Hearing Everett

Hearing Everett gets 5 stars (or Doves)!

2008-11-03T13:48:00.000-08:00

The Dove Foundation whose mission is To encourage and promote the creation, production, distribution and consumption of wholesome family entertainment, gave the Hearing Everett movie 5 Doves. For more info go to:
www.dove.org/MovieReview.asp?Unique_ID=7436

Warner Brothers Studio Premier of Hearing Everett

2008-10-15T17:16:00.000-07:00

On October 10th people arrived from Arizona, Washington State, Texas, New Hampshire and all over California to see the West Coast Premier of Hearing Everett. It was a special evening as the crew and cast shared with the attendees the story and purpose of the movie. The response and feedback was positive and everyone had a great evening. We wish to express our thanks to all who showed up to be with us that special evening, also everyone who gave to make this film possible. A special thanks to Kevin O'Connell for setting the screening up. Please stay tuned as we go to printing, pressing and getting this special film out. Just a reminder that it is more than a movie, but also a 5 week study guide with video clips to teach and encourage the viewer to step out and serve Jesus, whether in his neighborhood or across the world.
here are some pictures of our fun evening. Enjoy.

Inside the theater.

Jim Kirk Johnson
Kevin O'Connell (Sound designer)
Luke Everett
Beau Borders (Sound)

The Producer Jim Kirk Johnson

The Director; TC Johnstone

The Everett Family

We're almost done...

2008-08-15T16:31:00.000-07:00

As summer starts to draw to a close, so does the Hearing Everett Film project! This month we hope to finish the film and study guide materials and get everything into final printing and duplication.

During the month of July several churches from across the United States screened a "rough edited" version of the film and study guide and their feedback will help to put the final "touches" and "tweaks" to the project.

Another highlight to the month was finishing the sound portion of the film. We were blessed to have Joshua Myers, a composer from Seattle, WA compose an original score for the film, www.joshuamyers.com , Over the last five years, Honorary Emmy-Award winning composer Joshua Myers has earned an impressive summary of credits in feature film and television, and as producer for some of the industry's finest recording artists.

In addition to that, Kevin O'Connell (a 20 time academy award nominated sound mixer) and his partner Beau Borders put the final music and sound together on a multi-million dollar sound stage at Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank, CA. This isn't the first time we have gotten the feeling that God is taking this little "David" film into "Goliath" territory.

Beau Borders

For those of you interested in getting a "first look" at the finished film while supporting the project at the same time, you have your chance! Strong Tower Ministries will be hosting several "Premiere Benefit Screenings" of Hearing Everett. Two of these benefit screenings will occur during the month of September.
At each event, Luke Everett and some of the film crew will be on hand to discuss the making of the film and its mission. One will take place September 23rd, 7:30 PM at the Krikorian Theatre in San Clemente (for those of you living in the San Diego/Orange County areas) and the other Friday, September 19th, 8:00 PM at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center in Simi Valley (for those of you living the LA/Ventura areas). All proceeds of the events will go towards finishing costs of the film project and the $25.00 ticket price will be a tax deductible donation. To find out how to purchase tickets or inquire about how your church can support these events, please contact Jim at 800 619-5351 or email him at jim@strongtowerministries.info.

If you want to get updated information about the film or are interested in getting your local church involved, please visit the website at www.hearingeverett.com.

Tony Plana...Need I say more?

2008-06-09T14:07:00.000-07:00

Tony Plana
By Luke Everett
I was sitting in an amazingly beautiful house (Thank you Robot) watching Tony Plana (who is currently starring in a popular TV show and has been in countless TV shows and movies) talk through the Hearing Everett study guide introductions. Every time he said "Rancho Sordo Mudo" the words rolled off his tongue and I got goose bumps. What is Tony Plana doing being a part of Hearing Everett? It was a series of "Godincidences" that brought Tony to us to not only do the introductions to the study guide, but also narrate the Hearing Everett movie. He was a class act, very accommodating and did a great job. When it was all over, he approached us and said he enjoyed very much hearing the story and being a part of it. Stay tuned as we move into sound mixing, marketing and beyond. Please keep praying.

