Christians in Cinema

Author Nicholas Sparks crafts stories that are universal in their appeal. His characters are the people we encounter in our everyday lives, and circumstances they face are ones with which we’re familiar. He’s an athlete, a philanthropist, a novelist, and with the upcoming release of The Last Song, a screenwriter.

When asked about his training and preparation to direct a major motion picture, John Lee Hancock, director of Academy Award®-nominated The Blind Side, talks about attending film school. “I went to the Clint Eastwood film school. I spent almost every day on the set of both A Perfect World and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and learned as much as I could from the man.”

With 30+ years of marketing experience between them, Greg Stielstra and Bob Hutchins know the Christian audience. They know it’s not a huge analogous blob just waiting for the next Passion of the Christ film to appear in theaters. Their experience in music, film, and book marketing helped them understand the many facets of the [...]

Dandy-like and dandified is how Charles Marshall (I’m Just Sayin’!, from Crown Comedy) describes himself the day we talk. He’s not dandelion-like, because that’s two levels above, where you’re almost insane, at least by his rating system. He’s feeling pretty good about life and before a minute has passed, he’s making cracks about the time of day, as well as Fresno, California.

Producer Stephen McEveety has a long and rich career in Hollywood, going all the way back to an appearance as “redheaded boy” in one episode of the original Star Trek television series in 1966. Thirteen years later he had his first film credit as a production assistant. From those early beginnings, he built a career that included a long stint with Icon Entertainment, which produced several Mel Gibson films, including the blockbusters Braveheart and The Passion of the Christ.

Mark Freiburger graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts in 2005, and has been a busy man since then. In the summer of 2007, he finished a four-year journey to create and direct his first feature length film Dog Days of Summer, just released on DVD from Anchor Bay Entertainment.

Fellow students at the film school helped rewrite the script, which was filmed using mostly teenagers and college students, which presented a unique set of challenges. Upon completion of his film, Mark met producer/director Gary Wheeler who brought him into a couple of projects based on books by author Robert Whitlow. I caught up with Mark as he was headed into Robert’s office to work on his latest project.

Ryne Pearson is a published novelist with five books (soon to be six) in print, one of which was the source novel for the 1998 Bruce Willis film Mercury Rising. Father of two sons and a devout Catholic who has two priests that are uncles, Ryne’s worldview of faith comes through in his latest screenplay for the Nicolas Cage film Knowing.

So much of Western religion is focused on the individual – learning scripture to know how to change my life. But what you’re talking about is a greater awareness of God and letting that change my life. God becomes a being we want to approach.

Paul: We say the fruit of the Spirit is “love, joy, peace,” and we rattle them off. We don’t think about the fact that all of that existed before we showed up. Those things aren’t telling us the way we’re supposed to be now that we’ve been created. It’s not a list that the Spirit has on His mirror and checks off every day saying, “These are the things we’re trying to give these human beings in our basket of gifts.”

In 2007, author William Paul Young ignited a firestorm within the Christian and publishing communities with his novel The Shack. Originally written as a story for his children, he had no idea that the allegory of his own journey would rise to the top of the New York Times’ Bestseller list, the USA Today Bestseller list, and that of any other publication tracking book sales.

Many people perpetuate the mystique of film and television actors as men and women of leisure, whose basic needs are managed by an entourage of “people” just waiting for their next instruction. Not so Siobhan Fallon. When I spoke with her by phone, she was in the middle of mopping the floor at her home in New Jersey. Veteran of more than 25 films and with guest appearances on at least 10 different television series, Siobhan’s ability to relate to the ordinary person on the street translates beautifully on film.

Her latest film role is Blanche Gunderson, the warmhearted secretary of a plant in New Ulm, Minnesota, that is being re-organized by Lucy Hill (Renee Zellweger), a bigshot from Miami. In spite of being worlds apart in personality, values and experience, the two women eventually develop a friendship that brings new life to the small town.

Guest post by Greg Wright

Italian-American Robert Davi has been working in Hollywood a long time, amassing over 100 acting credits since 1977. He is perhaps best known for his turn as Bond villain Franz Sanchez in the Timothy Dalton vehicle License to Kill. He was also a regular on TV’s Profiler, and has had recurring roles in Stargate: Atlantis and The Pretender.

