Restless

Filming a scene for In His Steps
Filming a scene with Rich Swingle and Rebekah Cook for In His Steps

I’m getting restless.

We’re getting super close to the time on In His Steps where I’ll have to send the movie off to someone else to work on, and I’ll be left with nothing to do for a time.

Oh sure, there’s behind the scenes and promotional stuff to work on, but it’s not the same.  The actual movie making phase is winding down. And while it’s exciting to see a project I’ve been working on for nearly seven years finally be finished, I’m already starting to get impatient.  I mean, it’s been two months already since I was last on set!

I really want to be on set again.  I could be a grip, and I’d be happy.

I love being on set!

The return of this nearly insatiable desire has gotten me thinking, though.  I remember that I didn’t always feel this way.  In fact, there was a time when I was ready to quit the dream before it had really gotten started.  Ironically enough, it was while I was working on In His Steps in what seems like a lifetime ago. (It was before I was married, so it may as well have been. 😉 )

It was 2008. We had just announced that we were suspending production on In His Steps indefinitely.  I was pretty disheartened.  I’d even say depressed.  Why would God block us from completing something I was so certain He had led us to start?  Why even bother continuing? Why not just get a “real” job and forget this silly filmmaking nonsense?

Don’t you just love 20/20 hindsight?

Filming the film camp short John's Miracle
Running camera on the film camp short John’s Miracle

Turns out I needed some training. I needed maturing.  I needed experience.  Yeah, I’d never been on a real movie set before, and really was not prepared in the slightest to direct a feature film.  Thankfully, God used the cancelling (really, the postponing!) of In His Steps to bring producer/director Norton Rodriguez into my life.  When he agreed to teach at our Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp, it not only revived my passion for filmmaking, it also led to the training of nearly three dozen other people in the craft of Christian filmmaking!

I’m sure there’s a lesson there about God’s perfect timing, and how He can use circumstances to glorify Himself and bless others.

And wouldn’t you know it, In His Steps is getting made after all.

But the other cool thing is that since then, I’ve been able to work on at least two movies a year!

2009

Am I Special (actor, project unreleased)

Hearing God (actor, student director, editor)

2010

John’s Miracle (actor, student director, editor)

The Door Backwards (actor)

Ragged Edge (writer, director, editor)

2011

Blessings Missed (actor, assistant director, editor)

Indescribable (gaffer)

Choices (assistant director, editor)

2012

In His Steps: The Series (writer, director, editor)

Only On Sunday (assistant director, editor)

2013

In His Steps: The Movie (writer, director, actor, editor)

Hmm? Only one movie this year?!  Well, no wonder I’m feeling restless! I’ve got a record to keep up!  That’s okay, there’s still a few months left in the year, right?

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