The crew and Tony

memorizing lines

Doing the narration in Studio.

Now were done filming...

2008-06-09T11:39:00.000-07:00

It's been over a year and we are amazed how God has brought this project together and continues to have his hand over it. We had to get one more shoot in the movie before officially moving on. That scene involved taking over a friends house, a little boy named Sammy and the usual cast of suspects. It was the recreation of a scene where Luke as a young boy is found out to be deaf. Sammy did a great job and we got the shot needed. So I guess we're done now.

Good job Sammy!

IT'S A WRAP...

2008-04-03T18:33:00.000-07:00

David Eggerichs the DP, TC Johnstone the Director and Luke Everett ponder the future from a mountain top in Mexico...

After 13 months, filming in: La Purisima, Ensenada, Guadalupe (all in Baja California, Mexico), Santa Barbara, San Diego, North Carolina, Michigan and lastly Los Mochis Sinaloa (down in Mainland Mexico). From the blazing hot sun in La Purisima to the frozen tundra of Michigan, and everything in between. We had people getting sick, the directors mother passed away, a helicopter not showing up and one we had reserved crash, the film pressed on. We had uncooperative cows, but cooperative police, but best of all wonderful people who went above and beyond to make this film happen, from ESPN radio in Fayetteville NC to the wonderful folks that showed up at the benefit and everyone that gave, prayed and worked, thank you. BUT... we are far from over, so don't stop praying, don't stop giving. The post production is in full swing which is editing, sound mixing and marketing and will not be cheap, but we know that God will provide, because He has shown that.
As the director TC, the DP Dave and Luke stood on a mountain overlooking the city of Los Mochis they just filmed it was like, wow, we're done (other than our producer who still wants the helicopter shot). It was a feeling of satisfaction of a job well done and seeing God's hand in it all. Stay tuned, because something big is getting ready to happen.

The Los Mochis shoot...

2008-04-03T16:48:00.000-07:00

When the final interviews at the ranch ended, the movie director TC, David Eggerichs the director of photography and Luke Everett flew to Los Mochis, Sinaloa to film Dave and Michelle Bonsell for the movie study guide. Dave and Michelle are former staff of Rancho Sordo Mudo who moved south into Mexico and started another school for the deaf there. The school is called Colegio Cristiano Magdalena Rincon. We had a good time seeing what God is doing there and filming the interview with Dave and Michelle. It was a whirlwind day as we only had less than a day to film before TC and Dave we're back on the plane for a many hours long flight home. But we did get the shots...

Dave the DP had his security detail

the Dave & Michelle interview

The church scene

The final shot...

The filming continues...for the study guide

2008-03-28T17:36:00.000-07:00

The film crew of Hearing Everett has been in Michigan, Santa Barbara and now back at the Ranch to film segments for the study guide that will accompany the Hearing Everett film. We are not only making an amazing movie that we hope will encourage and inspire people to step out and serve God, but also a 5 week study guide designed to be done by a small group, youth group, or family that will illustrate points in the film which can then be applied to the individual. The study guide will also contain 5 short 10 minute video testimonials from people who have been impacted in some way by Rancho Sordo Mudo and its ministry. And just like the film, quality and time is being invested in each video testimonial. There have been great interviews and shots of people working.

Another Artist signs on...

2008-03-28T13:09:00.000-07:00

Nate Allman has signed on to the Hearing Everett movie. He is an up and coming singer out of Texas. His song "Unconditional" from the album "Dream for Free" produced by 540 records will be in the movie. To hear the song or find out more about Nate please go to http://www.myspace.com/nateallman
We are excited to have Nate on board with us.
Stay tuned for more developments...