Recently, though, he’s branched out into producing and directing. His first feature film, The Dukes, crept out to a very small, quiet release in November after winning several awards at festivals in the U.S. and abroad. Courtesy of a national publicist, I had the opportunity to speak with Davi over the phone a couple of weeks ago.

Critically acclaimed director Scott Derrickson is one of the most vocal Christians working in Hollywood today. After his film The Exorcism of Emily Rose caught the eye of producer and manager Erwin Stoff, Derrickson was invited to direct the remake of the science fiction classic The Day the Earth Stood Still.

During a worldwide press tour, I had the chance to talk with Scott in Hollywood and by phone to discuss the film, his faith, and the filmmakers who influenced him.

Author, journalist and now filmmaker Lee Strobel is best known for his “Case” books that explore the claims of Christianity. Educated at Yale Law School and former legal editor for The Chicago Tribune, he was an atheist for years. When his wife became a Christian, the changes he observed in her caused him to investigate God, the existence of Jesus Christ, and the Bible’s claims for faith.

What he found caused him to turn to Christ and a life that has influenced millions through his writing. So far, three of his books have been turned into documentary DVDs that take the view on a journey of a discovery – a discovery of the God of the Universe, His Son, and a faith that can withstand the greatest onslaughts.

Executive Producer/Adviser – The Chronicles of Narnia
How do you take one of the most beloved book series and create films from them? Can you ever make something that will please readers who have imagined entire worlds in their minds? And just to keep things interesting, what if the author of this series is your stepfather?
I [...]

Writer/Producer – Billy: The Early Years
Documentary filmmaker, author and national researcher, Bill McKay’s media and entertainment background span more than 30 years. He’s the founder and CEO of American Trademark Pictures, as well as former CEO of the American Research Corporation.

His most recent book Against All Odds: In Search of a Miracle was written in conjunction with the docudrama TV series of the same title, which he also created and produced.

His most recent film Billy: The Early Years, a movie about the beginning of Billy Graham’s career, is scheduled for national release on October 10. We talked about Bill’s passion for research, his determination to tell the Billy Graham story, and the elements of a good movie.

As a teen idol in the 1980s, Kirk Cameron starred in the sitcom “Growing Pains.” During that time, he met his wife Chelsea Noble and began a relationship with Christ. After the show ended, Kirk had roles in other films, including the Left Behind movie series.
His passion for evangelism also led him to a friendship [...]

When Pastor Michael Catt (left, courtesy Sherwood Baptist Church) challenged his congregation to reach the world from Albany, Georgia, making movies that would reach around the world may not have been exactly what he was thinking of. But now with two films behind them and a third just weeks from release, it’s apparent that’s one [...]

Writer/Director – “Wall-E”

Andrew Stanton was one of the first Pixar animators, and had a part in most of Pixar’s mega-hits from the last several years. His roles have included writing, voicing, and character design, as well as directing and executive-producing.

After the story idea first surfaced 14 years ago, “Wall-E” became his first solo writing/directing credit. With it he created a few Pixar “firsts,” including using a live person (Fred Willard) as a major supporting character.

Actor – “Kit Kittredge: An American Girl”

As a father of 5 children and a resident of Chicago (home of the American Girl Doll company), Chris O’Donnell is very familiar with the American Girl Dolls. As an actor whose roles range from superhero to veterinarian, Musketeer to millionaire, he can obtain a seat in almost any restaurant, no matter how long the waiting list. The one exception? The American Girl tea room.

In “Kit Kittredge: An American Girl,” Chris plays Mr. Kittredge, the father of Kit (Abigail Breslin). When his automobile dealership goes out of business during the early days of the Great Depression, he goes to Chicago to try and find work to support his family.

Producer/Lead Actor – Bella

Spend just a few moments talking with Eduardo Verastegui and you quickly learn that he’s a man with a mission: to make films that shed light on humanity, that educate, engage and inspire people. Bella is the first step in that mission.

Eduardo was kind enough to talk with me in the middle of a busy day promoting Bella. He had just flown to New York City from Mexico, where the film just premiered.

Female Lead – “Kit Kittredge: An American Girl”
Though only 12 years old, Abigail Breslin has already taken Hollywood, and the rest of us, by storm. Her roles reveal her comic ability (Definitely, Maybe), a dramatic flair (The Ultimate Gift), and an ability to take command of a complex role within an adult story (Little Miss Sunshine).

