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City on a Hill… A Prayer Request… A Purpose Revealed
September 3rd, 2008
By Tony
From a prayer request! That’s how my journey with City started just over 5 years ago. A simple request for me and the other men in our weekly bible study to be praying for office space to come available so that a newly formed ministry called City On A Hill Productions could have a space for the first employee to report for work. That’s how this incredible journey started for me…from prayer supporter, to office space provider, to financial supporter, to Board Treasurer, and now, most recently, the ministry’s Administrator….hence this. My first ever blog!It’s been nothing short of incredible to see how the Lord’s plans for City have unfolded before my eyes, and it’s been exciting to be an integral part of that plan. I knew when I started thinking about starting my own business over 7 years ago, that there was a much higher purpose for starting the business than just performing the work we’ve been given and trying to be profitable. As I grew in my walk with the Lord and developed close friendships with other Christian men who I could receive council from and confide in, I began to pray about His plans for my career and that His will be done with the talents He had blessed me with. I began to accept that His plans were not my plans and I began to re-define my definition of “success”. I started to see one door after another open and the path started to become clearer and clearer…I knew the Lord was calling me to leave the comfort of the promising future at a large corporation to step out in faith and follow Him.So, that’s what I did, I started my business almost 6 years ago knowing how truly blessed I was that the Lord had opened doors and made the path clear enough that I didn’t have to guess if I was making the right decision. On the contrary, I KNEW I was making the right decision because, through His grace, He made it so absolutely clear that this was His plan.That’s when the prayer request for office space for CHP came - shortly after starting the business and “falling” into a great deal on an office building twice the size of anything we would need for some time to come. THE prayer request, that led to a meeting with this ministry’s director, Shane Sooter, and a simple commitment from me to him that as long as I was blessed with the space, his ministry would be blessed with the space. THE prayer request ultimately caused me to want to get on board with the ministry and support it financially.THE prayer request led to my increased involvement with the ministry by becoming a member of the board ….and now, serving as the Administrator for the growing ministry. THE prayer request eventually allowed me to step back and see just ONE of the Lord’s purposes for the business He had blessed me with…to support a ministry full of dedicated staff members that love the Lord and are dedicated to teaching how Christ taught, through telling stories, utilizing today’s communication tools to reach people with the Gospel message that might not otherwise be reached, and to support His Kingdom in any way that He wills.I’m privileged to have to opportunity to serve at City. To work with such dedicated and talented staff members. To see the daily sacrifices of them along with hundreds of volunteers dedicated to our ministry and our purpose. Thanks to all who help make our ministry possible. Thanks to the Lord for providing the vision, purpose and resources for our ministry.Thanks for THE prayer request that led to the privilege I have of serving as Administrator for City on a Hill!In Him!Tony YoungAdministrative Director
photo credits: Tyler Michael Pelan of Lighting His World Photography
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Announcing the City on a Hill Fall Event!
August 27th, 2008
By Shep
City on a Hill Productions is 5 years old! Come celebrate with us at the Olmsted on October 2nd. Wear your party clothes and get ready to have a fun & relaxed evening!
Click here for more details, or purchase tickets!
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Announcing CHP Apparel
August 20th, 2008
By Molly
Wondering what to buy this season to fit the new fall fashions? Well, the worrying is over – CHP’s new apparel and accessories are finally here! Here’s a peek into City’s fashion must haves…
As the summer nears its end, CHP offers a variety of T-shirts to bring you into the fall season. We have the trendy fading logo H2O Tees which are available in gray and an ever cool grass green, as well as the ever popular ringer Tees, available in red, chocolate brown, and gray, showcasing the H2O or CHP logo.
As it gets cooler, you may want to switch to a long sleeve T-shirt. The new gray and khaki long sleeved Tees with fading CHP logo are sure to cause a stir wherever you wear them.
If you are going for a more formal look, we are now selling button up twill long-sleeved shirts with an embroidered CHP logo, available in both white and blue.