"Newsboys join Hearing Everett"

2008-03-17T15:00:00.000-07:00

The Christian music group Newsboys are excited to come along side of Hearing Everett and allow one of their songs used in the movie. www.newsboys.com
Recently Newsboys was named 2007 artist of the year; "something beautiful" named 2007 song of the year
Australia's national Christian music charts, The Rock Across Australia (TRAA), named contemporary Christian music mainstay newsboys 2007 Artist of the Year, and recipient of the Song of the Year honor for Something Beautiful.
The song "Something Beautiful" from their album "GO" will be used in the movie. We are very thankful to the Newsboys for being a part of the Hearing Everett experience.

Luke and Joshua met Peter Furler of Newsboys a couple years ago in Wisconsin.

Editing...

2008-03-17T14:10:00.000-07:00

The editing for Hearing Everett has begun and it is being done by a Christian Motion Picture company in Alabama called Erwin Brothers Motion Pictures. Not only do they edit movies, but have produced and made films also.

THE ERWIN BROTHERS STORY

Andy (left) and Jon (right) Erwin, known as the Erwin Brothers, began their careers over a decade ago working as camera operators for ESPN and ABC. Together in 1999, they founded Erwin Brothers Motion Pictures in their hometown of Birmingham, AL. Since then the award winning director team has 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.

Today, the company consists of seven professionals and a 16,000 square foot studio just outside of Birmingham, AL. The Brother team hope to begin working on original feature films in the near future.

For more information please see www.erwinbrothers.com

The Hearing Everett Benefit Fundraiser.

2008-02-02T17:27:00.000-08:00

The Hearing Everett Benefit was a blast and a success. Thanks to all who came and made it a special evening. Thanks to the Curtain Call theater (http://www.curtaincalltheater.com/ ) for allowing us to interupt their play. Thanks to everyone who gave for the silent auction. It was a great evening as the president of Strong Tower Ministries Michael Walsh, the producer Jim Kirk Johnson, the Director TC Johnstone and Rock Star Luke Everett all shared their thoughts about the movie. The movie will soon move into post production which is costly and long.

One of the best sound mixers around, Kevin OConnell who was recently nominated for an Oscar a record breaking 20th time for the movie Transformers, has agree to see how he can help us when the time is right in post production. Kevin is also Luke and Eddie Everett's cousin

Even Luke and his assistant Janet are in the post editing mode as they write the transcripts for the signed and Spanish interviews. (Luke needs more Red Bull).

The second Ensenada/Rancho shoot.

2008-01-19T16:25:00.000-08:00

The filming continues and since Monday we have been busy. After arriving and unpacking the crew went back to the shelter to get a few shots of the deaf girls playing. Then Tuesday was classrooms shots and interview days.

Positioning the JIB for the Bus in shop shot.

Wednesday we were in Ensenada from 8AM till 9:30 PM a long but very productive day. We filmed a work area where former student Marcelo is working. We filmed him working and had an interview with him.

Marcelo's work place

Then we were off to film different locations around Ensenada:

After that we were off to film Carlos. Carlos is a former student who is now the pastor to the deaf in Ensenada at calvary Chapel Horizonte in Ensenada.

Pastor Carlos teaching.

Thursday was about more Ranch, classrooms, Ranch shots and more interviews.

Gaby Interview.

Evan Teaching

Friday back to Ensenada to film and interview Angel another former student of RSM at his job. In all the interviews there was a recurring theme, you'll have to see the movie to see what it was.

Angel interview

Saturday was another interview day as the crew interviewed Josefina and Luke. The crew behind the camera was blessed by Josefina's interview and heart.

Then we had a break for pizza.

Thank you and stay tuned...

Whats been happening???

2007-12-19T16:03:00.000-08:00

Friends, do not fear, we're still filming. We had to take a short hiatus but now back on track. In November part of the film crew returned to North Carolina to get some shots we were not able to get before. It was a successful shoot, we even got a helicopter for one of the shoots.

On December 4th we did filming at the Chula Vista Veterans Home and at the hospital where Josefina had her surgery. The hospital staff was very accommodating as we took over the lobby and they allowed us to film in the surgical ward.

Filming in the hospital lobby.

Also during this time TC our director has been very busy with the editing process.
We are excited about the final filming which will take place January 14th-21st at the Ranch and Ensenada.

