Pilgrim's Progress (2007)

Greater Orlando Christian Film Festival Spotlight!

Pilgrims Progress: Journey to Heaven is adapted from John Bunyan's original book Pilgrims Progress by writer, director and producer Danny Carrales. This updated and modern version of the book follows the lead character, Christian, as he is leaves his family and friends behind in the City of Destruction and, inspired by the Bible, heads toward the Celestial City.

This film actually made its world premiere during this festival!

During his journey is faced with many challenges and characters such as Evangelist, Hypocrisy, Ignorance and Faith. He must over come Demons and Great Despair on his quest to reach heaven.

The film was not in its final form and suffered from some required audio tweaking, but the film overall was a nice success. It's a straight-forward approach to the journey all Christians face during their life, struggling with doubt and the burden of sin. We are all easily swayed and can easily get off the right path.

Carrales does a wonderful job managing the immense task required to tell this epic story. The cast is all solid and the visual effects sufficient for its dreamlike quality. Carrales has dedicated almost four years of his life to this project and his passion and love for the subject is visible on the screen.

Daniel Kruse as Christian

This is a great film for younger viewers. It shows tangible imagery to theoretical challenges facing Christians. It should not only give them a greater understanding of their faith, but inspire greater discussion between parents and children in regards to their faith.

This is a film worth supporting. Check it out.

The DV Rebels Guide (2006)

There is one book that has gotten continuous acclaim among low-budget filmmakers. That book is The DV Rebels Guide An All-Digital Approach to Making Killer Action Movies on the Cheap written by Stu Maschwitz. Yes, it is a very long title, but it is extremely accurate. As I am planning on shooting a low budget action movie in the next three years (Sonlight Pictures' Severed) I thought I would take a look at this unique approach.

The book is excellent on so many levels. First, its very well written, complete with a Rebel with a Camera attitude and style.

Second, Maschwitz, who worked at ILM and helped created the video effects company called The Orphanage, knows his stuff when it comes to low budget effects. More importantly, he knows what is actually needed for an effect or stunt to work and what is not needed. Many times, the perception of an effect is much more important than the reality of the effect.

Third, Maschwitz gives step-by-step processes for making your own special effects. Included with the book is a DVD that includes his short film exemplifying his low-budget effects work along with tutorial examples, samples and freebies that we can use to help make our film high-quality production value.

For anyone who wants to make a low-budget movie, action or not, this book is an excellent resource. For those of you wanting to make a low-budget action film, this book is indispensable. A quick, great read that is both inspiring and educational.

It is a great compendium to Robert Rodriguez's A Rebel Without a Crew. They make for a solid and complete one-two punch.

In Miami Beach at Conference

I'm in Miami Beach right now for an SAP conference for work. As far as work is concerned, the trip has been enlightening and helpful. Good knowledge being learned down here.

On a personal note, I have three comments about Miami Beach...

• The buildings are cool with their curved facades and neo-50's look.
• Miami Beach is freakin' expensive.
• I'm 20 years too old to appreciate all that Miami Beach has to offer.

Greater Orlando Christian Film Festival

DC and I spent Saturday driving up to Orlando to participate in the Greater Orlando Christian Film Festival. The festival offered a variety of Christian films for FREE! That's right. Free!

The goal of the festival, put on in Orlando by a group called Christian Film Festivals at a cost of $60,000 for the two screens for the week, is not only to entertain existing Christians, but for Christians to return to the festival with people lost or looking for their faith again.

At the end of each movie they asked anyone who wanted to accept Jesus into their hearts and ask for forgiveness to come down to the front of the theater and volunteers would pray with them privately. It was pretty cool.

We saw two films (Pilgrims Progress and Hidden Secrets), which I'll review later, and saw a comedic performance by Christian actor David A. R. White. We also got to speak with at length to David A.R. White and Kevin Downes, actors/producers of such films reviewed here like The Moment After and The Moment After 2, as well as Danny Caralles producer/director of Pilgrims Progress. We spent so much time with White and Downes that White often involved us in his comedy act.

This year has been a good year, especially for DC who has met the Christian actors and directors above, Eduardo from Bella and the best Christian musician on the planet (in my opinion), Matt Maher.

If you get a chance to attend the festival, please do. It will run through next Thursday (10/25). They have a ton of free literature, more Christian films such as Facing the Giants, The Moment After 2, various Veggie Tales and many others. The volunteers are nice, helpful and sincere. The movies are very good. And the experience worth the drive.

DC and I really enjoyed ourselves. It was a very special day for just the two of us together .