Her leading men have ranged from Mel Gibson (Signs) to Gerard Butler (Nim’s Island), and she’s carried her weight with actresses like Catharine Zeta-Jones (No Reservations) and Kate Hudson (Raising Helen).

Her most recent role, Kit Kittredge, is one that millions of girls around the country can relate to, for she is one of the “American Girl” dolls come to life.

Actress – The List

Born and raised in Virginia, Hilarie Burton is one of four children in a tight-knit family. Early on, she developed a passion for acting, so when she grew up, she went to New York to pursue her dreams. She got her start as a VJ on MTV, which lead to a guest role on an episode of “Dawson’s Creek.”

Quickly after, she landed the role of Peyton Sawyer on “One Tree Hill,” which lead to movies in films like “Our Very Own,” “Normal Adolescent Behavior,” and “Solstice.” Now she’s back in the South, living and working in Wilmington, North Carolina, renovating her home and learning to use power tools.

Producers/Writers/Directors – C2 Series

Son of Christian music’s Michael W. Smith, Ryan Smith is setting his own course in the entertainment field. Ryan founded Seabourne Pictures with producing partner Mark Cowart with the objective of creating thought-provoking and engaging feature films. (Ryan, left, and Mark, right, work on a scene from C2: Relapse in Nashville, TN)

Since the beginning of the company in 2005, Seabourne has produced various music videos and short films, while developing several feature film projects. On a busy summer afternoon, I had a conversation with Ryan and Mark about starting a film company, being the son of a music legend, and where the name “Seabourne Pictures” came from.

Worship leader, songwriter, and modern worship pioneer Jeff Deyo can now add “actor” to his resume. The former member (and founder) of the band SONICFLOOd joins other music greats Kerry Livgren (Kansas) and Kevin Max (dcTalk) in the independent Christian film “The Imposter.”

Producer/Special Adviser/Author – Amazing Grace, Real Christianity, The Chronicles of Narnia

Bob Beltz is a minister, teacher, author, filmmaker, and church-planter. In the last 7 years he has been part of the leadership team for Walden Media, a leader in producing major films from the books we love.

From “Joshua,” the first film produced by Walden Media, to The Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian and Amazing Grace, Bob has been involved at some level with all the films the company has produced.

Director – The Ultimate Gift, One Night with the King

Michael has a Hollywood career that spans more than 2 decades. His screen credits include writer, cameraman, director of photography, special effects cinematography, producer, and director on both television and feature film projects.

Writer/Executive Producer – “That 70s Show”

Dean Batali, executive producer for “That 70’s Show,” and writer for “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” is a Christian. Married for almost 21 years to Beth, his college sweetheart (their anniversary is in July), he has been in Hollywood for 15 years. Dean and Beth have two daughters: Erin, 12, and Katharine, 8. Dean’s cousin is also pretty well-known to television audiences: he’s the Food Network’s Mario Batali.

We met Dean at the Biola Media Conference where he was a panelist and presented a workshop. I talked with him the day before he drove up to San Jose for a screen-writers’ conference hosted by the ActOne training program .

Actress – Enchanted

Kevin Lima, the director of “Enchanted,” is a Disney fan. He should be. He executive-produced “The Wild,” directed “Tarzan,” “102 Dalmatians,” and “A Goofy Movie,” and was credited with character designer and/or animator for “Aladdin,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Little Mermaid,” and a handful of other Disney animated films.

As a special nod to Disney’s princesses, he invited 3 of them to be involved in the making of “Enchanted.” Jodi Benson, the voice of “The Little Mermaid,” plays the role of Patrick Dempsey’s assistant. [Notice the aquarium in the office] I was able to chat with Jodi about the film and her experiences as Disney’s ambassador for feature animation.

Actor – The Great Debaters

In talking with Denzel Whitaker, I was immediately struck by his poise. The 17-year-old actor portrays James Farmer, Jr., a member of a debate team from a small black college in East Texas, who goes on to become one of the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement.

I had a few moments to talk with Denzel about the upcoming film, his family, and what he likes to do in his spare time.

Writer: For One More Day

What would you do if you had one more day with someone who has already died? Would it change you or the way you remember that person? That’s the question explored in the new movie “For One More Day.” Premiering on ABC this Sunday, December 9, 9:00 PM Eastern & Pacific, it’s the third film based on a book by author Mitch Albom. Produced by Oprah Winfrey, it follows in the tradition of “Tuesdays with Morrie” and “The Five People You Meet in Heaven,” creating a thought-provoking film about the relationships in our lives.

