how innocently you can kind of fall 66 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 1: into a world like this. Right, So that was the 67 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 1: first part showing that can take place here in the US, 68 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:22,960 Speaker 1: any small town. It's a global issue, well certainly, but 69 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 1: domestically it's a huge issue. And so the setup is 70 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 1: always there, and you know, oftentimes it ends with the rescue. 71 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:33,680 Speaker 1: For us, we wanted to show, you know, what happens 72 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:36,680 Speaker 1: after the rescue. That's where the story really picks up. 73 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 1: And so you know, showing that it's a long, complex 74 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 1: road to recovery, that it's a journey. But where we 75 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:44,800 Speaker 1: get to at the end, which is years down the road, 76 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 1: this is not a quick fix. Is that forgiveness is 77 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 1: where true freedom was finally found, which is a powerful 78 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 1: and very radical statement. Right, This element of forgiveness is 79 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 1: radical and C. F. Lewis has a quote that you know, 80 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 1: it's a wonderful thing. And so you actually have to 81 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 1: forgive somebody, right, Like it's easy to talk about it 82 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 1: in the context of church or wherever, but when you 83 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 1: like truly forgive somebody that has done terrible things, it 84 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 1: is hard. But that's what we're called to with our faith, 85 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:17,680 Speaker 1: and so, yeah, the elements of forgiveness and being one 86 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:20,120 Speaker 1: of the central themes, but taking a look at the 87 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 1: second half of this recovery was really intriguing and really 88 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:27,799 Speaker 1: powerful and it's impacted me and the heroes that inspired 89 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:30,599 Speaker 1: this story have been life changing. Richie. 90 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:34,359 Speaker 2: So many, so many movies today are simply for entertainment, 91 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 2: and I sense that you want this movie to do 92 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:41,160 Speaker 2: more than just entertain It's difficult to call this movie entertaining, 93 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 2: but it's very well made. What is your goal with 94 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 2: this movie? What do you want it to do with 95 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 2: audiences in terms of impacting what they're thinking about at 96 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 2: the end? 97 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, Yeah, it was created to educate, you know, kind 98 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 1: of spoken to this, you know, for in the next 99 00:04:57,560 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 1: generation to see how quickly it can and so to educate, 100 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 1: to create awareness. But we want it to be a yeah, 101 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 1: exactly how you said. It's more than a film. We're 102 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 1: calling people to take action. Right, It's a global issue 103 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 1: that you know, it's kind of universal that everybody agrees 104 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 1: is terrible, right, Like it doesn't it's not a political issue, 105 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:21,160 Speaker 1: like sex trafficking is a cancer and it is terrible. 106 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:24,200 Speaker 1: But it's it's Still Hope was ultimately made to be 107 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:27,600 Speaker 1: a tool to create resources. That's why we created the 108 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:30,280 Speaker 1: Still Hope project that health resources and as partnered with 109 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 1: ministries to mobilize viewers into action. And so, yes, it 110 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 1: is a powerful story. It's a way for the Holy 111 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 1: Spirit to also speak into individuals' lives. I feel very 112 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 1: strongly that with the scenes, no matter previous people's experiences 113 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 1: or trauma that they have been through, but hopefully there's 114 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:51,039 Speaker 1: an element of healing that can be no matter what 115 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 1: issues they've dealt with. But it's you know, it's been 116 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 1: a collective effort out of churches organizations to have this 117 00:05:56,920 --> 00:05:59,159 Speaker 1: to be a tool to raise a larneness, to educate 118 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 1: and then ultimate immobilize viewers into action. Well can you 119 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:04,600 Speaker 1: tell us about the story behind the film? I believe 120 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:05,240 Speaker 1: the beginning of. 121 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:08,599 Speaker 2: It says inspired by true events. 