Today is the big day. We have held many small private screenings of ‘Reparando’ over the past several months, but this is the first event open to the public. I don’t really know what to expect for attendance, but I am personally thrilled to finally see the story unfold on the big screen. And – I won’t be alone. I know a few people who have already purchased tickets, including some great friends who are champions of the documentary. I heard that a local radio station promoted the event during rush-hour this morning. Someone even called in on the air to ask a question about it. So, who knows … but regardless of how many people are sitting in the seats, I am thankful to be able to finally share the story. We have chalked up thousands of hours over the last two and a half years putting his project together. It is such an honor to be here in Michigan at the Grand Rapids Film Festival to share a story that is so precious to my heart. I humbly walk into the event today with ‘Reparando’ in my arms open wide, grateful for the story and for all the people God has brought together to make this dream a reality.
Thursday, August 26 was a great day for ‘Reparando’. Our friends in Guatemala held a private screening for hundreds of Guatemalan leaders to cast the vision for our November Premiere in Guatemala City. I haven’t gotten a detailed report, but heard that it went very well. My favorite detail is that Maria the Doll Lady was in attendance – this makes me smile! I am looking forward to experiencing the story with them in November!
Here in the States, we were busy as well. In the morning I received notice that ‘Reparando’ was featured on PasteMagazine.com as one of 10 documentaries to see this fall.
For lunch, Paul took me to meet Cort Langeland of Compass Film Academy. We toured their facility and ate across the street at a great deli. Compass is doing some incredible things with future leaders in the film industry. I highly recommend their program to anyone who wants to get involved in Film.
Later in the evening we held a planning and brainstorming meeting for the October Premiere here in Michigan. I am thrilled with the ideas that are developing in this community! After the meeting, we drove over to the Founders for some more engaging discussion, music, and a sampling of their wares. We swapped stories and dreamed of future initiatives late into the night. Stay tuned for details on some very unique events in Michigan!
I love road trips, so the 10 hour drive to the Grand Rapids Film Festival wasn’t bad. I loaded up my iPhone with some of my favorite tunes, hit the road at 6AM, and rolled into Grand Rapids about 4:00.
Shortly after my arrival, I drove over to the Celebration Cinema to check in and pick up my filmmaker packet. This is where the story turns into a “little did he know”. My excitement quickly waned as the Festival representative shuffled through the filmmaker packets several times and came up empty handed. It was like being in a fast food drive-thru and being asked to “pull forward” while other people race by with burgers in hand. I’m not sure what the cause was, but for some reason my packet wasn’t there. The rep asked me to check back later. After a 10 hour drive, this was not exactly the experience I was hoping for. Just picture me standing there in a crowd of filmmakers receiving their packets …. “No .. but for real …. I am the producer and director … really … LOL …”
So, I found a quiet room and took a nap for about an hour. My packet never arrived. The festival rep reassured me the packet would be available tomorrow but that I could go in and enjoy the festival without the magic packet … So I did.
The Festival kicked off at 7PM with a pretty swanky welcoming reception in the lobby of the Celebration Cinema. I spent some time enjoying some food, and discussion with fellow filmmakers and wrapped the opening event with a premiere of a movie called ‘The Genesis Code’.
After the festival events I drove over to a “friend of a friend’s” where I am staying while I am in GR. We sat on the front porch talking late into the night about film, Guatemala and creative endeavors … great discussion and a wonderful end to a long day … I now consider Paul a friend without the middleman and am thankful for his family’s hospitality.
I really do love road trips. The great thing about a journey is not the destination, but the experience along the way. Upon further reflection, I have decided that this was an absolute perfect way to start my first film festival – not just the great discussion at the end of the day, but also the awkward and somewhat humiliating experience that happened earlier in the day with the “missing packet incident”. I’m not a glutton for punishment. I don’t enjoy being humiliated. But, this was a perfect reminder that this isn’t about me. It’s not about putting me in the spotlight. Its about something bigger than me, something I could never dream or do on my own … A road trip planned by someone with a much better map than me.
Four years ago today, I became a father. Little did I know how my story would become entwined with Guatemala. We started out capturing Guatemalan culture so our sons could appreciate their heritage, but we ended up connecting to our own.
Two and a half years ago, I met some young men in a Guatemalan prison. After listening to their stories, I realized that both my sons and I could be in that prison in different circumstances. I had to respond. That is how Athentikos was born.
