One of the films we produced this summer at the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp was just posted:

We'll post a more lighthearted one soon, so watch for that. Also, we'll open registration sometime next month, so watch your inbox for the announcement. Last year the acting side filled up the same day we opened registration. 

I play a lead in  Providence, which  you can bring to your area.

Our students created this at the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp this summer.

If you're receiving this as an email, or to share this with others, use  www.RichDrama.com/ThanksgivingWithout.

 
Registration for the  Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp is about to open. Sign up to get the announcement. 

We had another great group of students at this year's Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers and Actors Camp! I got to coach our acting students in a short piece by Zack Lawrence called "Loneliness," and I really think it will resonate with a lot of people, and prayerfully it will encourage them greatly! I also got to play the role of the lead character's father, so that was fun, too.

Here it is:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/DW24CgZ3Hhg

We created this scene for our two actors who had the fewest lines. We devised it through sociodrama (www.RichDrama.com/Workshops).

https://www.youtube.com/embed/-iYDTg4ains



We'll open registration for the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp for 2020 in the fall. Sign up at  www.RichDrama.com/Updates to get the announcement.

Joyce and I got to work on a short film by Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers and Actors Camp alumni William and Morgan Willer ( It's a Life Worth Living, " There").

It's now available for viewing:

https://player.vimeo.com/video/364121185
REFLECTION from William Willer on Vimeo.

We were greeted with my favorite verse, which Morgan remembered from Film Camp and wrote in calligraphy on a card!


I'm playing the role of the father of a young woman played by Joanna Ferbrache ( Celebrity Confessions), who is being seduced by my character's arch nemesis, played by Andrew Hurt ( Polycarp, " One Day"). I'm also serving as acting and accent coach. We've set it in Florida in the late 30s, so the cast (and some of the crew) were speaking in Southern accents all week. One of them said to me, "I don't know if I'll be able to stop talking like this when we leave!" We were all having a ton of fun in the Florida sun!

On Day Two I got to drive this 193 Chevrolet nicknamed "Ethel," and it was an AMAZING experience!

The production value has been astonishing! The cars, costumes, furniture, and especially the locations, almost all donated in order to help tell the Lord's truths in film. It's going to look like a much more expensive production than it is.

We were particularly grateful for The Banyan Estate, which was a 1927 school house that was refurbished just over a year ago. It's an amazing event space for weddings and business events.

This time last year many of this same crew created the short film, "There," which you can watch here:  www.RichDrama.com/There.

You can find this page at www.RichDrama.com/Reflection. We'll announce when the film is released through emailings to which you can subscribe at www.RichDrama.com/Updates.

Click to see the best of the photos Joyce and I took on and around set.

Here are our Production Diaries filmed and edited by Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmaker alumna Morgan Willer...

Day 1
https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ffilmsoundlightstory%2Fvideos%2F1151027411725044%2F&show_text=0&width=560

Day 2 (This shows the 1930 Chevrolet named "Ethel" I got to drive.)
https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ffilmsoundlightstory%2Fvideos%2F227044474890617%2F&show_text=0&width=560

Pre-Rigging at the amazing  Banyan Estate (I was performing " The New King" on Epiphany while they were setting up.)
https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ffilmsoundlightstory%2Fvideos%2F407245656482316%2F&show_text=0&width=560

Day 3 (Filmed at the  Banyan Estate.)
https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ffilmsoundlightstory%2Fvideos%2F2110590082587016%2F&show_text=0&width=560

Day 4 (More footage of me driving Ethel.)
https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ffilmsoundlightstory%2Fvideos%2F1420170061446628%2F&show_text=0&width=560

Day 5 (This has my favorite line that won't make it into the film.)
https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ffilmsoundlightstory%2Fvideos%2F385345902240126%2F&show_text=0&width=560

Day 6 (We wrapped by lunch! Unheard of!)
https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ffilmsoundlightstory%2Fvideos%2F355965661801173%2F&show_text=0&width=560

There are still openings for the 2019 Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

McKenzie (left) and Rachel on the set of "Milk and Oranges."

McKenzie Harris and  Rachel Marley were my students together at the  Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp (RMCFC) in 2016, where we produced the short film " Milk and Oranges."

This January, McKenzie was in charge of wardrobe on the set of " There," which was written, produced and directed by William and Morgan Willer, two other alumni of RMCFC (2015 and 2016). In the middle of production, McKenzie got a call-back for the lead in the  Lamplighter Theatre production of  The Treasure of the Secret Cove. As an alumna of RMCFC she received the casting call I sent out to all my former students. The Lamplighter production team listened to over 250 auditions without considering who the actors were. They were shocked to discover McKenzie was also an alumna of the  Lamplighter Guild (2017), where I got to teach this summer, as well as Lamplighter Live, where I first worked with her.

Rachel and McKenzie in the studio for The Treasure of the Secret Cove.

McKenzie discovered that Rachel was cast as her character's best chum in the production. Our friend and colleague,  Nato Jacobson, plays the husband of McKenzie's character. David Sanborn, a friend I've worked with on projects since 2001, plays a mysterious visitor. Nato and Rachel also played smaller roles.

Joyce and I just listened to it, and they all did splendid work! So many nice moments. So much truth spoken so eloquently. It's a wonderful story, based on the classic book of the same title by Amy Le Feuvre. It's about the power of the covenant of marriage, and it's set up in a very creative way! You can order it as a set of CDs or download it now.

I was honored to be a consultant on several elements of preproduction.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/fyBmyO8_zDk

We're about to announce that registration is open for the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp. Sign up for the announcement.

Here's our short student film from the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp in 2017...

https://www.youtube.com/embed/2G4yLz5hOOk

"Milk and Oranges" is based on a true story told by Nathan Ashton, who shares seven film credits with me.