122 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:12,360 Speaker 1: What can we know about that? Yeah? Yeah, well that's hard. 123 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 1: I don't want to give too much away, you know. 124 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 1: With that, what I will say is, you know, the 125 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:21,599 Speaker 1: both girls, you know, have to keep them anonymous because 126 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:24,919 Speaker 1: of the sensitive issue and some of the pro the 127 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:28,800 Speaker 1: cases were pretty high profile and so but each of 128 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 1: them had a normal life. You know, one of them specifically, 129 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 1: you know, came from a normal family, right, not not 130 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 1: somebody that you know. I think some people think that 131 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:40,360 Speaker 1: people that find themselves in these situations kind of do 132 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 1: it to themselves, or you know, it's like, oh yeah, 133 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:46,320 Speaker 1: of course that's not at all the case. But the moment, 134 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:49,960 Speaker 1: there's a really powerful moment of how the rescue actually happens. 135 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 1: There is an altercation and actually takes place in a 136 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:58,160 Speaker 1: public setting and it was just a chain store is 137 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 1: where it actually happened in Still Hope. In the movie, 138 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 1: it takes place in them all. So just that and 139 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:05,480 Speaker 1: that's another big pieces, like a top of little right 140 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 1: under our noses, and people don't realize it's it's happening. 141 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:11,800 Speaker 1: And so there's a moment in the how she gets 142 00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 1: rescued is it's from the kindness of a stranger that 143 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:18,239 Speaker 1: sees her and asks that she's okay. And there's a moment, 144 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 1: there's one moment I want to highlight where one of 145 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 1: the courageous survivors said that the woman that asked that 146 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 1: she was okay touched her arm and it was the 147 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 1: first time she had been touched with love in years. 148 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 1: And just how powerful that moment was for her. And 149 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 1: so that's it's a powerful moment in the film that 150 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 1: I'm really proud of that we captured out. But it 151 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 1: was the kindness of a stranger that ultimately asked if 152 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 1: she was okay. Hope has the power to ask for help, 153 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 1: and that's how she gets rescued. And so that's one 154 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 1: moment that that directly came from the stories of the 155 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:52,640 Speaker 1: survivors set that we put into the film. 156 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 2: This is a domestic story, of course, and I think 157 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 2: I think it's easy for Americans to think that the 158 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 2: trafficking is an international problem and international problem. This film 159 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:06,200 Speaker 2: is saying it's a problem run here in America. And 160 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 2: it's not surprising, if you know, if teens are running 161 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 2: around with devices that give them connection to the entire world, 162 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 2: which is a bad idea in the first place, that 163 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 2: this could happen. This is commentary by me. You don't 164 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 2: have to say anything about that, Ritchie. But let's transition briefly. 165 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:23,640 Speaker 2: There's no way to transition to this next project because 166 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:26,840 Speaker 2: the project, the other project that you've been involved in 167 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:30,239 Speaker 2: in the past year is a faith based project called 168 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:34,120 Speaker 2: The Promised Land, which is faith based comedy that tells 169 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 2: the story of the Exodus in the style of the office. 170 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:42,960 Speaker 2: What my goodness, I've never seen anything like that, and 171 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:45,079 Speaker 2: I think that's because it's never been done. But it's 172 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:47,599 Speaker 2: called The Promised Land, and I lived, I saw you 173 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:48,959 Speaker 2: before we got started here. I had a friend of 174 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 2: mine who contacted me in the past week and he 175 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:54,199 Speaker 2: was just saying how he's loving this series. So it's 176 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:57,080 Speaker 2: a faith based comedy series called The Promised Land. Tell 177 00:08:57,160 --> 00:08:59,199 Speaker 2: us how you got involved in this and why you 178 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:00,959 Speaker 2: wanted to make it, why you thought it would work 179 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:01,640 Speaker 2: in the first place. 