Life of Kyle Prohaska

Standing Firm at Lifeway in Cary, NC

September is going to be a very busy month for me.  September 7th is when Vintage begins, which is a local college ministry I’ll be serving in.  Those will be every tuesday, and it’ll be my first opportunity to lead an e-group which is basically a small group for guys/girls.  I’ve never done anything like that, so it’s going to be new ground for me and I’ll have much to learn.  Also I move in a month, so anything I need to get done to be ready to move will need to be done, and I have to go figure out what furniture I’m going to get very soon.  Although I have already picked them out pretty much I need to buy in advance to make sure they can be delivered properly.  I can’t buy much at first, but I can get something.  I’ll be traveling to Ohio for a screening of STANDING FIRM at the end of the month, then rushing home for another locally.  On top of that is any new work that comes along, and the day to day stuff I normally do.  Doesn’t sound like much to some I’m sure but for me it’s a lot.  August was busy too, but September will be busy in it’s own way.

I’ll be ending out August and starting September by creating and finished a new site for a Christian film in about 3 days.  It’s going to be a very quick job, and I’ll be working extremely hard a few days straight to get it completed.  I’ll share more about it when it launches in the beginning of September.  Tomorrow I’ll need to go in the morning to get new tires put on my car (joy…that hurts the checkbook), then off to Darien Lake for the rest of the day but I won’t be staying too late.  Darien Lake is a theme park in case you didn’t know  I promised I would go spend some time with my cousins there that I haven’t done anything with in ages.  It’s a bad day for it with my car needing what it does, and that website job needing to be started.  I’ll be working on it into the night if I hope to meet my friday deadline.

Sales for STANDING FIRM remain solid, and continue to go up from what I can see.  I’m actually floored by the response.  We’re #52 at ChristianBook.com under DVD - Movies which is up from #60 two days ago.  Amazon.com just ordered some more, and I know that ChristianCinema.com only has 8 left already.  They just switched from Backordered to 8 left sometime today, which means they had so many on Backorder that whatever stock they just got in was almost eaten up completely by previous orders, so they’re out again almost.  I can’t believe it’s been #1 on that site for a straight week now, that’s insanity.  I’ve never seen a film like this (budget, first film, etc.) do that.  God is amazing…He really is.  Whatever projections or guesses I made for sales, I was WAY off.  That’s always a good problem to have.  Finally if you search for the film on Amazon.com we’re at the top of the search pool.  This was good to see since we were buried by some old work-out videos for a while there, and it probably hurt us a little.  Some people likely searched for it and didn’t see it right away and therefore went somewhere else.  You’ll notice that photo up top.  That was sent to me by a friend on Facebook who snapped it at his local Lifeway store in Cary, NC.  I couldn’t believe that they had put it on two racks, that’s unexpected.  They also put it next to what is most likely selling the best there (To Save A Life) so that’s great placement!  Supposedly they just put it out, so that means there’s a lot of stores out there that aren’t carrying it yet, but will likely do so soon.  I know some were disappointed they went in and they didn’t have or they had to order it, but that’s the nature of things when you’re a small movie like this.  I made the thing in my bedroom for pete’s sake, it’s no FIREPROOF lol.  We’re beyond Blessed that the stores even have the ability to carry it and have it in their system to order let alone put it on a shelf.  The DVD will slowly roll out, I have no doubts of that, and more and more people will catch wind of this little film from NY.

I’ve continued the online social-marketing for the film as strong as ever.  This isn’t something you stop doing, and I’ll continue to do so until I don’t have time anymore.  The film just passed 13,000 Followers on Twitter and is building towards 14,000 already.  If I have anything to say about it we’ll hit 50,000 by the end of the year.  Ambitious?  Maybe…but I’m an ambitious guy  The fan page on Facebook just broke the 16,000 mark too, so that’s exciting.  By the way, if anyone has a film they want some social media marketing for (or a business or whatever…even their personal Twitter) I have proposals and quotes available for such a thing.  I’ve grown the Glowing Nose Twitter account from 25 Followers to 3100 in just 10 days or so.  The Ace Wonder Twitter account has doubled in less than a week, and on and on it goes.  You won’t find numbers like that for anything in the Christian market (Movie wise), not even really big movies.  Someone will take notice sooner or later, that’s the goal.  Hopefully this can farther become a source of income for me as time goes on.  I would love to continue doing websites, graphics, and social marketing for this market (Christian), because the more I learn from doing it for others and becoming successful, the greater effectiveness I’ll have when another film of mine comes around!  If you know any filmmakers that might like my services, even if it’s just a website, or DVD menus or anything…let me know!

It’s crazy knowing what could come about this year from the film, especially the testimonies.  I think my life is about to change.  Actually it already has.  Changed how?  I’m not so sure, but 2011 is going to be a very…very interesting year.  Eph 3:20-21 …amen.