Then after that: Post production, editing, marketing and etc. Wow sounds exciting. WE'RE MAKING A MOVIE!!!

On a side note if you are free and live near Orange County, On January 26th, 6PM in Tustin at the Curtain Call Theater there will be a Gala Fundraising Event, the proceeds will go towards the movie. It will cost $100.00 per person, you get a 3 course dinner, a show "Forever Plaid", a sneak peek of the film (which right there will be worth it), the Director and Rock Star will be sharing and you will be able to participate in a silent auction. What a deal! If interested please call 800-619 5315

More N.C...

2007-10-08T05:44:00.000-07:00

TC considering about jumping...

Day 4...

2007-10-08T05:01:00.000-07:00

Day four was a cloudy rainy day...Not much filming

...and day 3

2007-10-06T12:02:00.000-07:00

...a few photos from day 2...

2007-10-06T10:54:00.000-07:00

North Carolina - Day 1

2007-10-04T20:04:00.001-07:00

The filming of the Everett family's roots from the South has has been proving to be a treasure trove of Americana.
The next few posts will provide a brief photo essay of soon-to-be-seen locations feature in the Hearing Everett film.

The Hearing Everett crew and staff of Buddy's diner.
Luke was happy to get his sweet tea.

"September Push" Index posting...

2007-09-22T13:33:00.000-07:00

The past few days down at Rancho Sordo Mudo were NON-STOP ...

DAY 1	DAY 2
DAY 3	DAY 4
DAY 5	DAY 6

Day 6

2007-09-20T15:31:00.000-07:00

The race cars!

Pro drivers & stuntmen from Hollywood showing up and rally car action on a private closed course ... what more could you want?

First up was scouting the track & picking the angles.

Then, checking out the cars...

Liz & Eddie got prepped...

Then the cameras started rolling!

Close quarters to the action...

Day 5

2007-09-20T09:02:00.000-07:00

Day 5 was all about water. From making rain to trying to drench dogs & the inside of Surburbans, day 5 was all wet.

First up was the rainmaking truck:

Fire-chief Eddie would be our rainmaker for the day.

Josefina's hiking scene was next up.
Director & D.P. indicating things are going well:

T.C. setting up the next water shot.

Luke & Eddie demoed proper water filling technique:

Day 4

2007-09-20T08:34:00.000-07:00

Day four would be spent nearly 100% of the time at Rancho Sordo Mudo. Shots included filming of classrooms, dorms, and the property itself.

The day started with meeting a group of three cyclists from England who happened to ride by RSM. They were in the midst of a ride from Canada to Argentina!

Then it was off to start filming in the first of the classrooms.

Much of the process involves adjustments to the lighting, setting up dolly tracks, and then coordinating the action itself.

Filming in the boy's & girl's dorms:

One of the more difficult tasks was getting the talent to not look at the camera. Certain cast members came up with some inventive ways to bend the rules...

The end of another good day.

Day 3

2007-09-19T08:48:00.000-07:00

Day 3: Traffic Control

From herding cows to shutting down a Mexican highway, day three of the September Push went as smoothy as one could hope for ... at least as smoothly as herding cows and shutting down major highways can go...

T.C. & Dave were scoping out the shots...

The talent was getting warmed up...

Set was ready...

The cows, while late, performed admirably.

THEN IT WAS OFF TO CLOSE MEXICO HIGHWAY 3!

Our highwaymen were at the ready...

Camera truck (courtesy of Steve Sundown) was loaded & ready.

The bus hits the highway...

TIME FOR THE HIGHWAY CRANE SHOT

Highly successful day of filming.

Day 2

2007-09-18T16:24:00.000-07:00

Day 2 began with a very early start ...

Cast & crew departed for Ensenada around 6am. Unsure of what the day would hold as we would be filming in a recently refurbished park (very popular), on a Sunday, on the same day as the Mexican Independence Day parade...

First location would be the park in Ensenada where Ed's first encounter with the deaf in Mexico took place. This "chance" encounter with a deaf shoe-shine boy made the decision for Ed to move his family to Mexico.

The crew was doing their thing...

