Forevergreen: Behind The Story

100:00:00.450 --> 00:00:03.730Real life presents the Jack Hibbs Podcast with200:00:03.730 --> 00:00:07.130intention and boldness to proclaim truth, equip the300:00:07.130 --> 00:00:09.050saints and impact our culture.400:00:09.350 --> 00:00:11.270Hey everybody, we are in store for a500:00:11.270 --> 00:00:11.870great treat.600:00:12.210 --> 00:00:13.410I'm so excited about this.700:00:13.570 --> 00:00:15.070You're going to be excited about it.800:00:15.430 --> 00:00:17.350We are gonna take you behind the scenes900:00:17.350 --> 00:00:20.550to an amazing, I'm gonna call it a1000:00:20.550 --> 00:00:24.370technology parable that is worthy of that title1100:00:24.370 --> 00:00:28.330and so, so articulate regarding the gospel.1200:00:28.820 --> 00:00:30.230Let's find out what we're talking about.1300:00:32.350 --> 00:00:34.770You can get the outlines of this podcast1400:00:34.770 --> 00:00:38.730by going to Jackhibbs.com/podcast.1500:00:39.430 --> 00:00:42.030Today, if this podcast lifts you up and1600:00:42.030 --> 00:00:44.290encourages you to live a more fulfilled life1700:00:44.290 --> 00:00:46.390in Christ, then make sure you leave us1800:00:46.390 --> 00:00:47.990one of those five star ratings.1900:00:48.590 --> 00:00:51.630To us, that's like saying amen or yes,2000:00:51.950 --> 00:00:54.350then that rating will encourage others to listen.2100:00:54.980 --> 00:00:57.110Now open your hearts to what God's word2200:00:57.110 --> 00:00:58.110has to say to you.2300:00:58.690 --> 00:01:00.010Here is Jack Hibbs.2400:01:00.950 --> 00:01:03.250Well, hey everybody, we are super excited.2500:01:03.410 --> 00:01:04.970I gotta tell you, you're gonna be excited.2600:01:05.230 --> 00:01:06.310I am super excited.2700:01:06.570 --> 00:01:09.010I think that the 68 year old guy,2800:01:09.570 --> 00:01:12.210since I saw this short film became a2900:01:12.210 --> 00:01:13.410nine year old all over again.3000:01:13.810 --> 00:01:16.970We're gonna be speaking to Jeremy Spears and3100:01:16.970 --> 00:01:23.250Nathan Engelhardt regarding the remarkable creation of something3200:01:23.250 --> 00:01:24.470that I've never seen before.3300:01:24.710 --> 00:01:26.770I mean, this is in the realm of3400:01:26.770 --> 00:01:28.450illustration and communication.3500:01:29.550 --> 00:01:31.210This is my opinion.3600:01:31.430 --> 00:01:34.330It just transcends so many things that you3700:01:34.330 --> 00:01:34.870have seen.3800:01:35.230 --> 00:01:38.870But these two men, for example, Nathan, he's3900:01:38.870 --> 00:01:42.370an animation supervisor who has worked on films4000:01:42.370 --> 00:01:46.830such as Wreck-It Ralph, Big Hero 6.4100:01:46.950 --> 00:01:48.390My grandkids love that.4200:01:48.390 --> 00:01:53.810Zootopia, Frozen 2, Encanto, Rio, and so much4300:01:53.810 --> 00:01:54.170more.4400:01:55.070 --> 00:01:56.950He has been, that is Nathan has been,4500:01:57.370 --> 00:02:00.590he has written and directed the Oscar nominated4600:02:00.590 --> 00:02:03.390animated short film, Forevergreen, which is what4700:02:03.390 --> 00:02:05.950we're gonna be talking about today, which is4800:02:05.950 --> 00:02:09.370his directorial debut, quite frankly.4900:02:09.690 --> 00:02:13.070And then also Jeremy Spears is an award5000:02:13.070 --> 00:02:15.190winning story artist.5100:02:15.670 --> 00:02:17.230And you're gonna see why in a moment.5200:02:17.230 --> 00:02:20.870And he has helped create beloved characters and5300:02:20.870 --> 00:02:24.850stories for such films as Zootopia 2, Encanto,5400:02:25.590 --> 00:02:28.310Wreck-It Ralph, Moana, Frozen.5500:02:28.750 --> 00:02:30.910And