In Harmony with Him

admin December 4th, 2009

Kissing CamelJohn 12:26
Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

My alarm goes off at 5:30 A.M. and I’m not ready to get up.  I stumble into the darkness trying not to wake Cindy.  I meet my camera man Paul and get in the car for our drive to set.  It’s still dark out and the air is thick and humid here in Shreveport, LA.

It’s still dark as we pull into set but the area is illuminated with car lights, and the distant walls of the 3 acre city set are just beginning to brighten with the morning light.  I get my radio, shooting schedule, and scene layouts for the day from the Assistant Director and trudge off to breakfast.

At 6:55 A.M. I walk into the walled 1st century city set and down the narrow alleys that are a mix of Styrofoam, plaster, paint, and particle board that looks amazingly like stone.  It’s movie magic at it’s best.  I quietly thank God for this opportunity to serve Him as He has created me to, and the work begins.

As Director of Photography on this Biblical film it is my job to create the visual “look” of the film through the use and placement of cameras and lighting.  I work closely with the Director to plot out the action in the scenes and how best we can capture that to help move the story forward.

The story follows Miriam, a 15 year old girl living in a Roman oppressed Israeli village in the year 70 A.D.  Life is difficult but Miriam, her sick mother, and her sister are Christians who are discipled by Rivka, an older woman who was discipled by Mary Magdalene, one of Jesus’ followers.

Against this dramatic and turbulent backdrop we see Rivka teaching Miriam about who God is and how to truly walk with Him.  These lessons are very naturally presented as the women go about their lives and work though hardship and joy.

I have a camera crew of 5 and a lighting crew of 8 to help make all this happen and we all get to work preparing the scene.  Cameras placed, lenses selected, lights placed here but blocked off there so only what we want highlighted stands out.  The art and props department place everything in the scene and make it all look as authentic as possible (including sweeping the dirt floor so our shoe prints don’t show).  By about 10:00 A.M. we’re set and the actors arrive for a final walk through and the cameras roll.

We move the cameras and roll again, tweak the lights and roll, hold for a change from the cultural consultants who say she must avert her eyes more when talking to that man and roll, hold for audio as a train or plane passes and roll, “what was my line again?” and roll, “the sun went behind a cloud, wait for it to come back so the previous shots match” and roll.

Somewhere in there our 1:00 P.M. lunch came and went and we’re trying to get our last shots off before  we lose the light.  We wrap at 7:30 P.M., and trudge back to our cars.  I’m home about 8:00 P.M. just in time to kiss the boys goodnight, eat a bowl of cereal for dinner, then go to bed.

It is tiring but I love this so much.  God has been preparing me for this since I was 10.  I love film and have seen how He has guided my steps.  From making movies with my friends in high school to pursuing film production as my major in college, God has shown me how story can clearly communicate to people’s hearts and minds.  And having this opportunity to create high quality discipleship films that communicate God’s Word and precepts in a strong story is beyond what I could have asked or imagined.

Please know that you are helping to reach and disciple an entire generation of new believers in far off lands through your partnership with us.  And we are so thankful to be serving Him with you.

Please Pray for:

  • The wife of Mike’s film partner, as she was just diagnosed with thyroid cancer– their family needs comfort, strength, and wisdom as they make decisions for the future.


  • God to be preparing hearts to receive these films, for staff to seize this unprecedented opportunity to share Biblical truth, and for those in positions of power to welcome these life inspiring stories into their spheres of influence, theaters, and lands.


  • Our students to take the initiative to effectively share their faith in Christ with others and rely on God for the results of His Spirit working in people’s hearts.


  • Praising God for continuing good health and stamina to accomplish what He is calling us to do and so grateful to be together as a family around familiar friends and surroundings for a time.

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