About the Film

 
 

The Story

Hearing Everett is a docu-drama about Ed and Margaret Everett, the founders of Rancho Sordo Mudo, Mexico’s first ever free home and school for deaf children. The film tells the epic story of Ed and Margaret’s forty year journey of faith to help the deaf children of Mexico.

The film is paired with a six part documentary series and small group curriculum to help churches and small groups engage in how they can begin living missionally in their local communities and around the world.  Currently over 60,000 people have viewed the film around the world.

Film Type:  Award winning documentary feature film 67 min.
Budget: $250,000 cash, Over $450,000 in in kind donations

  • 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 twenty-time Academy Award Nominee,  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

 

RANCHO SORDO MUDO

Rancho Sordo Mudo is a Christian home and school for deaf children living in Mexico.  Ed and Margaret Everett, the founders of RSM, believed that deaf children could be taught how to read and write, to communicate in sign language, and learn a trade for their future.  More importantly, the goal of their ministry is to teach the children of God’s love for them and give them a hope and future.  This has been the work of the ranch for over 40 years.

www.ranchosordomudo.org

 

STRONG TOWER MINISTRIES

Strong Tower Ministries exists to be a serving 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. STM is a conduit that provides meaningful serving experiences for families, youth groups, small groups, and individuals wanting to experience the Baja and be a blessing to this people group by the giving of their time, talents, and resources. STM can assist in 1 day, weekend, week long, short term, and long term serving trips and missionary placement. For more information please contact jim@strongtowerministries.info or call 949 212-8071.

www.strongtowerministries.info

 

GRATIS 7 MEDIA GROUP

Gratis 7 Media Group is a small non-profit (501c3) company based on hope and purpose.  G7MG helps faith-based organizations create movies and media that drive their vision.

Ten years ago, a group of filmmakers had a vision to create relevant media leading to cultural transformation.  As time went on, G7MG found themselves living in Los Angeles, and working in the film industry.  They learned how to make films and produce TV shows.  After numerous movies, over 40 countries, and just about every television network, it became obvious that God had a bigger plan.

G7MG's past work has included clients such as NBC, CBS, ABC, Discovery, CNN, Fox Searchlight, author Rick Warren, Saddleback Church, and numerous other independent film companies.

www.gratis7mediagroup.com

 

CAST AND CREW

CAST

Principals, Edward and Luke Everett

LUKE EVERETT

The two brothers are second generation missionaries and the Directors of Rancho Sordo Mudo.  Rancho Sordo Mudo is a free home and school for deaf children.  The ministry was started by their parents Ed and Margaret in 1969.  Ed and Margaret became involved with the deaf when Luke lost 85% of his hearing at the age of 5 and they heard about the need to help the deaf children of Mexico.  Selling everything they owned, they moved from Fayetteville, North Carolina to Ensenada, Baja California Mexico where they founded Rancho Sordo Mudo.

EDDIE EVERETT

Edward and Luke function as a team and complement each other in many areas.  Edward operates in an official capacity as the liaison between the Mexican Government and the Ranch, dealing with all the day-to-day operational issues.  Luke is the staff director, visiting group’s coordinator, and international spokesperson for the Ranch.  Both reside at the Ranch, are married, and have three children.

 

CREW

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.  Their mission is to deliver compelling entertainment for life change.  T.C. and his wife Kristen, live in Boulder, CO.

Executive Producer, James Kirk-Johnson

After leaving behind a 13-year career with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in 2005, he 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.

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.  Their varied portfolio includes commercials, music videos, short films, Web content, and full-length documentaries.  Their multi-award winning 9/11 documentary film “The Cross and The Towers” is available in stores nationwide.  At Erwin Brothers, Andy serves as chief editor.  Andy and his wife reside in Birmingham, Alabama.

Original Score, Josh Myers

Over the last seven years, Honorary Emmy-Award winning composer Joshua Myers has made waves as a composer for feature films and television and as a producer for some of the industry’s finest recording artists.  Joshua got his start in Los Angeles, composing music for the critically acclaimed Saturday morning animated series, Phantom Investigators.  Since then he has worked with clients such as 20th Century Fox, NBC, Sony Pictures, ABC, MTV, BRAVO, TBS, MGM, Showtime, and Lions Gate.  Myers has also worked extensively in the advertising world, writing original music for national ad campaigns for clients including Progressive Insurance, Fox Sports, Sprint, Microsoft, Nintendo, and Tyson Foods.  Despite his hectic schedule, Josh occasionally finds time to return to his first love:  making records.  Josh has produced and arranged music for many recording artists including Jeremy Enigk, Mandy Moore, and Sufjan Stevens.

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 recently 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; and Disney’s highly acclaimed GOAL, The Dream Begins!  His soon-to-be-released feature film projects include El Muerto starring Wilbur Valderama, Justified, Towards Darkness, and AmericanEast with Tony Shaloub.

Sound Design, Kevin O’Connell

Kevin O’Connell is an accomplished Hollywood sound designer who has received more Oscar nominations than anyone else in Academy Awards history for his sound mix.  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 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 wife, Heather.