in his free time, he creates unique5600:02:30.910 --> 00:02:33.810wooden sculptures, which I hope he'll show us5700:02:33.810 --> 00:02:35.350something like that today.5800:02:35.950 --> 00:02:40.850And in his whittling workshop, his latest passion5900:02:40.850 --> 00:02:44.630and project is directing the Oscar nominated animated6000:02:44.630 --> 00:02:47.330short film, Forevergreen as well.6100:02:47.710 --> 00:02:50.150Gentlemen, welcome to our quick podcast together.6200:02:50.290 --> 00:02:51.650I know that you guys are up against6300:02:51.650 --> 00:02:54.230a hard stop as I am, but welcome6400:02:54.230 --> 00:02:55.410to our show.6500:02:55.930 --> 00:02:58.350And just for those who are not familiar,6600:02:58.810 --> 00:03:03.190when I saw your short film, I was6700:03:03.190 --> 00:03:03.870captivated.6800:03:04.230 --> 00:03:06.150I don't even remember how I found it,6900:03:06.290 --> 00:03:07.190how it came to me.7000:03:07.250 --> 00:03:08.450Maybe you guys sent it to me, I7100:03:08.450 --> 00:03:08.810don't know.7200:03:09.050 --> 00:03:11.270I sent it out to everybody that I7300:03:11.270 --> 00:03:13.850knew, not knowing if I was to do7400:03:13.850 --> 00:03:14.390that or not.7500:03:14.390 --> 00:03:15.710I just did it.7600:03:16.190 --> 00:03:17.470I just did it.7700:03:17.890 --> 00:03:21.310And then on the next day at church7800:03:21.310 --> 00:03:24.350before service began, I just said, play it.7900:03:24.410 --> 00:03:25.610I want everybody to see this.8000:03:25.750 --> 00:03:28.170And I tell you, we got flooded with8100:03:28.170 --> 00:03:30.610comments from people across the United States.8200:03:30.830 --> 00:03:32.010What a work this is.8300:03:32.470 --> 00:03:35.490Can you guys tell us, take us back8400:03:35.490 --> 00:03:39.430into the creativity of it, how you guys8500:03:39.430 --> 00:03:40.450came about doing this?8600:03:40.610 --> 00:03:42.770Because what a gospel presentation.8700:03:42.770 --> 00:03:46.070And here's what's awesome too about it.8800:03:46.130 --> 00:03:47.630It's not only a gospel presentation.8900:03:48.370 --> 00:03:53.630It's actually a word of discipleship to believers9000:03:53.630 --> 00:03:55.590who think they have just fallen too far9100:03:55.590 --> 00:03:57.970away and God cannot bring them back.9200:03:58.210 --> 00:03:59.810So can you guys just go off on9300:03:59.810 --> 00:04:00.030this?9400:04:00.150 --> 00:04:02.010Because I just wanna hear from you.9500:04:02.130 --> 00:04:03.570Our audience wants to hear from you.9600:04:03.770 --> 00:04:04.950What a great work this is.9700:04:05.050 --> 00:04:05.470Thank you.9800:04:06.210 --> 00:04:07.770Well, first of all, thank you for having9900:04:07.770 --> 00:04:08.410us on.10000:04:08.610 --> 00:04:10.090It's such an honor to be on this10100:04:10.090 --> 00:04:10.730with you, pastor.10200:04:10.730 --> 00:04:13.290And gosh, it's been a quite a journey10300:04:13.290 --> 00:04:14.330for both Jeremy and I.10400:04:14.510 --> 00:04:17.269We started this journey about six years ago10500:04:17.269 --> 00:04:20.110and I think around September, 2019, right before10600:04:20.110 --> 00:04:20.490COVID.10700:04:21.170 --> 00:04:23.410So this is sort of our COVID project10800:04:23.410 --> 00:04:25.850while we were all in lockdown that we10900:04:25.850 --> 00:04:26.910worked a lot on.11000:04:27.430 --> 00:04:32.570And so we, Jeremy and I, we had11100:04:32.570 --> 00:04:34.670a desire to use our gifts for the11200:04:34.670 --> 00:04:37.690Lord and had an opportunity to do that11300:04:37.690 --> 00:04:39.890with this film to tell a story about11400:04:39.890 --> 