Tonight was the screening at Niagara Frontier Bible Church (my old home church, the one I grew up in).  I had a headache all day and wasn’t really looking forward to later if the headache continued.  It drifted in and out, but stuck with me all day.  I think today is the day this week finally caught up with me and hit me hard.  Every morning I’ve gotten just under the amount of sleep I needed so I’ve gotten progressively worse every day that continues.  Tonight will be the night to sleep until I feel like getting out of bed, because my body doesn’t need it anywhere near as much as my mind does.  After dinner I quickly got dressed and headed to the church early to make sure things were setup right and pray with some folks.  Rob, Kevin, my mom, Shawn and a few others were there.  We prayed for the night and weeped quite a bit.  Rob was giving the Gospel after the film and we prayed over him as well, that he would speak the words the Lord would have for him.

After we were done praying the hallway was already full of some people waiting to get in.  I paced around a lot, not sure how to feel.  I wasn’t really nervous I just wanted to get it started.  The only thing I was nervous about was going up before the film and publicly thanking certain people for working on the film.  Before you knew it, the place was pretty full, maybe 200-250 there or so.  That’s a lot for our little church!  Kevin got up there and welcomed everyone, and then I went up and thanked everyone for coming and pointed out Rob, Shawn, and a few others.  I felt terrible though because I was forgetting people and slowly got around to thanking them, but then at the end I forgot Kevin.  If you’re reading this Kevin sorry!!  My head was going crazy and I had my unsaved family up front staring right at me the whole time, I was freaking out a little.  I had a lot of other things I had planned to say but just wimped out and started the film, LOL.

I’m surprised I sat through the whole thing.  I had expected myself to get up and leave a time or two during a lot of the parts in the film I can’t stand, but I stuck around.  I can’t believe how well the film played there.  I had yet to see it with an audience before, and it was a home run I think.  Like three minutes into the film I heard the sniffles starting all around the room.  Grown men were crying, even the guy friends of mine who’re my age.  It seemed like everyone was crying at some point during the film.  When funny scenes came along the laughs were very loud, much better than I expected.  As I watched the film I studied every single frame wincing at every mistake, every line I wasn’t happy with, every shot that was poorly filmed or blown out.  Some of the color-correction could’ve been done better, and some of the sound-mix I found some things I didn’t catch, and some music things I wish I knew about.  There was a ton going through my mind.  I hadn’t seen my film in a month and a half, so it was interesting getting a pretty fresh viewing of it.  I’m shocked that it even works, I really am.  That film is a miracle for more reasons than one.  I really think that calling this film my “Flywheel” wouldn’t be an understatement at all.  So much that shouldn’t work…works.  The budget definitely shows it’s ugly head at times, but even regarding that the film looks more expensive than it is so I praise God for that.  Overall I was absolutely thrilled with how the film was being received, and when the credits began to roll I felt like my heart was going to explode because I was waiting for the moment when people would start clapping.  When they started, they didn’t stop for quite a while, lol.  It was awesome!

Afterwards there were a ton of handshakes and hugs, everyone seemed very pleased and blown away by the film.  I’m so incredibly thankful for all that everyone did to help bring the film together, it was a team effort.  The fact that the film played that well there makes the results I read about the Costa Mesa screening even easier to believe.  That’s an encouraging thought.  The more positive reviews and comments come in, the less worried I am about the film being enjoyed.  I think I would be comfortable showing the film to almost anyone now, and not worry too much about their response.

Some people went forward after Rob spoke, although I didn’t get to confirm if there were any souls saved that night, just a few folks that I knew of that had some junk to work through.  Either way I found out that my grandparents were moved and cried which threw me for a loop.  To hear that was very surprising and I’m thrilled to see what kind of doors this could open to witness to them.

Tonight was a great time of closure for this project, especially concerning my church family and those involved.  Since I’ve moved on from NFBC and God is moving me to new things and has moved me to a new home church, it was a great way to end out my history with NFBC and begin anew.  God is good, and he showed up in a big way tonight.  He gets the Glory!  Thank you Jesus.

I’m not sure if I’m ready for this.  I went on a men’s retreat for my new home church The Chapel this past weekend.  It was a great time!  Played some sports, heard some speakers, and soaked in the beautiful scenery out in the woods of NYS.  All of it was going great, except I couldn’t help but check my phone a lot.  Friday night there was a screening of Standing Firm at the Calvary Church of Costa Mesa in California.  I had a friend go and report to me how it went, what the response was, etc.  I’ve never personally seen my own film with a large group of people, so naturally I was nervous even though the screening was 3hrs behind me and 3000 miles away.  I didn’t hear anything the whole night until I went to bed.  My phone vibrated and I checked the text.  There wasn’t much in it since texting is hard sending large amounts of information.  But what it did say is that “three people came to Christ.”  At that moment my head hit the pillow.  That one text made the last three and a half years worth it.  Every hour spent up late had been worth it.  Every single difficulty and tear shed in creating the film had now been shed with purpose.  I don’t mean to say that creating the film because God told me to wasn’t enough, but to see an eternal result and know that it had impacted someone FOREVER was a sobering and humbling thought.  I was very quiet Saturday, because I just needed to soak in it for a while and praise the Lord in my head/heart.

