The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry was a film I had been waiting for all week at the 2009 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival. I had the pleasure of being on set for a day through a friend of mine Sam Torcasio, a good friend of Writer/Director Rich Christiano. We even were able to act as extras in one of the diner scenes, my first time on celluloid!
The seats were very full in the big theater, lots of families especially with their kids showed up for this screening. I liked Rich’s work in the past but this film is undoubtably his greatest effort. A story of an older man mentoring 3 boys in his community, and therefore impacting many others as a result. It was a great film for younger children, and for older people alike. For those of us in-between the young and old stage, its a great lesson regardless because the lesson of the older man is something we can strive to achieve. The dynamic of mentoring others isn’t locked into the father and son relationship, grandfather to grandchildren, etc. It’s something we should always be doing, even those our own age. But the film was an excellent example of being faithful with the wisdom God has given you by sharing it with other people, and what the result is. I loved the film, I had a smile on the entire time.
The acting was solid and the young boys showed great potential for the future. Gavin McLeod playing Jonathan Sperry in the film did a wonderful job (as usual), and the locations chosen for the 1970s setting fit perfectly. Shooting on 16mm film in this case also benefitted the style, mood, and overall look of the film. The film was also shot by Phillip Hurn who is a regular DP on Rich’s films. His style is very specific and fits the movie like a glove. I’m happy to report the music in the film was excellent, and even won a Jubilee Award at the film festival for Best Original Score. Congratulations to Rich and Jasper Randall on a job well done!
There were many jokes in the film, and the laughs were consistent throughout the film. This movie is something you can buy for your kids without any worry, something that is lacking. I commend Rich Christiano for creating yet another film that refuses to hide the gospel, and for creating films that can touch children and adults alike. A round of applause is much deserved.
Sperry will be released in theaters in 2009. Visit SperryMovie.com for details. You can also visit ChristianMovies.com to find other titles by Rich Christiano.