00:04:44.230unmerited grace and a kind of love that11500:04:44.230 --> 00:04:48.350is, you know, forever, a forever kind of11600:04:48.350 --> 00:04:48.710love.11700:04:49.610 --> 00:04:52.190And so we desired to, you know, set11800:04:52.190 --> 00:04:52.930off on that journey.11900:04:53.270 --> 00:04:56.570And we, this film was actually made by12000:04:56.570 --> 00:05:00.470200 volunteers, everyone in their free time.12100:05:00.590 --> 00:05:02.370And so no one got paid.12200:05:02.490 --> 00:05:04.890We did this in our nights, our weekends,12300:05:05.610 --> 00:05:06.450holidays.12400:05:07.470 --> 00:05:09.270And after six years, you know, that's a12500:05:09.270 --> 00:05:11.310long time to do that to make a12600:05:11.310 --> 00:05:12.41012 minute short film.12700:05:12.550 --> 00:05:14.870But so finally being at this point now12800:05:14.870 --> 00:05:17.130where we're able to unveil it and share12900:05:17.130 --> 00:05:18.630it with the world, we're just, we couldn't13000:05:18.630 --> 00:05:19.830be more excited, so.13100:05:20.970 --> 00:05:21.690Wow, amazing.13200:05:21.810 --> 00:05:23.570Yeah, I just wanted to say the same.13300:05:23.670 --> 00:05:26.190It's an honor to get to speak with13400:05:26.190 --> 00:05:28.110you today and thanks for having us on.13500:05:28.230 --> 00:05:29.310I'm Jeremy, by the way.13600:05:29.350 --> 00:05:30.230I don't know if our names are gonna13700:05:30.230 --> 00:05:31.590be at the bottoms, but just letting you13800:05:31.590 --> 00:05:31.850know.13900:05:33.210 --> 00:05:35.390And so, yeah, it's just, it's such a14000:05:35.390 --> 00:05:37.870treat to get to start sharing about this14100:05:37.870 --> 00:05:38.110film.14200:05:38.470 --> 00:05:40.430Nathan and I, when we started on it,14300:05:40.730 --> 00:05:43.310I think it was that slow reveal that14400:05:43.310 --> 00:05:45.450God would kind of go, hey guys, by14500:05:45.450 --> 00:05:46.710the way, you could do this with this14600:05:46.710 --> 00:05:46.930short.14700:05:47.050 --> 00:05:48.470Oh, and you could do this with this14800:05:48.470 --> 00:05:49.870and you could do, and it was just14900:05:49.870 --> 00:05:53.910this continual, just sort of standing back in15000:05:53.910 --> 00:05:56.110awe at what the Lord was doing in15100:05:56.110 --> 00:05:57.050our lives personally.15200:05:57.830 --> 00:05:59.710And then also just along the way on15300:05:59.710 --> 00:06:00.950the making of this film.15400:06:01.420 --> 00:06:02.930And I just wanted to say just kind15500:06:02.930 --> 00:06:04.870of how briefly how we got started.15600:06:05.430 --> 00:06:07.370Nathan and I, we've been pals for years.15700:06:07.570 --> 00:06:09.930We've worked together on many projects, as you've15800:06:09.930 --> 00:06:10.150heard.15900:06:11.110 --> 00:06:13.270And so we kind of had this one16000:06:13.270 --> 00:06:16.390lunch one day where I had just had16100:06:16.390 --> 00:06:21.390my fourth child, our little guy, Rhett, who's16200:06:21.390 --> 00:06:22.030now six.16300:06:22.530 --> 00:06:23.650Lo and behold, six years.16400:06:25.530 --> 00:06:27.770And Nathan was like, he's been working on16500:06:27.770 --> 00:06:30.830a tree idea based on the Three Trees16600:06:30.830 --> 00:06:33.350storybook, if you've heard of that picture.16700:06:33.870 --> 00:06:34.010Great.16800:06:34.710 --> 00:06:38.110And he basically said, Jeremy, what if you16900:06:38.110 --> 00:06:39.970helped me direct this film?17000:06:40.030 --> 00:06:41.890What if we worked on it together and17100:06:41.890 --> 00:06:42.670do your thing?17200:06:42.750 --> 00:06:43.670I'm a story guy.17300:06:44.150 --> 00:06:45.130He's