Here’s what another had to say who was at the screening:

“It was a great film! Great story, acting, direction, editing, etc. and my church absolutely LOVED it! Best of all, I could hear people afterwards praying along with our pastor to receive Christ. A couple a few feet away turned to me and said, “We need more movies like that!”  Teens actuallly started CHEERING excitedly at the end of the film last nite b/c of the power of its message! That’s rare in So California. Keep up the great work, Kyle!”

I can’t really articulate what this week has been like for me.  The film has been selling very well from what I can tell, with every online retailer undershooting how much of STANDING FIRM to have on stock.  Everyone sold out, it was insane.  The film continues to stay at #1 on ChristianCinema.com.  There are few films I’ve seen do that for that long, and they were big movies.  Since the stock was out everywhere else I sent everyone to ChristianMovies.com since they are the only ones who had it, and it shot to #1 there in just 24 hours.  All my Twitter accounts have exploded in the last week as well.  The movies Twitter has grown past 12,000 Followers, and my personal nearing 8000.  The other accounts I have for other things have gone up an insane amount as well, in the hundreds and hundreds a day across the board.  I’m so incredibly Blessed right now, there isn’t really any other way to put it.  God is pouring out something special here, and I’m so undeserving of it.  I’m so unholy, and so wicked.  Why me Lord?  Why do I get to enjoy this?  Even if I was faithful with everything 100% of the time in creating the film (which I wasn’t), I STILL don’t deserve what I’ve been given or might be given in the future.  This whole “deserve” and “self-respect” business is over with for me.  Apart from Christ I can do NOTHING.  I have nowhere to point but above for the results taking place right now, it’s all Him…it always was.

Tomorrow the film is being screened at my old home church of Niagara Frontier Bible Church where I grew up my entire life.  That’s the church that provided almost every actor and crew member we had, and they’ve waited patiently to see the film.  The buzz is very high and everyone is excited.  I’ll have unsaved family there, and others are likely to have the same.  I hope I don’t vomit beforehand, because I might want to.  You can bet on me being in the back biting my nails the entire time, because I’m going to be a basket case the entire time.  I have a confidence folks will enjoy it, I’m just not sure I’m emotionally prepared for it all.  I hope someone gets saved tomorrow, I would melt.  On a worldly note…as an artist I always wanted to hear if only once in my life the claps of a crowd for something I slaved over.  It’s something I’ve dreamed about as a kid, and while I didn’t make this film for that reason, I have a feeling everyone will go bonkers after the credits roll tomorrow.  I’m not sure I’m ready for that.  Three and a half years wasn’t enough.  There’s a big question mark in my life right now because I’ve basically completed my life’s dream except for getting married and having children.  Where do I go now?  I know I need to go forward, but it’s still an incredible thought to know that at 22 this is happening.  Again, why me?  God doesn’t have to Bless, but HE DOES.  What a God we serve!

Don’t you dare ever think that because you’re young that you can’t make a difference for the Kingdom.  Don’t think because you’re older that you can’t make a difference in the name of Christ.  Don’t listen to it, it’s all rubbish!  Today is the day to begin a good work in His name!  Are you going to wait until you’re out of high school before you make a difference for Christ?  College?  When your kids are out of College and out of the house?  Today I’m 22, tomorrow I will be 44, the next day I’m 90.  Life is fleeting!  Blink and it’s gone!  I don’t mean you gotta go out and make a film to impact folks either.  Impact them with YOU.  Don’t be the “tomorrow” guy.  What assurance do you have that tomorrow will ever arrive or you with it?

Please pray for tomorrow.  I have unsaved family coming, and I’m terribly nervous, excited, scared, queazy, and everything in-between.

Christ is King, it’s his film, and it’s for His Glory.  May He make much of it tomorrow, and the next day and the next day.  I look forward to the future, without a clue what I’m doing or where I’m going, but I suppose that’s why it’s called faith?

Blessings - Kyle Prohaska

I’m a filmmaker now?  Really?  Weird…it’s just weird.  Today is one day after one of the most significant days in my young life, probably my entire life.  Graduation from high school was cool but excitement lasted about 5 seconds, until I realized that I was going back to school that fall for college.  I dropped out, and after a ton of different events God dropped the passion for STANDING FIRM in my lap.  I had given up on filmmaking, at least for many years, because it seemed “impossible.”  Luckily, my Lord doesn’t work within the bounds of “possibility” but “impossibility.”  I always wondered what it would be like to wake up in the morning and know that in lots of different locations around the US, something I worked on and toiled over was sitting on a shelf ready to be bought and enjoyed by someone.  To be honest I didn’t know how to feel.  I was exhausted having been up late many days in a row and the day was very boring.

It felt like any other day.  When you spend over three years on something, release day just feels like another day on the grind getting it sold, marketing it, answering emails and voicemails, etc.  I think it’s slowly sinking in now, in the last hour.  I realized having gotten a few reports from friends that STANDING FIRM was sold out everywhere except for ChristianMovies.com and ebay.    How is that possible?  God is good!

