The Night Shoot #3 (W22:D1)

Tonight was our last night shoot, and it was a tough one. We had quite a bit to do and not a lot of time to do it in but God was faithful. We ended up having plenty of time in the end to do what was needed. The scene we shot tonight was extremely hard for Rob (playing Dave) because the performance had to be dead on. Before we shot the scene we specifically prayed that God would work through him to speak to the viewers. This is a moment in the film where many will relate to what is being said, and it needed to be of the Lord and not of any of us. Even the lines we had written were totally up for changes if the Lord saw fit to change them in the moment. Rob did a great job and the scene looks like it'll be powerful when it's complete.Tonight was also another night where two crew members were present. Two crew (myself and my gaffer Shaun Smith), and one actor. How we have been able to pull off what we are with the amount of people we have is a true testament to God's intervention and leading. We really feel he has his hand on this film and we can't wait to see what he does with it.

We only have a few more days left until wrap time...we are so close.

Gallery & Christian Movie Updates

Just wanted to let everyone know we added a few photos to the Gallery on the website. Some new BTS photos towards the bottom and screen-grabs from the film towards the top. We are keeping busy here, the last of the shooting days are finally scheduled and will be shot soon. I can hear the fireworks and party poppers going off already. The first cut of the film is coming along nicely with the runtime hovering around the 90min mark where we had estimated. I'm sure with trimming and soon to be added additions we will swing in front of and behind that mark and land somewhere close. Keep praying for the project. We have lots to do after shooting wraps to get this thing done. I know a lot of people out there are excited and so are we, but we have a long way to go and still need your support!

Thanks to all who left us a message on the videos page. It's encouraging to know there are people out there watching us :) It gives us more fuel for the fire. If you haven't left us a comment yet, WHY NOT!? Go ahead and leave one, we would love to hear from you!

There are a few Christian films & other content I want you to be aware of. It is very important that other independent Christian films be supported so more can be made. We can't make these films without you the viewer!

1) Bringing Up Bobby, a quirky comedy from the creators of Between the Walls. Christian Comedy is a rarity and very difficult to pull of, comedy in general is not easy. If your interested in Between the Walls, I do believe there is a sale going on right now! Also made by Glowing Nose LLC is their podcast. It gives some great insight into different topics, not just films. I suggest you give it a listen. I enjoy listening to these guys.

2) A Letter to Dad, a new romantic film. This film is great, on a level of production quality unseen in most Christian films...even other professional films. I suggest you give this a look, it's just been released on DVD recently!

3) Praise Pictures film reviews. Are you looking for other Christian films? Looking for a review? We hope at some point we can be a popular go to place for even-handed “filmmaker perspective” reviews. More will be added as time goes on. Keep an eye out.

By the way do any of you have a Facebook or Myspace? We have a Facebook Group available as well as an official Myspace page for the film. Join us or add us!

The Funeral #2 (W20:D1)

Today we finished off pieces of the funeral we needed. We finished the funeral ceremony itself but we needed to collect what happens afterwards. Everyone did a wonderful job and I'm proud of them. Dave Gifford playing John Corwin was wrapped today so congratulations Dave! Your work on the film is awesome and we'll miss having you around. The footage came out very nice today as well, we put everyone near windows which isn't normally done but the bloom effect looks great on camera, and it matches the style of the funeral ceremony we previously shot. Everything came together well and editing the footage today I found it all fit together seamlessly. From the ceremony, to todays shooting, to what happens after. All flows together well and I think the opening of the film is going to be something that really sets you up well for the mood of the film. It's not an exploding house sequence or car chase, but it'll still pull you in. That's our hope at least.

Also if you haven't caught it yet, the radio broadcast that played on KKLA in LA last night is available on the podcast feed for Last Words Radio Click Here. Visit LastWordsRadio.com for other broadcasts and information about their radio ministry.

Click on Nov 1st. to download that days broadcast...we are mentioned about 6mins in. Special thanks to Greg for his thoughts about the film! We're glad your excited as much as we are!

Web, Video, & Publicity Updates!

The Standing Firm site has a new face today, and lots of new content added, changed, and updated. You'll notice a link to a new video. That being said, the Videos page is now active and will stay that way! :)

You'll find new videos posted there as time goes on. Be sure to check out the newest video added called Fun & Bloopers.