an animator.17400:06:45.170 --> 00:06:46.650Between the two of us, we could probably17500:06:46.650 --> 00:06:47.470make something.17600:06:48.290 --> 00:06:50.350And so I went off for a couple17700:06:50.350 --> 00:06:52.650of weeks and kind of did the thing17800:06:52.650 --> 00:06:54.370that I'm used to doing, which is you17900:06:54.370 --> 00:06:56.870take an idea and you pull it apart18000:06:56.870 --> 00:06:58.910and it's like a car.18100:06:58.910 --> 00:07:01.170You pull the pieces apart and then you18200:07:01.170 --> 00:07:02.690look at everything and you kind of know18300:07:02.690 --> 00:07:03.850how to put it back together, but you18400:07:03.850 --> 00:07:05.450just want to see, is there things that18500:07:05.450 --> 00:07:07.230maybe we don't need or maybe we need18600:07:07.230 --> 00:07:09.610to add to get this car really, really18700:07:09.610 --> 00:07:09.870moving?18800:07:10.030 --> 00:07:11.810So anyways, that's what I did.18900:07:12.230 --> 00:07:15.030In that process, I came across this image19000:07:15.030 --> 00:07:17.650of a, spoiler alert, if you haven't seen19100:07:17.650 --> 00:07:20.790the film, there's a tree that had fallen19200:07:20.790 --> 00:07:22.110across a divide and it was a big,19300:07:22.190 --> 00:07:25.270giant redwood tree and there's a waterfall behind19400:07:25.270 --> 00:07:25.490it.19500:07:26.190 --> 00:07:30.310And I saw that image and a little19600:07:30.310 --> 00:07:32.270bit of background is I had for years19700:07:32.270 --> 00:07:35.930been encouraged to be more outspoken with my19800:07:35.930 --> 00:07:37.750faith, to share it in a visual way19900:07:37.750 --> 00:07:39.930is always the goal that we do in20000:07:39.930 --> 00:07:40.230story.20100:07:40.370 --> 00:07:42.010We always try to tell a story visually.20200:07:42.430 --> 00:07:44.010And I saw that image and it was20300:07:44.010 --> 00:07:45.690like a lightning bolt moment where it was20400:07:45.690 --> 00:07:47.670like, okay, that's the story.20500:07:47.990 --> 00:07:49.950I saw, I had been, so just to20600:07:49.950 --> 00:07:52.370show you a little wood carving, this is,20700:07:52.450 --> 00:07:54.290let me get it adjusted in the frame.20800:07:54.290 --> 00:07:56.410This is this bear that I had been20900:07:56.410 --> 00:07:59.350carving back in 2018, 2019.21000:08:00.130 --> 00:08:02.750I made a bunch of these, reproduced them21100:08:02.750 --> 00:08:03.370and sold them.21200:08:03.950 --> 00:08:06.610And so I was deep in bear country21300:08:06.610 --> 00:08:07.350at the time.21400:08:08.090 --> 00:08:10.150And I thought, okay, if there's a tree21500:08:10.150 --> 00:08:12.170that had fallen across the divide, that could21600:08:12.170 --> 00:08:15.770represent what Christ did for us, that it's21700:08:15.770 --> 00:08:17.730kind of the classic Bible tract image of21800:08:17.730 --> 00:08:20.170God on one side, man on the other,21900:08:20.270 --> 00:08:22.210a divide and there's a cross in between22000:08:22.210 --> 00:08:23.870that is the bridge to safety.22100:08:24.610 --> 00:08:25.910And I thought, okay, well, what would the22200:08:25.910 --> 00:08:29.230character be that could be running across this22300:08:29.230 --> 00:08:30.310fallen tree?22400:08:30.810 --> 00:08:32.010And I was like, oh, what about a22500:08:32.010 --> 00:08:32.270bear?22600:08:32.669 --> 00:08:35.789So I came back to Nathan and I22700:08:35.789 --> 00:08:38.710pitched him sort of a fixed up version22800:08:38.710 --> 00:08:41.230of the story that he'd been working on.22900:08:41.710 --> 00:08:43.510And he's like, oh, that's nice.23000:08:43.730 --> 00:08:45.270And I said, but