I’ll be frantically trying to make sure that things are set for the weekend before I leave Friday/Saturday for a mens retreat.  I’m excited to get to know some of the men at the new church I started attending a number of months ago.  The Chapel at Crosspoint will be my new spiritual home until God moves me again.  My new home on Oct 5 will be only minutes from there, and I’ll also be serving there in their young adult ministry called Vintage as an e-group leader starting in September.  A whole new season of life is coming, with an even bigger announcement coming sometime later.  What a crazy year this has been huh?  I started off 2010 taking the plunge and beginning to work for myself doing websites, online marketing, etc. and now the film is out and stretching it’s legs, I’m moving soon, I started a wonderful relationship with Denise, ugh so much stuff!

I’ve also had all sorts of things rolling through my head in the past number of weeks about this industry, where I see it going, where I feel called to move within it and how, and how to proceed.  It’s an exciting time for me, and I can’t point anywhere but Christ for the why, what, or who.  It’s all God.  It’s ALL God.

God is teaching me more and more how unworthy I am of being a tool for His Purpose.  On top of that, my ability to even be a tool is a given Blessing, it’s not of me.  It astounds me every time I see a Christian speaking about their “part” of their salvation, or how they had a “hand” in it.  We’re seriously kidding ourselves if we think that as dead people (spiritually) that we could make ourselves alive.  Did Lazarus bring himself out of the ground?  Yes, I’m talking about Calvinism folks.  Some of you might not agree, and the more I look out into my sphere in influence the less support I see for it.  Just sharing what I see and what God’s been teaching me the past few years.

On Sunday we’re having the screening at NFBC (my home church for 21 years) where many unsaved folks will be there (from my family and others).  It will be the first time I’ve watched the film with an audience, and also the first time I get to publicly thank everyone for their support of the film.  Rob (the lead in the film) will be giving the Gospel.  I wish I had started this earlier but everyone please, pray for that night.  I could care less for handshakes and pats of recognition, they’re over in moments…as soon as the warm is gone from my hands or the sting from my back.  I’m looking for some eternal results here.  The night will be heavy and sorrowful  if everyone is all smiles and claps, but walks out having suppressed the truth of God’s Word.  I pray God moves on the hearts of folks there, and I hope you do as well.  Salvation is a work of God and God alone, and I hope by His Grace and Mercy that a harvest is reaped.  We shall see…

Only what’s done for Christ will stand.  What good is your film to the Father if those who watch it enjoy it then walk out having not heard about his son?  You think God is going to even mention that kind of film to you on the day of judgement when He asks what you did with what He gave you?  I’m almost certain that if it’s mentioned it will be with wrath and disappointment.  How is it a filmmaker can call himself a Christian, and have all the money needed to present the Gospel in a narrative, easily understood and without cheese, yet neglect to do it in the name of “marketability” or “stepping on toes?”  Does anybody have a problem with that?  Disagree if you wish, but these are the kinds of things that keep me up at night.  God is wrecking me week after week about these kinds of things, and where Art comes into play in the lives of the believer and what my responsibilities are in being given the ability to create.  Again, disagree if you must, but I just can’t deny these kinds of things anymore.  It’s actually quite funny because while talking to my mom the other day I told her I realized how much more conservative, fundamental, and passionate I’ve become in the last few months.  I don’t really know what to say.  God has lit a fire under my rear end I guess.  Just sharing a bit of my heart, hopefully that’s ok with you folks

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Only two days before my first feature hits shelves, wow.  This upcoming week is going to be pretty busy, not even with a ton of events, just mentally busy.  I have 4 radio interviews to do, packages to ship out, some online interviews to approve, and I’m ending out the week on Friday/Saturday at a men’s retreat for men at my church where I’ll not only get to bond with a bunch of folks I don’t know (not my strong point), but also plug the film there for those attending (reason for that coming after a while).  So yea it’s going to be pretty interesting to see how I handle the week.  Also not today but next sunday we’ll be showing the film at my old home church.  Lots of folks there are waiting to see it, and it’s going to be a pretty difficult night for me.  I’ve been stewing over what I should say while I’m there.  I know what I should say really, but it’s how to say it and being able to keep my composure.  It’s a bigger night for me than it is for some others.  I can’t wait to thank everyone publicly for their help, prayers, etc.  Also I’ll be biting my nails as that screening will be more personal and critical than the others since people who are there were in it.  My unsaved family will be there as well (the local ones) which makes me doubly nervous to show the film let alone get up there and say something about it before and possibly after showing it.  Rob (lead role of Dave Corwin) will be sharing the Gospel as well after the film.  Please, PLEASE be in prayer about the impact this film could have and that God would move mightily in Rob that night.

Also pray for just the ability to get through this week with my mind intact.  There is much to keep going at one time, and sometimes I get behind.  I’m looking forward to my online interview at ChristianCinema.com being released soon, that’s been a long time coming.  Also the film hit #2 at the site today, right behind Letters To God.  I find that to be pretty incredible!  God is good.  There is this other interview for a small blog I did just a day ago.  It was only 5 questions, but I absolutely poured my heart and soul into this thing.  I’m looking forward to sharing that.  While it’s bound to shock a few, I think it’s a good outlet for me to express what I really think of this Christian filmmaking industry, where I see it going, and what I think about that.  I think it could be one of the best “articles” I guess you could say that I’ve ever written, and it’s a compilation of what I think about what I’ve seen these past few years having gotten involved with this industry, met many in it, read what they have to say and spoken to some on the phone, read forum posts by those who are either in this industry or plan to enter it, and much more.  There is much to say and I didn’t really spare anything.  It might shock a few, and possibly even cause some division for those who support me.  Do I have your attention now lol?  We’ll see what happens.