Next up was filming of the phone call ...
Scouting the location & setup...

T.C. working the phone call shot.

Following the phone booth, the crew moved to two separate storefront locations - one to film the inside and one to film the outside of the place where Ed Jr. & Isabel Everett "officially" met after their first encounter years prior.

T.C. setting up inside the store.

Day 1

2007-09-16T13:00:00.000-07:00

September's "Big Push"

In the free flowing traffic of Southern California's pre-dawn freeways, three vehicles and around 10 people made their way four hours south to Rancho Sordo Mudo. Over the next week, around 20 cast and crew would converge on RSM to tackle a very ambitious production schedule...

Lighting & locations play a key role in most any filming production, and RSM delivers in spades...

T.C. & Dave were soon prepping the first scenes for the day.

As Luke would later mention, these were scenes recalling a very dire time and were difficult to watch even as they were filmed...

Rancho Sordo Mudo Pre-Production Trip

2007-09-03T22:17:00.000-07:00

On August 31st, a group of Hearing Everett volunteers, braved crossing the border during a civil uprising and temperatures well over 100 degrees, to spend 2 days at Rancho Sordo Mudo preparing for the important September 14-20th production shoot. A special thanks to Kyle Gilbertson, a Biola University film student, who made the trip down with a group of guys twice his age. Enjoy the pics taken during the 2 day set design, location scouting and casting projects.

Changing the Ranch Bunk House into the 1970 Shelter

"The Hawk" Meeting On How To Start Tractor

Set Designer - Steve Sundown - Barking Orders

Part of the "Cast"

The "Three Set Building Amigos"

2007-08-23T00:46:00.000-07:00

"The mission of the church is missions" – Unknown

The call to the mission field was clear to Ed Everett when he decided to pack up his family, drive across the United States, and eventually settle in Mexico. As is often the case, God didn’t reveal what the next several years would bring, instead revealing only those steps that needed to be taken at the time.

Moving to Mexico to start a school for the deaf was the instruction given, where the students would come from was a complete unknown – how would they learn about this new facility for the deaf?

The filming that took place in July 2007 documented one such amazing case of how Marisol came to Rancho Sordo Mudo through a series of connections that eventually led to a twin-engine Piper, and Baja Pilot Jim Gaskin.

Marisol’s family lives in a very remote fishing village near the town of La Purisma. Electricity and phone service is limited at best, and the nearest major town is several hours away. Beyond that, they are situated on the less populated side of the river that divides the community – all factors working against the possibility of someone learning of the young deaf girl living there with no access to education.

The film crew hopped into a couple small planes to head down & document life in the fishing village.

The weather was a mixed blessing – the overcast conditions didn’t lend themselves to optimum lighting, however those same skies kept the normally relentless heat under control. The area itself provided miles & miles of endless vistas…

The filming was tricky – from working in small fishing boats on the water, to setting up dolly tracks on the beach – the results, however, made it all worth it …

T.C. working with cast & crew.

The crew worked in the desert, filmed interviews with the family, and recorded a great deal of area “B-roll” footage.

Reed filming in the water.

It turned out to be a very fruitful trip – footage is being edited and planning for the next stage has begun…

Mulege.

FOOTNOTE:

When I was asked to come along to photograph this trip I naturally jumped at the opportunity. My wife of 15 years is deaf herself, grew up about 20 minutes from where we would be filming, and is a former student of Rancho Sordo Mudo. Having been so directly involved with the work at Rancho Sordo Mudo, we were all to happy to be involved in the Hearing Everett project.

Fishing Village

2007-07-17T16:39:00.001-07:00

The Scouting Trip to a Fishing Village

2007-07-17T16:16:00.000-07:00

When we began the Rancho Sordo Mudo film project we knew that it was going to take us to places that may be off the map. As we began researching and interviewing students on their experience at the ranch, we met Marisol. It was instantly clear that we wanted to have her in the film. We also wanted to see what her life was like before she arrived at the school.