This marked Joyce's directorial debut:

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FRichSwingle%2Fvideos%2F10155261376652279%2F&show_text=1&width=400






We're getting close to opening registration for next summer's Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp. Sign up for the announcement: www.RichDrama.com/Updates.

Students of the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp study training videos before arriving, so once they're there we can jump straight into making a short film. This year's project was just posted, and you can see it below, or if you're reading this in an email, visit www.RichDrama.com/ReturnOnInvestment.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/9oKvauiBhds



The dates have been set for the 2019 Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp. Mark your calendars for June 23-29, and sign up to get the announcement that registration is open.

Rachel Marley (left) and McKenzie Harris experienced another blessing from their association with the  Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.  They just performed in a God-honoring professional audio drama for Lamplighter Theatre that they learned about because they had been students at the  Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

Our camp is more than a fully immersive training experience. It begins before students arrive on campus with online tutorials we've put together, so that once they arrive we can immediately jump into production on a short film. All four years that I've taught at Film Camp I've been able to coach our students for an audition for a live film project. Several of our students have landed roles or been hired on crew because of that process.

But the benefits of Film Camp extend beyond our week together. Whenever I hear about film, stage and radio projects that are planning to honor the Lord I send out casting notices to all of our acting camp alumni.

If you or someone you know is interested in acting now is the best time to register for the  Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

Due to some logistics issues we were not able to get the word out in a timely manner about our early bird special to some of our potential acting camp students. In order to be fair with all who are interested in attending either the acting or filmmaking camps we have decided to extend the $150 early bird discount until the end of the month.

The registration website has already been updated to the full price since the early bird discount expired on January 15th. However, we have created a special discount coupon code that you can use to get the same discount. Here’s how it works. Register for either the 2018 Rocky Mountain Christian Acting camp or the Filmmakers camp from our regular camp registration page and enter the following coupon code on the payment screen to receive the discount.

Coupon Code: EB2018
Acting Camp Registration SiteFilmmaking Camp Registration Site

The discount coupon is only good through January 31st and only while we still have space available. Once the camp is full registration will be closed so register now to assure your spot and to take advantage of this extended discount.

If you choose the 3 payment option the $150 discount will be applied to your initial payment. So the first payment will only be $150, the second and third payments will be $300 each.

Hope to see you in the Rockies!



Join us for the 2018 Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

With three of our alumni, Joyce Swingle, Gwendelynn Martindale, and Morgan Willer.

Due to some logistics issues we were not able to get the word out in a timely manner about our early bird special to some of our potential acting camp students at the  Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp. In order to be fair with all who are interested in attending either of our camps we have decided to extend the $150 early bird discount a few more weeks.

The registration website has already been updated to the full price since the early bird discount expired on January 15th. However, we have created a special discount coupon code that you can use to get the same discount. Here’s how it works. Register for either the 2018 Rocky Mountain Christian Acting camp or the Filmmakers camp from our regular camp registration page and enter the following coupon code on the payment screen to receive the discount.

Coupon Code: EB2018
Acting Camp Registration SiteFilmmaking Camp Registration Site

The discount coupon is only good through January 31st and only while we still have space available. Once the camp is full registration will be closed so register now to assure your spot and to take advantage of this extended discount.

If you choose the 3 payment option the $150 discount will be applied to your initial payment. So the first payment will only be $150, the second and third payments will be $300 each.

As of this moment there are only 4 acting camp spots left and only 3 filmmaking camp spots left. So register now to reserve your spot at the 2018  Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers and Acting Camp.

I just got to perform the lead role and coach the other actors (including one of our alumna, Rebekah Stought) in " There" a short film by two of our alumni, William and Morgan Willer. In all we had six alumni from our program involved in the production, and the Willers managed to pull together over a dozen professionals in all!

Two other alumni, Rebekah Stought  and William Willer.

Before we left they showed us a rough cut, and it's going to look extraordinary! I'm so proud of the Willers and our amazing team!

While we were on set, one of the six alumni of the  Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp, McKenzie Harris, was cast as the lead in Lamplighter Theatre's next production! We also know Rachel Marley, was cast as the friend of the lead. Rachel has been my student several times at two different performing arts training intensives, and she was on our performance team in Sochi during the 2014 Olympics.

Rebekah Stought performed with me in the last two Lamplighter Theatre productions.

McKenzie Harris Photo by Ivy Schexnayder

I'll be teaching and directing at the Lamplighter Guild this summer, and their early bird discount (also a savings of $150) deadline will be at the end of January.

You can hear my interview with Mark Hamby, the executive director of Lamplighter Ministries here. Click below or if you're reading this in an email you can click this link, to play it.

https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/378423278&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true

I was happy to volunteer my time to the Willer's project, but they agreed to let me perform my one-man play Views of the Mangerin their barn on Epiphany, and offer an acting workshop after we wrapped the film.

After Views of the Manger we gathered to praise the Lord for what He accomplished through the piece, and a five-year-old prayed the most beautiful prayers! I asked if I could interview her about the play, and here's what she had to say. Click the arrow below, or if you're reading this in an email you can click this link, to play it.


I shared it as a part of the opening to this morning's service at Westchester Chapel. You can hear my introduction to the interview below...




Remember, registration is now open for the 2018 Lamplighter's Guild and  Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

We had such a wonderful week with these amazing people at the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp! We completed the short film "Milk and Oranges" based on a true story told by Nathan Ashton, who shares seven film credits with me. 

This marked Joyce's directorial debut:
https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FRichSwingle%2Fvideos%2F10155261376652279%2F&show_text=1&width=400

We also provided headshots to all the actors, and I coached each of them for an audition to a live feature film. Woo hoo!