As this month comes to a close I’m also only weeks away from moving into a new place.  You know what’s funny?  The thing that’ll probably be the most difficult in this process is changing ALL my address stuff to my new address.  I have the PoBox for Praise Pictures everywhere, and I’m likely going to feel the repercussions of that for a long time.  When I move I’ll need to go setup a PoBox for me personally, and for the business and keep them separate.  Luckily the Post Office is around the corner from where I’ll be living, so that’s good!  Lots of change coming as you can see, and I look forward to it.

Some have already begun reviewing the film on various websites because sites have started shipping the film already.  If you’ve seen the film, I would appreciate you reviewing it.  ChristianCinema.com requires you have an account to review it, but ChristianBook.com, and Parable.com don’t.  I’ve gotten the film onto Amazon.com finally, and no reviews are present yet.  No Spoilers please! I hope you’ll take a few moments out of your day to submit your reviews to those locations.

Counting down the hours…g’night!

Today was another exciting day with it’s own unique blessings.  Just one week from now STANDING FIRM hits shelves in Christian bookstores everywhere.  Thanks for a special friend (Thanks Randall!) at The American Family Association, I have 3 interviews on the radio next week on American Family Radio (AFR), with a fourth that’ll air a little later after the release date.  This is very cool news and I’m really happy to have some stuff lined up like that.  Also did my interview over the phone for ChristianCinema.com.  It’ll be transcribed and posted sometime next week.  It’s funny because I remember a few years ago getting ready to do the interview with them but telling Angela to scrap it since I knew that it was too soon and the film was far from completion.  So now after all this time we finally got it done!

The new site for Bringing Up Bobby went live today as well.  This is a comedy made by two good friends Chris & Nick Staron from Ohio.  Chris especially has been a great blessing in the past few years, being a great encouragement at times and lending some healthy real world advice when it was needed.  Their film was picked up by Provident Films recently with an impending Oct. 5th release date.  I was hoping for a long time that their film would be recognized by someone larger and here they are with the film releasing everywhere in just a few short months.  God is good.  The new website is fantastic by the way, I’m very excited to see how this film does for them.  They have a lot of passion and talent but had never really gotten enough steam pumping to keep making films.  It’s tough to do well in this business and continue making projects, so I hope this gives them the boost they need to really soar!  Congrats guys!

I saw two posts on Facebook recently about STANDING FIRM.  The cool thing about them is they’re both from different countries.  One guy is in Zambia and the other in Brazil.  They’re both looking for the film.  I’m looking forward to all that God could bring with international distribution, it’s going to be great to watch Him work.  Twitter & Facebook are doing pretty well for the film, with the impending release date.  STANDING FIRM is nearing the 16,000 fans on Facebook, which is pretty awesome considering the films buzz and size.  The film on Twitter is probably a few weeks away from 10,000 followers, and that blows my mind.  Even my personal Twitter sits with almost 6,000 followers.  This social media marketing is really working.  It makes me wonder what could be done on another film, with such a great base started, and with the knowledge I have now to start from scratch that I didn’t have when this film began.  Who knows what could be built!  I’m looking forward to finding out.

2011 is likely to be a really exciting but scary year.  I won’t have a project coming out, but one that’s already out.  I’ll be relying on whatever work comes in because of it, or whatever work I currently have that could continue.  If I’m going to do another film, 2011 will be the year to start writing and developing.  I really want my next script to be strong and leaps and bounds beyond STANDING FIRM as a narrative.  It’ll take a lot of work to get it there, but I’m really excited to start.  I’ve had “the itch” for a while now.  Today I think I felt it more than any other previously, just how real this is.  I don’t think it’s hit me, that I have my first film hitting shelves in a week.  I know it intellectually and I’ve even been in tears over it already, but somehow it still isn’t real.  Maybe it won’t be real until I wake up that morning.  Although, that morning won’t be unlike any other morning, not really.  I’ll still be in my PJ’s, still drinking my morning meal-shake, still checking my emails and rubbing the crust out of my eyes (enough humanity in there for you?  Too much lol?).  It’s funny how you wait your entire life for a certain moment, and then it hits and you’re just like “oh, so that’s it huh?”  I’m not there yet, but I can feel it coming.  Maybe I’m wrong about all this and it’ll hit me like lightning?  Maybe that day will be unlike any other I’ve had before?  Who can know such things?