Later in the fall, you might find a need for more warmth and you can find it in our new hoodies. We are now selling a chocolate brown H2O hoodie as well as a navy CHP hoodie. Bundling up can still look fashionable.
To accessories these fabulous shirts, we also are offering a large variety of hats to top off your look.
We have ball caps as the staple in headgear. CHP caps now come in black, khaki, and an edgier distressed cap that comes in smoky blue and gray. We even have a gray CHP visor for any of you tennis or golf players out there.
As CHP keeps up with the latest fads, we also have these trendy gray fidel caps, each featuring a CHP button.
As the weather cools down you may opt for our cool new H2O Toboggans that come in both brown and orange. We may not be able to keep these billed black knit H2O hats on the shelves. They are already in demand so order yours fast!
Want to promote CHP everyday wherever you go? One of the best ways to do this is with our new CHP totes. These fashionable bags will carry everything you need when you go out. They come in three color combos – pink-green, brown-blue, and yellow-black.
And finally, what to give those little ones who can’t wear these other great looks quite yet? Look no further. Introducing our new H2O onesies! These adorable creepers come in both bright turquoise and lime green and are sure to attract attention. (Available in 6 months and 12 months sizes).To order any of these products, visit our website store at www.cityonahillproductions.com/store
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Editing - Color Effects
August 12th, 2008
By Shep
So you wanna be a real editor… You want to take what Shane taught you, and go to the next level. You want to learn from us? Well Kevin steps up to the task with some instruction on color effecting in Final Cut, and how he edits with music in mind. Sorry we don’t yet offer credits. Coming next semester…
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Limitless Opportunities
August 6th, 2008
By Cibby
Just last weekend, Shane, Kevin and I traveled to Memphis to attend a Missions Banquet sponsored by one of our corporate sponsors – or City Builders, as we like to call them.
To be good stewards of our funds, we chose to make the 800-mile trip by car. Ummm, I think I may have earned another jewel in my crown for that decision! Actually, it was a beautiful drive, and when our conversations grew weary Shane pulled out his iTunes from the back seat and played game-show host to round after round of “Name that Artist.” Would you believe that he has over 5,000 songs on his laptop? Well, I just want everyone to know that I did beat Kevin in a tiebreaker! (He’ll go to his grave saying he was just trying to be a perfect gentleman by letting me win). I guessed “Boy George” for the winning point. Gee, that’s not so spiritual is it? Anyway, back to my story!
At this banquet, we were able to fellowship with over 20 different ministries doing amazing things for the Kingdom. The ministries ranged from a church plant across the street from Yale University to an incredibly successful entrepreneur school in Rwanda to a Prostitution-Rescue Ministry right there in the heart of Memphis.
What does CHP have to do with all of this? Well, personally, I think our Ministry Support Videos branch is what sets us apart from most other Christian film production companies. Shane puts it this way, “There are so many ministries out there doing incredible work, impacting the culture and changing peoples lives, but that doesn’t mean they have the tools they need to get the word out about what they do. This is where we come in. We partner with ministries who we feel are doing really important work and give them our creative and technical abilities and provide them with the resources they need to accomplish their mission and share their own story.”
As Partnerships Director, one of the three branches of my ministry here is to get the word out about the Support Ministry leg of CHP and procure these film projects. In other words, those of you who are supporters of CHP, whether you financially support one or several of the staff members or are a corporate donor to the ministry, you are not just supporting one ministry doing one thing. With the Support Ministry branch of CHP, the opportunity to help other ministries and their great work is limitless.
We currently have three of these videos in production – two are scheduled for filming this month, many are already in the early stages of development. Our new Ministry Support Director from Houston, Richard Ramsey arrives in two weeks. I don’t think he’s scheduled to “come up for air” anytime until after December. But don’t tell Production Manager, Cassie that…she’ll start booking him for more! Amen, so be it!
Cibby Danyla
Partnerships DirectorLINK | (1) COMMENT | POST COMMENT
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Editing - The Basics
July 30th, 2008
By Shep
You probably have a collection of tapes hanging around, collecting dust… What about breaking out a Mac and Final Cut Pro and editing those old home movies into something fresh and new?