Author: Love Comes Softly series

With more than 75 books written and more than 23 million copies sold, Janette Oke is one of the most prolific writers of Christian fiction. Her stories set in earlier historical times still reach the hearts of readers today because they can identify with the emotions experienced by her characters. 5 of the 8 books in her Love Comes Softly series have been made into films which promise to be as popular as her books.

Host/ Producer/Driver – Drive Thru History

After attending Abilene Christian University in the Texas Panhandle, Dave Stotts hopped around a few more places before settling down in the Dallas Metroplex area. Married to Rebekah and the father of 2 sons (Seth and Luke), his time is divided between video post-production, theological studies and making history alive and entertaining.

When asked about his favorite restaurant, he immediately named “Mi Cocina,” which specializes in Tex-Mex cuisine (a man after my own heart!). A fan of science fiction epics (X-men, Superman, Star Wars) married to someone who doesn’t really care for them, Dave often watches his favorites with headphones. He’s even been known to impersonate Darth Vader for his youngest son “Luke, I’m your father”. I talked with Dave on a busy Thursday morning between video projects.

Writer/Producer – The Last Sin Eater

Brian (shown at right with production partner Michael Landon, Jr., and Liana Liberato, star of The Last Sin Eater, on the set)and Patty Bird have been married 26 years, and are proving that it’s possible to have a strong family and do the work they do. Their 5 children are the delight of their lives. Ben, 24, is a Biola graduate who works for the Chicago Fire, a major league soccer team owned by Phil Anschutz, the owner of Walden Media. Cameron is a 22-year-old senior in the USC journalism program, and Taylor is a senior in high school and will be attending Pepperdine in the fall.

Family vacations range from Hawaii to DisneyWorld and usually include at least one good solid week away as a family. The day after we talked Brian was leaving to go to Tempe, AZ, for a weekend at the Angels’ spring training camp. It’s an annual tradition he’s established with his boys. As much as their school schedule will allow, his kids join him on the set of his movies, and the whole family enjoys their ministry and membership at Saddleback Church in South Orange County, California.

In the midst of post-production on Saving Sarah Cain, Brian made time to talk with me about his passion for writing and his career in entertainment.

Writer/Director/Producer – The Moment After 1 & 2

Walk into a Sharper Image store in the greater Los Angeles area (Glendale, Burbank, Atwater Village), and you might see Wes Llewellyn there. However, you may not recognize him, because his best work has been from behind the camera. His list of credits includes director, producer, writer, cinematographer, editor, gaffer, and camera operator. Wes is a passionate filmmaker, who feels very strongly a commission from God for the work he does.

Screenwriter/Producer/Editor – One Night with the King

Stephan was born in Perrytown, New York, (the location of Sleepy Hollow). His dad moved the family around every few years, and eventually wound up in Malibu, California. He attended UCLA where he played football and was part of the team that played in the Rose Bowl his senior year.

A fan of Italian food who would love to move his family to Italy, Stephan is also a surfer. His parents have a small vacation home on a golf course in the desert where the family likes to vacation. They also visit his wife’s parents at Hume Lake Christian Campground (only a few miles from the offices of ChristianCinema.com).

Writers/Producers/Directors – The World Is Waiting

Of all the films listed on ChristianCinema.com, we guarantee you won’t find another one like The World Is Waiting. Brothers Reece and Lance Tedford created a goofy physical comedy that was an experiment in what could be accomplished with minimal financing, cast and crew. There were no stunt doubles used, nor were any animals harmed in the making of this film.

Director – Midnight Clear

Dallas Jenkins isn’t dreaming of a “White Christmas.” In fact, the Christmas he dreamed up is desolate, lonely and dark. It’s set in the Southwest, without any skiers swooping down pristine slopes or sleigh rides over the drifting snow. Dallas directed Midnight Clear (originally released as a short, now in post-production as a feature-length film), based on the book by his father, author Jerry B. Jenkins (‘Twas the Night Before).

Writer/Producer/Director – Nobelity

What do the following have in common? Golf. Willie Nelson. Christmas angels. Nobel Peace Prize winners. Friday Night Lights. The Sopranos…. A fascinating and tenacious man named Turk Pipkin. His multi-faceted career reflects the vast interests of the man who captured the insights of nine Nobel Laureates on film. He and his wife Christy have been married 46 years (23 for him, 23 for her) and have 2 daughters. I had the privilege of talking with him on the phone while he was at home in Austin, Texas, between screenings of Nobelity.