All I know is that I’m excited and terrified at the same time.  I can’t wait to see what the future could bring because of the release, and I’m so incredibly stoked to see how God moves in people’s lives when they see it.  It’s a humbling thing to know that it’s out of my hands at this point, pretty much.  Nothing more to do besides promote it as best I can, and watch God work.  This film could swing two ways here.  Either it’s going to have a good amount of impact, sell a certain amount, then slow down and sell a thousand or two a year from now on (if that).  Or, it could become something truly special and something unique.  I have a feeling it could be the latter, but it’ll be a slow burn.  The film will slowly creep into more and more awareness from word of mouth.  I’m ok with that!  I don’t know why I think that, but I’ve just felt “weird” lately, like even I’m not prepared for what could be.  God has the wheel, so regardless there’s comfort.  Am I wearing my seatbelt? *click* …yep, now I am.

Catch you next time.

Also, some food for thought about what I was trying to say towards the end of my last post.  Give God Glory in all things, and run fast…and run hard…because it’s actually wrong not to.

Only 8 days until STANDING FIRM hits shelves in Christian Bookstores everywhere.  I gotta tell you, that makes me a bit numb.  Today was the day I started shipping the Church Screening Packages to those who had signed up.  I had 6 so far, with MANY pending…just waiting on the order to come in.  I went to the post-office and got them sent and ran an errand or two.  It comes to my attention that one of my Facebook friends goes to one of the churches showing it, and he had mentioned that it was a 10,000 member church.  I nearly fell off my chair, lol.  So I did a little digging and it turns out one of the packages I sent today went to the Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa.  That’s Chuck Smith’s church.  I had no idea!  LOL.  I was so stoked to find that out.  I also found out that one of the other churches showing it has a couple attending there that had come to NFBC in the past, imagine that?  They were the ones who told the leadership about the film.  It’s funny how things come full circle  The film is still on ChristianCinema’s Top 10, at #6 today.  It fought back and forth with the Love Comes Softly Boxed Set all day, I kept an eye on it.

I still have to finish the Bible Study Guide for the film, that’s something I need to buckle down on and stop messing around.  What’s there I’m really happy with, but it’s just not completed.  I got a breakthrough in UK distribution today, looks like if all goes well the film will release in the entire UK Christian Market, not sure when yet.  It’ll take time to get the contracts all set and things hashed out.  I’m contacting other markets as well like the Latin American Market, Asian, etc.  God is taking this little movie to the masses, we’ll see how well it does out there.  It’s definitely scary to think that so many will be seeing the film.  I’ve yet to watch it in a room with a big group of people, which makes the screening coming up on the 29th at NFBC pretty nerve-wracking.  I think it’ll go well though, and I look forward to peoples reactions.  I don’t think I’ll end up sitting in the front to watch but instead I’ll hover in the back watching everyone.  I want to see people reacting, not watching the film up front with them.

I have two phone calls to make tomorrow.  One of them is an interview about the film which will be transcribed and posted online, and the other talking with a lady from a company that distributes films on sites like Hulu, Fancast, etc.  I’m determined to get this film into ever nook and cranny it can possibly fit into, bar none.  Online streaming, iTunes is still a work in-progress, Netflix (including the streaming), etc. etc.  Why not?  Why not email a distributor in Asia and say hello?  I was talking to a friend today who was encouraging me and I told him how funny it was that the film was birthed, written, created (post), and completed all in this bedroom.  Now look where God is taking it!  That just shows his faithfulness when his people say yes.  Don’t ever think what God has called you to is impossible.  Also, NEVER feel like you can’t do something great because of your age.  This culture, it’s system, our schools, etc. have all segregated age and shoved everyone into these little boxes of identity with the feeling you can’t break outside their bounds.  Go against the flow and do something awesome at your young age.  Now is the time to start, never tomorrow.  If you ever think tomorrow will be the day, you’ll wake up one morning realizing that “tomorrow” became the next day, then the next, then the next, and you never started.  What a tragedy that would be, especially if it’s something you feel God might be calling you to do.

Glorify him in all things, because that is our purpose here.  If it’s not for His Glory, it ought not be done.  All goals, decisions, actions, etc. stem from this.  God’s Will is perfect and complete, but He offers the opportunity to take part in it.  Run fast and run hard.

Also here’s two great testimonies I recieved through the Praise Pictures Youtube Channel:

“It’s been a difficult time for months now, and in particular we had a house fire this past week. Thanks for thinking of us and inviting me as a friend. I’m sure God is using even just that simple thing to indicate somehow that He cares. Thanks.”

“Thank you for finding me!  I watched the video clip and cried. It touched my heart with the memories of my young daughter passing away in a car accident, then my husbands mother the same day. (three yrs. ago) Through the trauma of that day, God worked it for good and brought my husband to know Him and be saved that following Sunday! Thank you Jesus! (Just like in your movie) my husband has become the man he was created to be, a great husband and father to our son. One who loves the Lord with all his heart, soul and mind. I look forward to purchasing your movie. It will be a great tool (and blessing) to loan out to friends and non-believers alike. Thank you!”

God is good, ALWAYS.  8 more days…8 more days.

This is what MY GOD can do!

