Life of Kyle Prohaska

There are times I feel I lose my focus.  I lose my drive, my determination, my energy, and all things related to progress.  Sometimes it’s sleep, sometimes it’s too much recreation, sometimes it’s just plain laziness, and other times it’s me spiritually lacking, even if those previous aspects are in check.  Besides whatever reading I do, I’m just going to commit to listening to sermons online all day while I work.  I think that will benefit me greatly and keep God’s Word and his truths pumping through my brain, even if at times I’m not fully concentrated because I’m working.  I feel like just having it playing will keep my mind focused on the light and on the things of God.  People underestimate the power of God’s Word when your actually reading it, and I think just as many underestimate what listening to solid bible teachers online can do for you.  Obviously you read God’s Word to get God’s truth from His Word, so why not go to the literal thousands of available audio sermons online, find a topic, and just listen to 8 hours of a pastor explaining God’s truth from His Word on a given topic?  How could your time be spent better?  I really love listening to that stuff, it gets me pumped and I learn so much.

I watched the first 23 minutes or so of Standing Firm yesterday trying to really concentrate on what the film was feeding me.  It’s tough because I can’t go in fresh as if I know nothing, but I can get a clear view of the pacing of the film if I step back a bit and come back to the edit later.  I really was surprised at how much I enjoyed watching the film and how well it was working for me.  I get very afraid when looking at my own work, just always wondering if I’m fooling myself.  I don’t have a lot of time to fight with that anymore Time is getting short (thank goodness, because it gives me a forceful push forward) and I need to lock this film SOON.  We have been Blessed with enough investment to finish the film.  The amount was just enough for me to combine my own investment and get the Score/Sound-Mix/and Distribution/Marketing costs completed or at least over the peak.  That is very encouraging to know considering it’s been an unknown for so long.  God is good!

I just can’t wait to see what God does with this film, it makes me crazy just thinking about it.  Regardless of the reaction to the film or the naysayers that WILL come along, I’m honored to have the chance to create something that could be used by God to reach someone for himself.  What a cool thing to be apart of!  We passed 2000 followers today on Twitter, which was really hard to do but I’m glad I can start moving higher.  Our fan page is doing well, getting near the 8000 mark.  8 THOUSAND…wow.  Just the thought that 8000 people have at least heard of this film blows my mind, lol.

Denise is doing well It was funny today at Vintage seeing some peoples reactions to the fact I had a girl next to me.  I’ve never had a girlfriend and most people that know me know that, so their facial expressions were comical.  I’m just so Blessed to have her, it’s amazing.  It makes me think so differently.  Finding somebody that makes you want to draw even nearer to God than before because they’re now with you is the perfect person to find.  Someone who you can serve Jesus together with and become the greatest possible version of yourself because of that.  I am Blessed beyond words, and pretty darn vocal about it ha ha!

Life is going well, and I’m so happy right now More than I have been in a long time.  Why God is choosing to Bless me right now, I have no idea.  I just keep thankfulness on the brain, and move forward with a smile.  2010 is looking like a God-year, how about you?

Standing Firm (cover) 1.0

Hello everyone!  It’s been a long time since my last entry, sorry about that.  Lots has been going on this month.  God is bringing forth a lot of opportunity for 2010 for myself personally and Standing Firm.

I’ve been finally feeling like I’m heading towards the last stretch of work on the film.  I have MONTHS and months of work ahead of me but, I can finally see an end point, the path towards the end.  Before now, it was always an unknown.  I didn’t have any solid answers of when, what, where.  I’m so excited that I can see the steps I need to take.  Is it all set in stone?  Of course not!  But it’s comforting to know I have direction.  I even began for the heck of it working on the DVD Cover for the film.  I think it’s coming out pretty nice (I love doing this stuff).  Take a look at the back cover as it currently stands after two days of fiddling around.  Note the incredibly cliche fake reviews on the back, haha.  There’s a ton of dead space to figure out, and a lot of shifting to get everything right on things like this, but I like the colors and the image I chose.  I’m telling you, if your a low-budget filmmaker…either get a great DSLR or make sure you have a great photographer on set.  Besides following simple color/layout guidelines, that back cover is practically sold by that beautiful image!  If I knew any better I’de swear this film was much more expensive  That’s the goal folks, make it ALL the best you can.  Make it pro, make it count.  When someone picks that thing off the shelf or sees it on a table, you only have a few seconds to grab their attention and only a few seconds after they pick it up to keep it.  These are not small issues, they’re extremely important.  Does your DVD Cover say “eh, maybe I should buy this,” or does it say “I have to buy this.”  Think about it next time…

I’ve been able to spend a lot of time with friends/family in the last month as well, which has been fantastic.  God has been teaching me some great things and I have much adjusting to do for the new year.  I’ll post an entry at the end of the month about how 2009 has been, and a recap of all that’s happened.  Let me tell you it’s a pretty insane list.

I’ve been getting a handle on the edit of Standing Firm, talking with some composing folks, figuring out with a friend how I’ll secure the funds for post-production/distribution, and what we’re going to do with this film.  It’s such a complicated process.  We’re looking at possible self-distribution which has it’s drawbacks/benefits.  I know some filmmakers reading this just felt their neck tighten up.  Cool it, I’ll be just fine

There are countless promotional videos to finish, the edit to lock OFFICIALLY (Reel 4 and 1 are close, 2 is in the worst shape and 3 is getting there), start the color-correction process, get a sound-mixer started on the audio (and choose one at that), develop a solid marketing plan for 2010 leading up to a hopeful late summer release, gathering and listing media contacts, building a database of church contact information (I’m going to grow this a bit each month via online searches and various methods), building the online fan base, etc.  As you can see this is easily a time sucker.

We’ll see what God does in the next few days here in regards to me working.  I’m working on making a deal with a friend (some of you know him) to work for him and his website.  I’ve mentioned this in the past but it’ll be more official.  I’m looking forward to making the conditions clear and having some peace of mind about it.  He’s a great guy, I trust him.

The holidays are going to be a great time of fellowship, I can’t wait!  G’night!