Well Shane is here to show you how we do our basic editing, and to let you check out an edited sequence from The Easter Experience!LINK | (1) COMMENT | POST COMMENT
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A Brief Summary Of Our Projects
July 22nd, 2008
By Cass
So…we’ve got a lot going on right now. I feel like a broken record saying that, but it’s true. We are currently juggling 10 different projects. (Yikers!) I’m supposed to fill you in on all 10, and I’ve decided (which I can do since I’m the one writing this) that I’ll do it by what phase each project is in.
Phase 1: Development - this is the process by which a film/video project progresses from the birth of an idea to “greenlight status” (obviously, that means it’s a go!), at which point it goes into pre-production.
*”Shepherd’s Project”: The title has not yet been confirmed, so this is it’s temporary name. One of our goals for City on a Hill is to replicate ourselves and send well-trained media professionals out to honor the Lord with their work. Shepherd Ahlers is our intern this year, and Shane is supervising him writing & directing his very own project. Hopefully, in the next couple weeks we will move on to the Pre-Production process so that, again hopefully, we can shoot it in August.
*The Super Secret Feature-Length Film Project: Obviously, not the real name…but I’m not allowed to talk about this one yet. Let’s just say it’s going to be amazing! We currently have a completed Treatment (that’s one step before a script) and I am planning a location scouting trip to…yeah, can’t talk about that either. Don’t tell Shane I even mentioned it! Unless you want to get me into trouble, then by all means…
*The Super Secret Feature-Length Film Project Trailer: Ok, can’t really talk about this either, but hopefully…you’ll get to see this one at CHP’s 2008 Fall Event!
*Keynote Presentation: This is for our Fall Event this year. It’s going to be special.
Phase 2: Pre-Production - This is all the work that must be completed before filming or shooting begins. It includes stuff like budgeting, planning, scheduling, scouting locations, hiring actors, building sets, renting equipment…to name a few. This phase is when my world begins to get psycho.
*SACC: We just moved into pre-production on this project yesterday! Yay for Shane getting the 1st draft of the script done! This is a Ministry Support video for Southern Acres Christian Church which is in Lexington, KY. They hope to use the video to raise funding for renovations to accommodate their expanding congregation.
*Economic Opportunities: this is another Ministry Support video for an awesome ministry located in Memphis, Tennessee. Here’s their mission statement: Teaching God’s work ethic to high-risk men in order for them to know Christ more intimately, to become contributing members of the workforce, and to gain hope in a future. We are scheduled to shoot this video in mid-September and plan to complete it by December 1st.
*Talking Heads: I tried to get Shane to give this a better name, but it makes him smile so we’re keeping it. I pick my battles. Basically we are going to interview a million and three people who have been impacted by our ministry in one way or another. The idea is to produce a video that will help us share the impact H2O is having. It’s going to be so fun to hear all these stories!
Phase 3: Production - This is when the camera rolls. It’s an ugly, ugly time, but it sure makes pretty stuff! We aren’t currently in production for any project…that is why I actually have time to write this blog!
Phase 4: Post-Production - This includes all the work that must be completed after shooting ends. This includes things like the editing of raw footage to cut scenes, the creation of video special effects, inserting sound effects, ADR (see last week’s blog), the creation of the musical score, and dubbing, to name just a few.
*The Easter Experience: this, of course, is taking up the majority of our time. We are digging through the process of post-production. It’s such an involved process combining so many different elements and it overwhelms me just about every time I think about it! As of this Friday, all of the edits will be locked which is very exciting, but there is still so much left to do! We expect the series to be released in December.
*H2O: Yeah, yeah…I know H2O has been done for quite some time, but this is exciting stuff! The AFN (Armed Forces Network) has requested broadcast versions of H2O that they plan to begin airing in October of this year. We have to create a new tag for them so we had Kyle record a special message to the troops. Then we’ll edit the new tag and spend a week dumping the episodes to tape and then watching them for errors.