You'll notice at the bottom a section called Comments. Read what's there and leave us a note! :)

Also, on KKLA 99.5FM in Los Angeles Nov 1st @ 9PM PST tune in to hear STANDING FIRM as a topic of discussion. Visit KKLA.com to listen in live on the day!

Also the About page has been updated with the updated synopsis, and a few other things there like a list of who could relate to the film and why/how it might impact you or those you share it with!

For those of you who haven't checked in a while, the Gallery has some great screenshots from the film.

Something else that is new that you might not know about is the new Praise Pictures website. The site has been pretty empty for a while but now we have updated and filled it with usable resources. The most notable to be our reviews of past released and new Christian movies! Visit PraisePictures.com for details.

BIG NEWS: (as if all the rest wasn't enough) There will be in the near future an interview coming at ChristianCinema.com with Kyle Prohaska, Co-Producer/Writer & Director of STANDING FIRM. Dates are not yet known and we will let you know when things become available. ChristianCinema.com is one of the biggest Christian Movie News sites available, and many watch this site for news including interviews. This interview will be on their website with lots of other interviews of high profile people including Alex & Stephen Kendrick (Facing the Giants & Fireproof), Andrew Stanton (Director of Wall-E), Ben Burtt (Sound Design Legend), and many others. The fact that we have been given the opportunity to put our little project out there amongst names like this is truly a miracle of God!

Great Fellowship (W19:D1)

Today was a fun shooting day. The amount to shoot was minimal but it was great because it was our last of shooting in our main house location (in the day at least). The footage looks great, we keep getting better and better. It was nice because Kevin Michael (Co-Writ, Prod, Prod. Sound) was able to stay home today to assist, something that has changed since Sept. because of Kevin's job as a teacher. So we had 4 people on set today (including Robby as Dave), a number we haven't seen in a little while. We've been shooting a lot of days lately with 2 crew and 1 actor on set. Sounds impossible? Not for this tight group of Christian folk. :)

Also an interview was done with ChristianCinema.com today. The interview went extremely well and I look forward to seeing the finished article. We will be sure to let you know when its there. Best part about this is other news sites use their news and syndicate it, so this article and interview might be our best publicity for quite sometime. I'm extremely excited to see what God does, because I spilled my guts in the interview.

Only a little farther to move the ball, 4th Down, 10 yard line, our defense is strong and our offense is stronger...here we go.

The Cemetery (W18:D1)

Today we got back to work after a week or so hiatus. It was tough because the location was beautiful but choosing a spot within it to shoot that didn't give us lighting problems made things difficult. Eventually we got it but lost the sun quickly. One thing that is also stressful during every shooting day no matter how planned things are is being 100% sure you got what you need. Anyone can get a bunch of great shots but whether or not they cut together properly is a different story. A handful of great shots that don't edit together is useless. So it's always tough when I say those infamous words for the day "that's a wrap." I always feel like I'm spelling doom for myself and I'll find out when I get home and log the footage that there was one shot I needed I didn't get. Things seem to be ok though (after looking at the footage) so thats good. We'll find out soon enough.The first cut of the film is coming along very well, we are close. I can't wait to be done shooting, finishing a first cut, and watch it beginning to end and see what we really have. I think we have something special and I'm not even sure what it is yet. There is always hopes and dreams of what it could be but what it actually is.....we'll time will tell.

Thanks again to all who have been supporting us. We are almost there :)

Saving God - Review

Aside from the things going on with Standing Firm (yes we are still wrapping up shooting), we have a new review available on the Praise Pictures Website. Also the Praise Pictures site has changed a little bit, so be sure to look around a little while your there. The review is for the new film Saving God released only a few days ago by Cloud Ten Pictures. The film is outstanding and is the best Christian film I have ever seen. It's worth your rental, purchase, adding to your netflix queue or what have you....see the film. Read the review here.

We are still shooting, schedules and weather are making it difficult but we will pull through. The first cut of all the scenes previously shot is coming together nicely. I"m excited to see it all put together for the first time. As always, thanks for your prayers and support!