180 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, I'll help to segue a little bit, because 181 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:17,439 Speaker 1: actually still hope as a unique story and the larger 182 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:20,320 Speaker 1: story of The Promise Land. We had filmed the pilot 183 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 1: episode for The Promise Land, which you know, it's the 184 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:27,840 Speaker 1: original workplace comedy, right, Moses and Israel and Israelites wandering 185 00:09:27,840 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 1: in the desert for forty years, and it's a perfect 186 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:34,080 Speaker 1: setup for you know, the mockumentary format, more of a sitcom, right, 187 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:36,840 Speaker 1: where we get to experience and sit down and here 188 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 1: for Moses, his frustrations of leading this group of people 189 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:42,600 Speaker 1: that doesn't want to be let and so we had 190 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 1: created a pilot episode. The showrunner and writer and director 191 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:49,880 Speaker 1: for that series as my business partner, Mitch Hudson, very creative, 192 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 1: and we've worked on developing this filot episode. Actually in 193 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:58,000 Speaker 1: the middle of the pilot episode and season one of 194 00:09:58,040 --> 00:10:00,520 Speaker 1: The Promise Lands is when we Shall Still Hope. And 195 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:03,480 Speaker 1: Mitch is actually one of the writers for Still Hope, 196 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 1: and so we brought him on and had him dive 197 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 1: into this story with me. I'd created a great blueprint 198 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 1: for telling this story, set me up well to direct it. 199 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 1: But yeah, and then we film season one in twenty 200 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 1: twenty four in Utah of the Promised Land, and so, yeah, 201 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 1: it's a cool project that. Yeah, it was a group 202 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:25,679 Speaker 1: of us Mitch included and some others that wanted to 203 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 1: tell a story that is real and makes these characters 204 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 1: that sometimes are put on you know, stained glass windows 205 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:34,320 Speaker 1: or they don't feel real, right, But how do we 206 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 1: approach these heroes in scripture that have done wonderful things 207 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:41,480 Speaker 1: but looking at them through maybe a little different lines 208 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:44,160 Speaker 1: that they work. You they did make mistakes, but yet 209 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 1: God was still able to use them too. And so yeah, 210 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:50,080 Speaker 1: I'm very proud of The Promised Land. It's streaming now 211 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:54,559 Speaker 1: on YouTube and on the Angel platform, and yeah, season 212 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 1: one is out, so yeah. Fun little connection there between 213 00:10:57,880 --> 00:10:59,439 Speaker 1: Still Hope and the promised land. 214 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:03,960 Speaker 2: Face comedy about Moses seems impossible. I think you guys 215 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 2: have done it. 216 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 1: You know. 217 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:07,800 Speaker 2: One thing, though, Richie, is that comedy like this can 218 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:11,559 Speaker 2: sometimes drift into mocking. If you're not careful, you can 219 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 2: kind of maybe go off the rails. If you're not careful, 220 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:17,079 Speaker 2: how do you how did you guys guard against that? 221 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 2: How do you in other words, maybe to put it differently, 222 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:25,880 Speaker 2: how do you guard against maybe making it not sacred? 223 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 1: Yeah? Yeah, I think you know. For us, well, the 224 00:11:30,679 --> 00:11:34,320 Speaker 1: quick answer is, you know, our jokes are based on scripture, 225 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:37,840 Speaker 1: Like the setup for the joke is literally in scripture. 226 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:39,840 Speaker 1: And when you I think that's kind of how we 227 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:41,680 Speaker 1: approach it is we're not trying like, oh, how do 228 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:43,840 Speaker 1: we how do we cope fun of this? You know, 229 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:46,840 Speaker 1: we as a whole are kind of line is you know, 230 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:50,520 Speaker 1: we're reverent to God, but we're we're irreverent to the characters, 231 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 1: you know, because they're they're human, they're like us, they're flawed, 232 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:56,120 Speaker 1: they make mistakes, and that's where funny moments in everyday 233 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:59,240 Speaker 1: life happen, right, And you know, we believe that God 234 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:02,160 Speaker 1: has a sense. He gave us the gift of humor, 235 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:06,720 Speaker 1: and from a missional standpoint, a comedy is what breaks 236 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:09,720 Speaker 1: down barriers, right. We we hope that people come to 237 00:12:09,760 --> 00:12:12,720 Speaker 1: the Promised Land for the last but then they stay 238 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:15,480 Speaker 1: for the heart and that's where you know, really meaningful 239 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:18,959 Speaker 1: conversations can happen. And so there's lots of elements when 240 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:23,040 Speaker 1: you really dive into you know, Exodus and Loddicus, Deuteronomy 241 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:26,880 Speaker 1: and then into numbers where it's like, wait a second, 242 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:31,679 Speaker 1: this line about there being a dead body around passover, 243 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 1: where did that happen? 