So it’s 11:38pm and I’m sitting here writing.  I just checked ChristianCinema.com again.  One of the biggest Christian movie/video sites on the internet.  Look what I saw (to the right).  There you’ll find Letters to God and To Save A Life, two of the biggest Christian movies that will come out this year, both released a matter of days ago.  Both cost millions to make and market, with huge distribution companies behind them and loads of support from all over.  Then you have The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry.  That’s Rich Christiano’s new film, another huge seller this year and probably one of the biggest Christian movies of the year as well.  Then sitting at #5 you have a film called STANDING FIRM, a film that was made in the bedroom of a nieve and inexperienced (now) 22 year old kid who felt a calling (an 18 year old at the start), cast/crew’d by a slew of passion filled volunteers, and a wealth of support on all levels by folks in the community and all over the internet.  The film isn’t even out yet, it has 10 days to go.  THAT’S MY GOD!  It just gets me all pumped up, seeing what God had done and could be ramping up to do.  Ugh my blood gets flowing hard, let me tell you what!

I realize that ChristianCinema.com isn’t the standard for how the film is selling around the US right now, but it sure tells me something.  Perhaps I’m just blowing this out of proportion and if so I don’t even care.  God is good, and is faithful and dragged this film kicking and screaming to the finish line.  Not a single attack from the enemy has stopped it.  No wickedness from anyone involved (including me) or uninvolved caused it to fail.  It IS DONE, and IT IS RELEASING. What a feeling, amen.  I feel like 2 Timothy 4ing this post (if I can say it that way) but I’ll refrain ha ha

The church screening kits start shipping monday morning, and that’s an awesome feeling.  I can’t wait to get testimonies from Pastor’s around the US (and some foreign) on how the screenings went in their congregations and what souls were saved through the film.  It’s going to be a humbling and emotionally gratifying to see.  That’s really what I’ve been waiting for.  Yes I talk about the business side here a lot and worries on that end and so many other things but the main goal here, the goal that started this project was getting the truth of God’s Word to those that need to hear it.  Man I can’t wait for some of those initial life changing stories.  The reviews thus far have been amazing to read, and I’m so thankful the film is being enjoyed by people.

All of this is only the beginning, and that’s an incredibly sobering thought.  This film might have been made in NY and made via the help of volunteers from NY, but God has taken it and will continue to take it far and beyond NY and into the homes and lives of countless people around the nation and the globe.  HE IS GOOD!

And any recognition or hand shakes that might come my way I’ll happily except, but only with the understanding that any ability I have, any skills I may possess, and any “determination” that it took to bring this film to the finish line and beyond was only because God supplied it, and injected it into this otherwise lifeless and wretched body.  Praise Him!

Kyle Prohaska,
Writer/Director/Producer of Standing Firm…and a wretched sinner whom God chose in eternity past for a time such as this to be used for HIS GLORY.  I am unworthy of such things.

Do I really know what’s coming my way?  Nah.  Does it scare me a little?  Sure.  Am I excited though?  You bet!  I’m really not prepared I think for what the rest of this year could bring, and that does throw me a bit off every time I think about it.  I don’t know why I just have this feeling like something big is on its way, not sure why I feel that.  Yes STANDING FIRM is coming out and yes there have been some great things happening regarding that, but somehow I feel that isn’t the only thing.  It’s a weird feeling to have every day as new opportunities, emails, phone calls, etc. come.

I saw STANDING FIRM landed at #7 on ChristianCinema.com today under Best Sellers.  That’s pretty incredible to be considering the film is 2 weeks from release and as far as I know, not many know about it. (lol)  I got rid of another Church Screening, with a lot of them pending so I look forward to making some phone calls tomorrow to see who’s not sure

I went with Denise to The Chapel tonight to go to our E-Group Leader Training Meeting.  I’m starting this next Vintage (the college ministry there) as an E-Group leader which means I’ll be leading a small group of guys in discussion and such after the message on tuesday nights.  This means a lot more responsibility on my part while I’m there, more accountability, and a ton of things I’ll need to work on if I hope to be effective.  I’m very nervous to do this but excited as well.  It’s going to take some hard work on my part, and also stepping outside my comfort zone in almost every way possible.  It’s going to be good for me, I know it.  Prayers for all of that is appreciated as the next 6 months of my life are going to get increasingly busy, difficult, exciting, scary, and everything else mixed in.

I started using iCal on my Mac to schedule things and I see the next 3 months slowly but surely filling up with different dates and events I have.  Getting my E-Group kit tonight included a ton of dates I’ll need to throw in there.  Life is getting busier, and I’ll have a lot of changes to make.  I’m also moving in about 6 weeks 35-40mins away.  That’s a change as well.  A new place (all mine!), in an area of WNY I’ve been to many times but isn’t where I’ve lived before.  New neighbors, new routine since I’ll be living alone and providing for every need, and LOTS of expenses.  Besides the new editing desk I plan to buy for my office (finally have a room that’s JUST an office!) and a double bed, I won’t have ANY furniture at the start.  It’ll look completely empty.  Even my TV will have to stay in its box until I get an entertainment stand that it can go on or something, because it can’t sit on a floor the way it’s made.  It’ll take some time to fill the place but I’ll get there.  Those first few months are going to be extremely expensive.