*Storm: Again, a project that has been finished for quite some time, but we are currently in the process of making them available to view online as well as for downloadable purchase. First we have to reattach all the footage to the edited projects which will take at least a week. After that we’ll double check the edits for necessary changes. Then we’ll do exports of each episode for the downloadable version and for viewing online. It sounds much easier than it really is…just ask Shepherd.
Well, that’s all folks! I hope you’ve enjoyed this update brought to you by City on a Hill Productions.
Much love!
Cassie Pelan
Production Manager /
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The Sound Dude Speaks
July 16th, 2008
By Shep
John Howard is our Sound Dude. (He personally requested that title and we try to pick our battles here at CHP, we call him “our skilled audio professional” behind his back.)
You would never know it when watching the finished product, (or shouldn’t) but 90% of the audio recorded during production will never make the final mix. That’s where John comes in.
Checking, 1, 2, 3, … Welcome to John’s world of audio…
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Q & A with Marcy Bryan
July 8th, 2008
By Kevin
After nearly 2,000 miles, 29 days, at least 1,637 hellos and goodbyes, we are back, to the joy (or chagrin if you saw the video blog) of the staff at City on a Hill. Let me answer a few common FAQs for you, Dear Blog-type Reader.
Q. Does Kevin really sing like that?
Yes. And he loves to sing, loudly, especially in cars—the automobile’s vinyl ceiling structure apparently heightens his Barry Manilow-like resonance. I love it.Q. Do you really have enough friends to be gone a month?
Uhhh…no, but Meghan has gathered quite a fan base around the country. And, when Kev and I are on our medication, we can be fairly friendly as well. Plus we bring snacks.Q. What do you do there?
We catch up with friends…and their now-grown children! (Some we’ve known for over 20 years! It’s sad…they seem to be getting older while we remain so young looking.) We also meet new friends and talk about what City is doing. And most of these visits surround food and our videos! So we eat lots of Chick-fil-a, home-cooked meals, and desserts while we tell stories and catch up. It’s like Old Home Week, “Show&Tell,” and a church social mashed together.Q. Have you always fundraised? (Is “Fundraised” a word?)
“Fundraised” is not a word, but don’t feel badly about it. The English language is flexible and ever changing. Keep using such imaginary words and they may eventually catch on. I say we call it FUNraising instead! BTW: We’ve “FUNraised” for nearly 15 years.Q. What do you do with poor Meghan?
Of course all of the events and people meeting can be overwhelming, but she’s who people want to see, so we take her with us. And now she has friends in each city so she spends as much time as she can “hanging” with her local “peeps.” Word.Q. What about you?
You may remember I’ve struggled with panic disorder for over 20 years.Q. That’s what I’m asking about.
These two trips were, by far, the best for me and nearly panic-free! I did all of the events and was totally flexible. Just doing two trips in a month is miraculous.Q. Do you like doing this?
Fundraising is one of the best and most difficult things I’ve ever done (the others being child rearing, home schooling, and marriage…not necessarily in that order). I love keeping up with dear friends from where we’ve lived. But it’s difficult for me to rely on others for support and I certainly don’t want others to feel pressure. Fortunately, God’s kindness prevails and we have lots of friends in many places who love and support us with their prayers, friendship, and resources. And for that I am incredibly thankful.Q. How did Kevin deal with the “abandonment issues” he described in the video blog?
As always, with his trademark kindness and love. Um…actually, he goes straight into editing the Easter Experience so he might continue to “feel” gone as a result of being holed up his office for the rest of the summer. Party on!LINK | NO COMMENTS | POST COMMENT
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Meet The Director
July 3rd, 2008
By Shep
Ever have questions that you would love to ask Shane? (Outside of: What is your favorite food? or What’s your favorite TV show?)
We are talking the serious stuff. Why was City on a Hill started? What is in store for the future? The deepest questions imaginable! (Sort of)
Good news! Shane took a moment to talk about the focus of City on a Hill from its inception, and the very exciting future! It is all wrapped up in a nice little video blog complete with a sweet techno soundtrack…LINK | (6) COMMENTS | POST COMMENT
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