244 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:33,120 Speaker 2: Right? 245 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 1: I mean it's a setting through this whole you know, 246 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:37,160 Speaker 1: line of thinking and this joke. And so that's that's 247 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:41,560 Speaker 1: how we approach the storytelling. Is you know, ultimately the 248 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:44,120 Speaker 1: setup is in scripture. When you really think about it 249 00:12:44,440 --> 00:12:46,520 Speaker 1: and what it would have been like for the Israelites 250 00:12:46,559 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 1: leaving Egypt and going to the Promised Land. 251 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:51,600 Speaker 2: Do you see this as being maybe an inroad to 252 00:12:51,679 --> 00:12:54,319 Speaker 2: the Gospel and to scripture for younger audiences? 253 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:54,600 Speaker 1: Is that? 254 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:57,280 Speaker 2: I mean, anybody can enjoy comedy, but did you have 255 00:12:57,320 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 2: that in mind as target audience when you were making. 256 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:02,480 Speaker 1: This, oh exactly one hundred percent. We saw that with 257 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:06,040 Speaker 1: the YouTube release in the fall, where it was a 258 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:09,320 Speaker 1: very low barrier to entry, right, everybody adds that access 259 00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:12,560 Speaker 1: to it. And so it's been fine uncovering the comments, 260 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:15,960 Speaker 1: seeing people say, you know, I'm an apeist, but I 261 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:19,200 Speaker 1: love this show, seeing people say, you know, hey, my 262 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 1: husband isn't a believer, but he started watching this show 263 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 1: with me. They sure those are in other comments of 264 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 1: like I've started reading Scripture again because of this show, 265 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 1: Like I opened up Exodus for the first time. And 266 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 1: so it's a way for the Holy Spirit to move 267 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:35,880 Speaker 1: in ways that you know, and reaching people that never 268 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:39,320 Speaker 1: wouldn't click on name of base based show here right, 269 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:43,080 Speaker 1: Like they never actively seek all show, but they watch 270 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:45,360 Speaker 1: it because it's funny, and you know, it's it's a 271 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:46,640 Speaker 1: way for the Holy Spirit to move. 272 00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 2: Comedy clips on social media can really draw you into 273 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:53,200 Speaker 2: a series. I see clips from the Office all the 274 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:56,360 Speaker 2: time online and I've never watched that entire series, but 275 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:57,800 Speaker 2: every time I watch it, I think, Man, I would 276 00:13:57,800 --> 00:13:59,840 Speaker 2: really enjoy that series. And I've got the same things 277 00:13:59,840 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 2: have been with the Promised Land, with people seeing clips 278 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:05,160 Speaker 2: and drawing one job. Briefly, tell me how you got 279 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:07,680 Speaker 2: into filmmaking. As I was seeing you before we started this, 280 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 2: I had not heard of you until six months ago, 281 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:12,120 Speaker 2: and now I've part of you with two two projects 282 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:14,840 Speaker 2: that are being pitched to me. So I guess where 283 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:15,480 Speaker 2: have you been in. 284 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:18,120 Speaker 1: The past five sixty seven years. I guess I've been. 285 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:20,160 Speaker 2: You've probably been behind the scenes working on stuff that 286 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 2: I've seen. But yeah, how did you get into filmmaking 287 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 2: and why do you want to make faith based projects? 