Plenty of wonderful congratulations messages have come in lately regarding the completion of the film and it’s impending release date.  Lots of warm comments of encouragement and excitement on Facebook, Twitter, and by email.  It’s great to see that, because it helps the reality of the films end sink in.  On the other hand, it just forces me to look forward to what is yet to be done.  For months and months you’ve read tons of posts about the challenge in just getting the film completed, let alone in stores and ready to release.  Now it’s time to move onto the next challenge!

Church Screenings are going to be my next big project, and finding churches interested.  There are thousands of churches in the US, and most of them easily accessible via email or phone, but how do I get to through to them?  It’s a tough question to answer and I’m doing my best to come up with a solution.  The full page article/review in the August AFA Journal on STANDING FIRM had a phone number and the Praise Pictures website on there for those interested in the screenings and I did get a random phone call just yesterday from a lady in TX interested in one.  I gave her the website quickly and she thanked me and hung up.  As I’ve said before, my current cell will likely become the full-time business line with me getting another phone sometime later this year.  It’ll just be ringing too much and I’ll want to keep it for business and business alone.  We had a lot of churches sign up to receive information about the screenings when they became available, to the tune of 325 or so.  Almost 40 of those were out of the country in places like Brazil, Egypt, The Netherlands, UK, Kenya, etc.  That’s God folks, and I hope the response is good.  I sent out an e-blast to all those who had signed up but have only received a few sign up thus far.  At first I was discouraged but I understand it’ll take time.  Churches especially have to get things approved by leadership and all sorts of things before they’ll pull the trigger on it, so I’m lucky I even got any initial signups at all!  The screenings are going to be important for revenue reasons as well.  Just like any film, even a film as cheap as this one was to make, we’re still in a lot of debt and it will take time to climb out.  The expenses lately have been high too, higher than I ever would’ve thought.  Considering the “budget” we had to shoot the film with, it balooned severely once it came time to really finish it and get all the post done, and with the church screenings and materials for that, shipping of product to the stores, etc. the numbers just keep going up and up.  Welcome to the life of the indie filmmaker!  I’m burning a hole in my pocket in hopes of actually getting a good return.  That’s the game, and it’s a scary one but I think God will Bless the film.

I posted an update on a Christian film fan page I run recently and a lady responded with a comment that said “give it for free.”  I was advertising a product for someone.  My gut reaction to that comment wasn’t a good one.  I think people assume because something is for the Glory of God and it’s goal is to reach others for the lost, that it should always be free.  What kind of sense is that?  If I gave STANDING FIRM away for free not only would I be in financial ruin but I would never be able to make another film.  I’m sure I’ll get some folks who object to the church screening prices, but I tried to answer that kind of comment in the FAQ you’ll find at the bottom.  It’s just insane how people think sometimes.  Most that ask about the film and make their little informed comments have no idea about the cost of actually making something like this.  It would make their head spin, and this kind of film folks…is at the very BOTTOM of things.  Even after all of this time and money spent this thing is dirt cheap when compared to its “rivals.”  Insane to hear I’m sure, but that’s reality.  I can’t imagine spending what some others do on films, it boggles my mind.

Lots of great promotional things are happening in regards to the film with radio stations, websites, magazine/print, and a few other things.  There are some great opportunities coming in August, and I’m very excited.  I’ll also be mailing in STANDING FIRM on friday to the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival to be entered into this years competition.  We’ll see if I get in or not, you never know!

Some possible work has come in as well over the last week in the web/marketing department.  I really hope I can do this consistently as a career.  I really do like doing sites for films and making graphics and such for films.  We will see what comes of these few contacts that have come up, it’s always a question mark until I get something tangible.

Lots of exciting things going on, please pray for me that I can keep my head on straight in all of it.  It’s a lot to think about at once!

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