Features Overview
THE STORY
Film Type: Award winning documentary feature film 67 min.
Budget: $250,000 cash donations, Over $450,000 in in-kind services.
- Completely donor funded and produced with 300 volunteers giving 12,500 hours of service
- Narration and hosting by Tony Plana of the hit TV series Ugly Betty and 24
- Sound Design by Academy Award Winner, Kevin O’Connell
- Original Score by Award Winning Composer, Josh Myers
- Music by four time Grammy Award Nominee, The Newsboys, Bebo Norman, Jadon Lavik and Nate Allman
DIRECTOR, T.C. JOHNSTONE
T.C. started making films in Steamboat Springs, Colorado in 1998. Prior to that, he had served in Steamboat Springs as the area director for “Young Life.” His passion for filmmaking began with a desire to tell compelling stories that could create life change. After producing several independent documentaries and feature films T.C. moved to Los Angeles to be closer to the film industry. His work includes clients such as NBC, Discovery Channel, CNN, Fox, as well as several independent films in over 35 countries.
In 2004, T.C. began working with Author and Pastor Rick Warren on a 2-year documentary project. His passion for filmmaking led to the building of his company, Gratis 7 Media Group. His mission is to deliver compelling entertainment for life change. T.C. and his wife, Kristen, live in Boulder, CO. Find out more at tcjohnstone.com
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, JAMES KIRK-JOHNSON
After leaving behind a 13-year career with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in 2005, Jim became the Director of Operations for a non-profit corporation called Strong Tower Ministries. This faith-based organization focuses on connecting people who have the passion to serve and are willing to offer their time and resources with children residing worldwide who have a need. Strong Tower Ministries has partnered with Rancho Sordo Mudo to produce Hearing Everett, a film that tells the story of one such American family who has developed a 40-year passion for serving the deaf children of Mexico. Jim currently resides in Orange County, California with his wife and three children.
Strong Tower Ministries exists to serve as a conduit to over 28 ministries located throughout Northern Baja, California, Mexico. Each of these ministries are Christ centered and focus on meeting the educational, medical, food, shelter, and discipleship needs of impoverished families and destitute children throughout the region. Strong Tower is a conduit that provides meaningful serving experiences for families, youth groups, small groups, and individuals wanting to experience Baja and be a blessing to this people group by the giving of their time, talents, and resources. Strong Tower can assist in 1 day, weekend, and week long serving trips and missionary placement. For more information please contact jim@strongtowerministries.info or call 949-212-8071.
EDITOR, ANDREW ERWIN
Andy co-founded Erwin Brothers Motion Pictures in 1999, with his brother Jon Erwin. He began his career over a decade ago working as a camera operator for ESPN and ABC. Since then, the award winning Erwin Brothers have produced and directed projects seen on CBS, TBN, PBS, CMT, GAC, Gospel Music Channel, iTunes, BET and many others. The Erwin brothers are known for such movies as; October Baby, Woodlawn and Moms' Night Out. At Erwin Brothers, Andy serves as chief editor. Andy and his wife reside in Birmingham, Alabama. Find out more at erwinbrothers.com
NARRATION, TONY PLANA
As an actor, Plana has starred in more than 70 feature films, including JFK, Nixon, Salvador, An Officer and a Gentleman, Lone Star, Three Amigos, Born in East L.A., El Norte, 187, Primal Fear, One Good Cop, Havana, The Rookie, Silver Strand and Picking Up the Pieces with Woody Allen. He also appeared in the action thriller Half Past Dead with Steven Segal, Morris Chestnut, and JaRul; The Lost City, with Andy Garcia, Bill Murray, and Dustin Hoffman; Disney’s highly acclaimed GOAL! and El Muerto starring Wilbur Valderama.
SOUND DESIGN, KEVIN O’CONNELL
Kevin O’Connell is an Academy Award Winning Hollywood sound designer. Just a sampling of the films he has done sound design on are: National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Transformers, Spider-Man 3, Apocalypto, The Passion of the Christ, Pearl Harbor, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, The Patriot, Armageddon, Con Air, Twister, Men in Black II, Tombstone, Field of Dreams, Rambo III, City Slickers, Terms of Endearment, and Top Gun. Kevin won an Oscar for his work on Hacksaw Ridge. Kevin is also a member of the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Kevin lives in Southern California with his two sons and his wife, Heather.