288 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:27,960 Speaker 1: Yeah? Yeah, it's it's fun. Everything's been a hitting all 289 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:31,000 Speaker 1: at once, been busy for a while. In the case 290 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:32,840 Speaker 1: of The Promised Land, you know, we started working on 291 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 1: that in twenty twenty one, and so it's been a 292 00:14:34,840 --> 00:14:38,720 Speaker 1: long journey. Yeah. For me, I wanted to direct. Like 293 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:41,600 Speaker 1: most people that kind of start in the film industry, 294 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:45,040 Speaker 1: I had started assistant directing, and that, you know, is 295 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:47,960 Speaker 1: really more logistics on set, you know. I did that 296 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:51,119 Speaker 1: to become a better director, to work with other directors, 297 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 1: handle all the logistics, coordinating department heads, scheduling the film. 298 00:14:55,640 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 1: I loved it, and so it kind of kept working 299 00:14:57,360 --> 00:15:00,040 Speaker 1: my way up as an assistant director, and then that 300 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:02,560 Speaker 1: led me to producing, and the Promise Ling has really 301 00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:06,480 Speaker 1: been the first project as the producer, really stewarding that. 302 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 1: But yeah, it'sistant directing. Worked on a number of Yeah, 303 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:14,600 Speaker 1: several baith based independent films, TV shows, just kind of 304 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:17,440 Speaker 1: working my way. My wife and I we had moved 305 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 1: to Atlanta, this big market you know there for film production, 306 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 1: continued building you know, our network and connections. But yeah, 307 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:28,320 Speaker 1: Still Hope is my directoral debut. So very proud to 308 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:32,840 Speaker 1: tell a story that portrays forgiveness, not as a weakness, 309 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:35,640 Speaker 1: but you know, as a courageous step towards freedom and peace. 310 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:38,520 Speaker 1: And you know that's ultimately for our production company, my 311 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 1: wife and I, you know, Will Studio about twenty three. 312 00:15:41,320 --> 00:15:44,080 Speaker 1: We want to tell stories that inspire hope. Right in 313 00:15:44,120 --> 00:15:47,200 Speaker 1: the case of The Promised Land, that is fun, comedic 314 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:49,920 Speaker 1: approach to scripture that's never been done before, but it's 315 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:52,000 Speaker 1: still very helpful, especially when you get to the end 316 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:55,720 Speaker 1: of season one. It's a beautiful moment where they concentrate 317 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:59,320 Speaker 1: the Tabernapple, Aaron becomes a high priest, Miriam sings this 318 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 1: beautiful song, but it's very hopeful. In the case of 319 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 1: Still Hope, it's on the nose for that one very 320 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:09,440 Speaker 1: hard stories that are complex, and you know, Jesus isn't 321 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:12,800 Speaker 1: a quick fix. Right when Hope comes home to her parents, 322 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:15,320 Speaker 1: her her parents are well intended and they think, oh, 323 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:17,680 Speaker 1: let's just go back to church, let's get a church counselor. 324 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:21,760 Speaker 1: But they realize very quickly how complex this issue is 325 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:25,240 Speaker 1: and the trauma that that Hope has experienced is something 326 00:16:25,240 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 1: that they will never fully understand. But their presence being 327 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:31,560 Speaker 1: there is more than any word that they can say. 328 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:36,200 Speaker 1: But Hope needs a professional setting to really find freedom, 329 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:38,720 Speaker 1: and that's gone through forgiveness, and so that's why she 330 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:41,480 Speaker 1: goes to In the movie, they call it Restore, and 331 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 1: she goes to a ministry there. And the beautiful part 332 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 1: with that is there's ministries like that all over the 333 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:50,640 Speaker 1: country that we're supporting, and when people go and purchase 334 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:53,880 Speaker 1: a ticket to still help, all the proceeds that are 335 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:56,520 Speaker 1: generated from the spell are going back into ministry and 336 00:16:56,560 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 1: so that as a project as a whole is very 337 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 1: missional and it inspires how and so you know, and 338 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 1: we have other projects that aren't even you know, are 339 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:06,280 Speaker 1: still in development, and so that's an exciting thing to 340 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:08,040 Speaker 1: be a part of. And that's why I, you know, 341 00:17:08,320 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 1: love going to work every single day is to get 342 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:12,960 Speaker 1: to tell stories. I like these because there's so many 343 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:13,760 Speaker 1: stories develop. 344 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:18,199 Speaker 2: If you like today's episode, please subscribe and leave a 345 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:19,159 Speaker 2: five star review. 346 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:22,280 Speaker 3: That's how we help more people just like you find 347 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:24,800 Speaker 3: the show. A big thanks to the team at life 348 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 3: Audio for their partnership with us on the podcast. If 349 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:30,640 Speaker 3: you go to lifeaudio dot com, you will find dozens 350 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:33,280 Speaker 3: of other faith centered podcasts in their network. 351 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:34,520 Speaker 2: See you next time.