With the help of our new friends Marla and Kirk Daily and Baja Pilot Jim Gaskin, we were able to plan a scouting trip 1500 miles to a small fishing village. Little did I know what I was getting into.

We traveled several hundred miles in Jim's twin engine Piper, to a small dirt airstrip, where Higuera met us in his white pick-up truck. We traveled mile after mile across the desert to finally arrive at one of the most incredible shorelines I have ever seen. It was also the hottest place I have ever been on earth.

We rode in their fishing boat and talked about life in this area with limited electicity, no running water or bathroom facilities, and life before and after Marisol started her education at RSM. If you would like to read her story please visit
http://www.marisolhiguera.com/ or just wait for the movie.

We are headed back in 2 weeks to capture the story with our crew and we are expecting a spectacular story!

OH! More Slides

2007-07-17T16:14:00.000-07:00

Photos of slides

2007-07-17T16:13:00.000-07:00

I think we have a few slides.......

2007-06-28T01:41:00.000-07:00

After months of research, Eddy Everett calls to let us know that 2 boxes were going to be sent to the U.S. There were a few slides that he found. After opening the boxes there were a few slides, probably 3500.

After about 15 hours of photo editing we ended up with about 100 amazing slides. The clothing and the Luke Everett's very close resemblence to "Borat" makes me want to go back to the 80's.
The film is coming together!

The Indiana Jones files.....

2007-06-22T09:10:00.000-07:00

In Documentary film making research is key. We have been on the hunt for photos for the past 3 months. We just couldn't seem to find what we were looking for. Just hours before Luke Everett was leaving for the summer to speak at Hume lake camps the adventure began. Luke opened an old dusty file cabnint to find a forgotten old 16mm film that was shot in the early 70's by a award winning deaf filmmaker.

The case looked like something out of the movies. No one remembered what was on the tape so we called our good friend Brian at Magic Film and Video Works in Hollywood to do a telecine. The footage was in good shape and with Brian's touch he was able to convert it to video for us to use in the film. Thanks Brain for all your help!

Sorry you will have to wait for the film to see the footage. You'll want to see the film just to see the stylish 70's clothes. Lots of plaids and crazy prints! Wow. That just happened!

The trailer is shot!

2007-06-15T16:40:00.000-07:00

After over 2 months of research the Gratis 7 Production team spent a week in at Rancho Sordo Mudo producing the trailer for the film. You can take a look at the trailer at www.hearingeverett.com

Thanks to all the volunteers who were on board to help with just about everything. This was an exciting week with lots of funny moments. You can't expect to come away NOT changed after an interview with Eddy Everett.

Ironman, Interviews and Pushing Fire Trucks

2007-06-15T15:34:00.001-07:00

The production crew headed down last week for 2 days of shooting of Luke Everett competing at the Iron-man Race and then 2 days of interviews. As everyone knows, filmmaking magic happened as Luke DID finish the race last year but this year we had to be creative. After actually swimming the ocean section we headed for the bike. Luke rode for just over 10 miles before being convinced to go to breakfast and then jumping back into the race.

Then it was off to the Ranch for 2 days of interviews. We chose the historic RSM fire truck as a backdrop so you will notice that in the photos. Might I say its hard to push this thing when there is a rock under the tire. After 7 men figured this out we were able to push this thing into the garage. The wind down here is strong, bad on the audio.

Filming Begins!

2007-06-10T14:09:00.000-07:00

In the pre-dawn darkness, a dusty Ford Expedition was loaded up with tripods, cameras, a small film crew, and one triathelete. Traveling along the black, twisty highway that stretches from Valle de Guadelupe toward Ensenada Mexico, the group was soon to be at the starting line of the 2nd annual 70.3 Ironman de Mexico, and begin the filming of Hearing Everett.

The journey, albeit brief, was not without its perils.
This footbridge spanning the main highway was still in its proper place just two days earlier...

T.C. scouting the location.

#18 stands out even among the greats of the sport...

The crew discussing the shot ... Spike at the ready with camera plane, boats, and whatever else we could come up with to enhance the filming.

Camera bike ready to go...

...and heading out onto the course.