I gotta be honest, one of my greatest worries is finances.  I don’t mean right now I just mean in general.  It’s hard to relinquish the control to the Lord at times when it comes to funds.  I have to learn the lesson over and over again it seems, and God is faithful each time to take care of me.  With all that’s going on in life, and where God has been moving me locationally not just with opportunities but with friends, where I’m moving is the right decision and I’m confident of that.  So I need to be confident that if God led me to move out that way finally, then he’ll provide a way for me to stay there.

The current Church Screenings purchased start shipping on the 16th, so there’s a lot to do to make sure those are ready to go just in case I get any rush of them because of the shipping date.  Lots of folks have looked at the page, but I think the pre-order status scared some folks away.  Hopefully once I announce them ready to ship immediately, I’ll get a few more bites!

Lots of stuff to do…keep me in prayer please!

Today was the first time in a number of years that I spoke in front of people.  I had been planned to speak at AMOC’s Niagara Bible Conference today.  (http://www.amoc-nbc.com/)  AMOC stands for the American Mission for Opening Churches.  I wasn’t sure what to expect to be honest.  They’re involved in many different things, but most notably they have a camp there.  I went to AMOC as a kid and have many good and bad memories there.  When I showed up last week to meet with Tom who runs things there, I found it weird seeing the place after so many years.  Now it’s funny that after all that time, to be back there, and speaking in the Chapel on a sunday night.  I wasn’t there to give a sermon really, but instead talk about STANDING FIRM, testify to some of the things that God did, and share with those there about the church screenings and how they can be utilized in their ministries.  The folks who show up to this are from lots of other churches locally.  Some pastors, some elders/deacons, and a handful of normal church folks.  I would say maybe 50-60 were there.

My hands were shaking, I was sweating terribly, and I was waiting for everything to start.  I was wearing a suit and such which is something I almost never wear, and just baked inside of it.  Having worn flip flops and shorts for the last year and only having a suit on a few times, my body wasn’t having much fun.  I kept running through what I was going to say in my head and didn’t have anything to start off my speaking with.  I didn’t know how to start things off in a non-awkward manner.  I was really nervous to say something foolish or dumb, or crack a joke that would fall flat, and I didn’t really know where anyone there fell theologically so where I touched in areas there I wasn’t sure about.  STANDING FIRM could be slightly controversial because of the truth it presents, and I wasn’t sure if any backlash could come of that.  So when I got up there I just went for it, and probably repeated myself a time or two but I think things went well.  I probably wasn’t the most cheerful speaker they’ve ever heard, but it had it’s light moments of laughter.  I was pretty serious up there speaking to everyone, and brought up some very uncomfortable issues in the church (specifically the American Church) and spoke a bit about the state of the church as well.  I had all that rolling around in my head and wasn’t sure if there would be a good spot to fit it in, but I think it worked.  I basically went towards making a few comments like that because the issue of suffering in the film is so different from some of the namby pamby fluffy hug a teddy bear type Christianity that’s rampant out there.  Death, suffering, financial woes, etc. none of it is fun to talk about.  But I think everyone understood where I was coming from, and hopefully it made sense in that the film tackles a lot of issues that is rarely preached or taught.

Afterwards I shook many hands and had copies for sale.  Out of the folks who were there, I got rid of a ton of copies, some buying 2 or even 4.  I had a sign up sheet for the church screenings so I could send the folks more information.  I hope I get a few signups from this, because that would be great.  I also talked to a Pastor directly who already knows when he would want to do a screening so we’re going to work on that.  It was great to see the positive reaction after it was over.  My hands were shaking anymore, and I was able to just breath and talk to folks.  Turns out one of the women there has her entire family in Brazil and they would probably be interested in doing a screening or two down there.  I’ve already had a church in Brazil interested in a screening, so this could mean more!  Pretty crazy the kinds of foreign folks who know about the film and have requested it.  Pray for distribution in the Portuguese market, because it’s sorta on hold at the moment.

So overall a great night, and I was glad to see it over with.  I’ve had barely any sleep lately and I need to catch up.  There’s only 16 days until STANDING FIRM comes out, incredible!  I think I’ve only caught a glimpse of what God is going to do with this film, and I can’t wait to see…

I got an email today that really encouraged me too.  David Evans (Writer/Director/Producer of THE GRACE CARD, recently picked up by Provident Films/Sony) dropped me an email to say he’s excited to see the film and can’t wait to share TGC when it’s done.  Last year while I was in LA he called me one day asking questions about filmmaking and who he might call and whether or not I knew anyone he could contact.  Through some emails and phone calls I was able to help him which was great.  I helped him get his AD (Justin Tolley from Fireproof/Courageous/Letters to God), and Michael Joiner (the lead in the film).  It was great being able to help and then for a time I went down to Memphis to help do a little location scouting and a few other things, then I went home before production actually started.  David’s email was very encouraging as I hadn’t heard from him for some time and I had actually just thought of how he was doing on my way to church this morning.  God is good

A very good day, and filled with Blessings.  Looking forward to a good night sleep and then a busy work week to follow.  Lots of things to do!  The posters for the church screenings should arrive today (it’s monday already) and then I’ll be all set to send the church screenings.  If I can get all the packages weighed and ready I can start shipping them much earlier than I originally thought, so WOOT!

Till next time…