Author, Speaker, Blogger, Director

Phil Cooke is a busy man. He directs and produces commercials, consults with churches and non-profit organizations, blogs, and writes books! He’s very well-respected in media circles and has a finger on the pulse of Christian film-making. He’s on a crusade to raise the standard of filmmaking, and is a passionate and humorous speaker.

Film critic, author, editor

Jeffrey Overstreet is a man of many gifts. To Christian audiences, especially moviegoers, he is best known as a film critic and writer for Christianity Today Movies’ website. To Seattle Pacific University students, faculty and alumni, he is known as an author and editor. To his future audience of readers, he is a writer of fantasy fiction.

I met Jeffrey at the Biola Media Conference after listening to his workshop called “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Confessions of a Christian Film Critic.” He speaks of films, and searching for divine encounters through film, in a way that betrays his love for the medium. He is one of the pioneers of movie critique from a Christian perspective, and to talk with him is to learn new perspectives.

Producer – Believers Among Us

Brad Wilson (producer of the “Believers Among Us” series), like the rest of our Featured Filmmakers, is a multi-talented individual who has had a unique career path. From the heart of Texas to the Big Apple of New York, and now living in Los Angeles, he’s moved in and out of radio, feature film production with major studios, and independent movie production. He is a charter member of the National Radio Hall of Fame of Texas.

Producer/Writer/Director/Cast & Crew – Holly’s Story

Located in Houston, Texas, Cross Wind Productions is not just a film production company. It’s also a mentoring and discipling ministry for youth who are interested in theater arts. Founded by Barbara Sundstrom, the organization has produced three films that depict some of the serious struggles facing youth today. Joining us today are two cast members from the award-winning Holly’s Story, Amy Harvey, the female lead, and Aaron House, who was assistant to the Director of Photography (DP). Holly’s Story has won the following awards: Adam Award for Best Youth Drama at the Sabaoth International Film Festival in Milan, Italy; a Platinum Remi at the Worldfest in Houston, Texas; a Silver Crown award from International Christian Visual Media.

Producers/Writer/Director/Cinematographer – Christmas at Maxwell’s

The father-daughter team of Bill & Tiffany Laufer (co-creators of Christmas at Maxwell’s) is dedicated to writing and producing films that show respect for the positive values of life, celebrating peace in the midst of chaos, redemption in the midst of despair, forgiveness in the midst of hatred and freedom in the midst of oppression. Their aspiration is to make intelligent and inspiring films that appeal to the imagination and intellect, and do so while blending in a sense of humor and love.

Facing the Giants – Producer/Writer/Director

Days before the national release of Facing the Giants, Alex and his wife Christina welcomed their 5th child, Caleb. He joins his brother Joshua and sisters Anna, Catherine and Joy – just in time to see their dad’s newest film. This is Alex’s 53rd interview since the film gained media attention, yet he took time to talk about his film, his family, and his passion for God. His consuming goal? For God to be glorified.

TBN – Vice President of Administration

After meeting Paul Crouch, Jr., at a Studio Task Force dinner, I was surprised to hear that his leisure-time passion is motocross racing. He has “tons of trophies” from his racing, and twice has been injured badly enough to require a hospital visit. The last time, 7 years ago, he broke a collarbone and knocked himself out for about 5 minutes.

He has 3 children; his son Brandon (23) hosts Top 3 on JCTV, and works as a video producer/editor/cinematographer for Benny Hinn. His daughter Brittany (21), a recently-married graduate from St. John’s University, works in TBN’s personnel department. His youngest daughter Carra (14) is still in school.

Author/Filmmaker/NFL Defensive Back – Israel, Islam & Armageddon

Former NFL defensive back-turned filmmaker Ken Klein is married to Jan, his wife of 32 years. They have 3 very creative sons, and live in Eugene, Oregon, where he continues his movie-making education at the University of Oregon. Ken took some time between projects to talk with me.

Producer/Director/Writer – The Pistol – The Birth of a Legend

Writer, producer and director Darrel Campbell is a self-described workaholic who has found what he loves to do, and a way to do it that allows him to live in his home state of Missouri, in the Ozark Mountains. He and his wife Pam have 4 children ranging in age from 8 to 19 years old, whom he describes as very creative and articulate. Pam is a great student of the Word of God, and is a stay-at-home writer. I caught up with Darrel as he was on his way to a football game one Friday evening.