We wanted to serve in global missions, while remaining authentic to who God made us to be. We are not carpenters or doctors – we are creatives. We didn’t go to construct or heal, we went to capture stories to share so that others might be inspired to respond.
Fast forward to May 2010 … we have been editing for over a year and are almost ready to lock our picture. I have learned so much about Guatemala and my family. When I look into the eyes of my sons, I am reminded of Shorty’s pain and struggle – how he lost his family to Guatemala’s Civil War. I am reminded of our own pain and struggle – how Amelia and I were not able to have children. But neither story ended there. Shorty has been healed and we have two precious sons. The pain of the past will always be in some corner of our minds, but we choose to embrace it as part of our journey.
I look forward to sharing the documentary with you all very soon … and I look forward to watching it with my sons as a reminder that God’s grace is overwhelming the odds to repair the broken.
We know that many people desire to make donations towards the end of the year. Would you consider giving to Athentikos? All donations are tax-deductible.
Update on the Film Project
“We are currently focused on editing the documentary. Like any project, we’ve hit a few obstacles. The sheer amount of footage to comb through is a hurdle in itself, especially when this is not our “day-job.” We are a small team doing the work of a large production crew. There are times when it all seems impossible, like this will never be finished. But, I rewind and watch the stories again… and I am reminded why we work late into the night. I am reminded why we want to share these stories with others. People like Shorty and Tita remind us who God is. Their stories are not merely inspirational, but transformational as well. God is transforming us through this, drawing us closer to Him.” – Scott Moore
Joel Van Dkye of Estrategia de Transformacion was in town during November. He joined us for our last promotional event, Vision To Respond at Rocket Town. We also hosted several meetings with him, which included a Mission Trip Roundtable Discussion and other logistics meetings.
We have had several promotional opportunities this fall to get the word out about our project. Scott Moore and Amy Stroup were on the Brian Mason Show. Amy Stroup was on Better Nashville.
In addition to editing, we are currently working on details for the Mission Liaison and Business Plans. These plans will be completed in January so that we can start recruiting leaders for 2010-2011 mission teams; and continue to raise funds through local businesses. We will be hosting a team leader informational meeting in January for those interested in possibility leading a mission team. (More information will follow.)
Thank you for your commitment, investment and interest in this project. Your support and prayers are much appreciated. If you would like to volunteer your time towards this project, we have several needs. Contact us at info@athentikos.com if you are interested in learning more:
Volunteer Needs
Are you one of those people who have a passion for working for non-profits, seeing a task from start to finish, coming up with new ideas to complete a project, not getting paid…. then we want you!!!! Seriously, we are looking for some people to join our team in the following areas. We can’t promise you riches, but we can promise you’ll enjoy working with great people who all have a passionate vision for serving! Here’s what we need:
Funding Coordinator
Grant Writer
Copy Writer (for newsletters, website, etc)
If you fit the bill, please, email, call, open a window and shout it out (if you live in Spring Hill, TN, we may actually hear you!) that you’d like to team up with us! Thanks!
We are still in need of financial support to complete our mission. You can partner with us by providing a tax-deductable donation online through paypal:
Or you can write a check out to Hupomeno (our 501c3 Partner) and send it to:
Athentikos
p.o. box 1957
Spring Hill, TN 37174-1957
SPREAD THE WORD
Please help us by telling your family and friends about what we are doing. If you have a blog or a website, you can add an Athentikos banner with the following code:
For you iPhone users, here’s a chance to have a preview video on your device if you subscribe to our podcasts on iTunes. If you don’t yet, go to your iTunes store, click on Podcasts and just search for “Athentikos”. Once we come up in the search results, click on the Athentikos name and find the “subscribe” button. BAM! You’re in!
This episode shows J. Mac and Bobby leaving Guatemala to come back to the States while Bengy, Cesar and Scott have a day off in Antigua before going back to Guatemala City to wrap up filming at Casa Barnabe.
This episode shows the crew visiting Ciudad Vieja as they capture the story of the Ortiz family and the Kyros School. They hit up a local bakery where Estuardo works and go back to his home to capture scenery and interviews. The team also grabs some scenery of both Vieja and Antigua with the Agua volcano in the background before returning back to Antigua for the day.
