Click here for the new HERO website.

Some time in the future the blog and the official website will be combined.  In the meantime, come back to this blog or sign up for updates to receive more information on this God-honoring film.

Advent Film Group has big plans for future projects.  If you are an accredited investor, you can click here for more information.

Well, don’t panic.

ONE GOOD MAN is now called HERO!

Name changes are not uncommon in the movie business.  In fact, plans shift and adapt constantly to fit needs and resources.  Because of marketing conflicts, we decided that ONE GOOD MAN would not be the most suitable title for the project.  We wanted something that would capture the themes of the film—themes of commitment and sacrifice—but also reach out to a broad audience.

HERO is about the desperate need for men to return to God’s calling; that they be fathers to their sons.  This is a difficult calling, one that demands commitment, strength, and love—in a word, heroism.  It stems from a humble decision made by a father, but ultimately, it requires God’s strength.  And God is the true hero of this movie.

Praise God!

The Post Production team has finished a rough cut of the film ONE GOOD MAN!  That means that our project has gone from being an idea in the minds of the Producers and Writers, to a garbled collection of shots and sounds, and is now a coherent story.  It took a lot of hours and hard work but we have what you could call a movie.

Here’s a breakdown of the process:

1)      Ingest the assets into the editing system. This means logging the video and audio files, merging audio to video, and making proxy files for editing (converting RED files to QuickTime files)

2)      Organize the scenes and sequences into logical groupings and identify the best takes. This also includes making multiple identical hard drive backups

3)      Assemble the footage into a rough cut edit, which means making ‘light’ editorial decisions, which enables us to see the entire story as it was filmed (flaws and all), but not make final editorial decisions

People involved included: Brooke Martin, Buddy Martin, Manny Edwards, Stephen Pappas, Peter Forbes, James Suttles, Amy Jarvis, John Rust, and George Escobar. Work was done in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. We used Final Cut Pro for editing and Dropbox for file sharing across several editorial locations.

We know it sounds complicated.  That’s because it is, which is why this moment is such a blessing for us.  God has been good.

Here is a sample clip.  More are available from the Advent Film Group website.

“We are excited about Sherwood Pictures’ announcement for COURAGEOUS. It’s thrilling to see the last words of the Old Testament seemingly being underscored by God by His drawing such wonderfully accomplished filmmakers as the Kendrick brothers to magnify those words through their film coming after ours,” explained Mike Snyder, OGM producer.

We are truly seeing a revolution in film.  Just as we are hoping to see fathers rise up in leadership in their homes, we are seeing Christians rise up in leadership in cinema.  No longer is the church content to follow the trends dictated by Hollywood.  They are moving toward the forefront of the industry to redeem cinema for Christ.

Go here for a message from Sherwood Pictures regarding COURAGEOUS.

This part of the process that people usually associate with the industry actually takes place after lots of work has already been done in what is called Pre-Production.  Pre-Production is the preparation phase that includes script work, casting, set design, financial planning, locations scouting and many other things.

Then comes Production, including the cameras, actors, and the little stripy clapper board (which is actually called a slate and records the details of each shot).

Interns Brooke and Buddy Martin editing, while Director Manny Edwards works hard in the background

Eventually comes Post-Production, which is where One Good Man is right now.  This phase includes video and sound editing, color correction, and music selection/creation.  With hours and hours of raw digital footage—which is all out of order and in triplicate—our Post-Pro team now has the daunting task of pulling everything together during the editing process.  It is arguably during this time that the story actually gets told, or at least becomes something tangible.

As always, we could use your prayers.

Currently, projects at hand are making a rough cut of the film, making trailers, and selecting/creating music.  The rough cut is just what it sounds like: the editors go through all the material, pull scenes together, and cut out huge chunks of unusable or unnecessary footage.  It’s a big job.  In the same way, trailers are no trifling matter.  They may be only a few minutes or even a few seconds long, but they must show the same craftsmanship and artistry that the film demands.  Finally, music carries a huge weight in conveying the story.  Some of the music will be written by David Gilchrist and John Doryk and some will be chosen from preexisting music by popular musicians.

This is an important time in the creation of One Good Man.  Please pray for Brightline Pictures and Advent Film Group, that God may continue the great blessings he began pouring out during Production.  Pray for the projects going on right now.  Most importantly, give God thanks for all He has done thus far.

Brooke and Buddy reviewing OGM footage of a baseball player at bat

(Director Manny Edwards saying goodbye

to Electric PA Luke Becker)

(The catcher for the Gappers)

“That’s a wrap on Principal!” Assistant Director Spencer Jarvis said on October 6, 2009. Many subdued feelings floated on the air that day: feelings of relief, gladness, sadness, and hope. Everyone clapped and cheered but mostly just grinned, too overwhelmed by the moment to react.

(Interns Andrew Faudree and Brooke Martin)

For most of the day, shooting took place at Merriwood Christian Camp where the interns had been staying. Then, as the sun was drifting down in the sky, a few necessary crew members loaded into a bus and drove to the spot where the last shots would be captured. Those scenes involved a car speeding down the road: fitting images for the end of this phase of our project.

(Camera Operator Greg Kraus waits to shoot the last scene)

Now that it’s over and people pack up to hit the road, the footage we have captured is also on its way, full throttle toward completion. Although we have worked diligently and completed our task, all the acting, the lights, and the direction of the last few weeks have created a product that still means nothing. The clips are rough, disconnected, and unpolished—fresh-cut timber ready to be used. Now comes Post Production, when the editors get to work. They will take the materials we have prepared and mold, crop, and craft them into a story.

Meanwhile, the on-set crews will part ways and move on to other projects. The hardest partings will be among the interns who have bonded tightly as friends and companions in this endeavor. This was the first project for some of the young filmmakers. They have learned a great deal and do not wish to forget the blessings God has given them during filming of One Good Man. Even now, while people are picking up and trickling away to their separate lives, many are energetically whispering of films, ideas, and challenges to come.

(Andrew Faudree watches the final scene)