The Azusa Street Project – Producer/Director/Writer/Teacher

Producer, writer, director, and teacher Clay banks lives in Southern California where he has built a Spirit-led film acting studio in Hollywood. He describes himself as “unorthodox, but a good boy” (actually, that’s how his mom describes him.) His passion about his work immediately comes through in a conversation with him, and it was a privilege to spend some time talking with him recently.

The Moment After, Thr3e – Producer/Director/Writer/Actor

Kevin Downes is a California native. He grew up in Visalia, just 3 hours north of Los Angeles where many of the Christian films he has made were shot. Before writing and producing The Moment After, Kevin worked with David A.R. White on The Crossing and The End of the Harvest. He produced the award-winning Warner Bros. short film/music video for Clay Walker, Chain of Love. He also produced Mercy Streets – released in theaters nationwide in 2000, and executive-produced Lay It Down. He produced the theatrically released Time Changer for Trinity Broadcasting Network and was writer/producer/director on Six: The Mark Unleashed.

“Competitive roller skater” would probably not be the first thing that comes to mind when looking at photos of Stacey J. Aswad. But this gifted dancer choreographer, and actress keeps such a crazy schedule that you can imagine her zipping from place to place on her skates. Probably the most fun job she has is hosting the promotional TV show for Walt Disney World to highlight their latest attractions. Catching a few minutes with Stacey for an interview was challenging, but once we connected, we had a great time talking about her life, her career, and her cats

Writer/Comedian/Actor – The Moment After, Hidden Secrets

Know your lines, show up to work on time, and work with your friends. That’s what David A.R. White learned from working with Burt Reynolds on the television sitcom “Evening Shade”. He’s had an interesting journey from Moody Bible Institute to Hollywood to the “Holyman Undercover Tour,” and that’s what we talked with David about recently.

Director – The Nativity Story

Catherine Hardwicke is a fellow Texan who has been making movies for more than 20 years. After directing stories about adolescents coming of age and early legends of the skateboard craze, she’s taking on the greatest story ever told: the birth of Jesus Christ.

Producer/Writer/Director – Karla Faye Tucker: Forevermore

Born in El Centro, California, Helen Gibson describes herself as a “border brat”. A typical day for Helen starts around 5:00 AM with Bible reading and meditation with the Lord. She cherishes that personal time as her days are very full and busy.

She currently works at AZTV, a locally owned/operated station in Phoenix that reaches more than 4 million homes in Arizona. Her job? Selling commercial time and building 30-minute shows, of which she has 14 right now. She works with national ministries and local pastors to place airtime on Sundays.

Her marriage to an Air Force fighter pilot (F16s) both earned her the nickname “Wheels” and gave her the background to develop a TV sitcom she’s currently pitching to networks. Based on the lives of military wives, “Pilot Point” is a secular show with some characters that see the God element in life. Helen currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona, and is a single parent of 3 children: Greg, 18 and in college; Tahnee, 17 and a junior in high school; and Grant, 14 years old.

AGENTS: Live the Mission – Writer/Producer/Actor

MISSION BRIEFING: Obtain background on Agent Nicole Romero to develop cover story

LAST SEEN: Newport Beach, California

KNOWN ASSOCIATES: Jared Romero, Christopher Go, Kathryn Go

DISCLAIMER: ChristianCinema.com disavows knowledge of any subterfuge used to capture the following information. Known facts: Agent first gained notoriety while on assignment in Hollywood, California. History in production and development for Sony, Disney, and Fox. Agent has no training in underage creations, but shows great willingness and aptitude for on-the-job training. Following is a transcript of a recent telephone conversation.

Producer, Writer, Director – Sugar Creek Gang

Three years ago, Owen Smith graduated from college and began his filmmaking career in earnest. In that short span of time, he has formed 2 motion picture production companies (Kalon Media and Dogwood Motion Picture Company), produced a video series of children’s books (Sugar Creek Gang), and is in post-production for a Christmas film.

Comedian, Author, Songwriter – It’s Probably Just My Thyroid

Catching up with Anita Renfroe is no easy task. When we did, she was on vacation in Florida. Taking a break from sunning herself on the beach, Anita talked with us about the whirlwind that has been her life for the past 4 years…