I have one more23100:08:45.270 --> 00:08:46.750thing that I gotta, I just wanna show23200:08:46.750 --> 00:08:47.210you this.23300:08:47.630 --> 00:08:50.210No hard feelings, I just wanna, and so23400:08:50.210 --> 00:08:53.030I showed him the second idea and we23500:08:53.030 --> 00:08:56.390got to, I got to that image and23600:08:56.390 --> 00:08:57.870Nathan goes, stop.23700:08:57.950 --> 00:08:59.710He's like, just hold on a second.23800:08:59.810 --> 00:09:00.630This is crazy.23900:09:01.370 --> 00:09:02.330Nathan, you wanna take over?24000:09:03.570 --> 00:09:06.710Well, what was funny was that I had24100:09:06.710 --> 00:09:08.650just drawn that same image.24200:09:09.150 --> 00:09:11.810And so this was sort of a, because24300:09:11.810 --> 00:09:14.470I had a coworker and was just sharing24400:09:14.470 --> 00:09:16.270the gospel with them and they had asked24500:09:16.270 --> 00:09:17.290why the cross.24600:09:17.950 --> 00:09:19.410And so I was like, well, let me24700:09:19.410 --> 00:09:19.970draw it.24800:09:20.130 --> 00:09:20.430Why?24900:09:20.570 --> 00:09:22.950And here's the God, man, the sin that25000:09:22.950 --> 00:09:24.850divides us and then that bridge that crosses25100:09:24.850 --> 00:09:26.630and you see that it reveals the cross25200:09:26.630 --> 00:09:29.070and he was like, oh, whoa, oh, okay.25300:09:29.650 --> 00:09:31.270And I had a great conversation like, oh25400:09:31.270 --> 00:09:33.430yeah, hang on to that because the enemy25500:09:33.430 --> 00:09:35.050will try to snatch that away and told25600:09:35.050 --> 00:09:36.270him the parable of the four soils.25700:09:36.850 --> 00:09:39.510And so, and gave him a Bible.25800:09:39.850 --> 00:09:41.890And so it was just, it was a25900:09:41.890 --> 00:09:45.030cool moment but what Jeremy didn't mention was26000:09:45.030 --> 00:09:47.030during that time when I had invited him26100:09:47.030 --> 00:09:50.750in on that, I had, it started as26200:09:50.750 --> 00:09:52.450an adaptation but then it had evolved to26300:09:52.450 --> 00:09:54.930one tree and it was kind of inverse26400:09:54.930 --> 00:09:56.750where the tree had something to learn as26500:09:56.750 --> 00:09:57.630opposed to a bear.26600:09:59.130 --> 00:10:03.430And so, and there was elements, spiritual elements26700:10:03.430 --> 00:10:05.970and I was wrestling through a couple of26800:10:05.970 --> 00:10:08.270things and it may sound silly to some,26900:10:09.030 --> 00:10:12.850but should we have verses on fantasy?27000:10:13.210 --> 00:10:14.330Should we show Christ?27100:10:14.330 --> 00:10:16.790Things like that that are, maybe for some27200:10:16.790 --> 00:10:19.550people, they're not convicted or by, but for27300:10:19.550 --> 00:10:20.990me, I just, I hadn't thought about that27400:10:20.990 --> 00:10:22.550or the responsibility of that before.27500:10:22.770 --> 00:10:25.030And so I was really going through that27600:10:25.030 --> 00:10:27.230and just, I didn't wanna bring any disrepute27700:10:27.230 --> 00:10:30.290upon the name of our Lord or the27800:10:30.290 --> 00:10:31.310scripture or whatever.27900:10:31.490 --> 00:10:34.010And so, I mean, I was really distraught28000:10:34.010 --> 00:10:36.030about this and it was right around the28100:10:36.030 --> 00:10:37.730time I was inviting Jeremy in and I28200:10:37.730 --> 00:10:40.070had prayed, I said, Lord, even if you28300:10:40.070 --> 00:10:42.890give Jeremy a completely different idea, just make28400:10:42.890 --> 00:10:43.850that plain to me.28500:10:43.850 --> 00:10:46.270I don't have to be the guy.28600:10:46.410 --> 00:10:48.670I don't have to have that spark of28700:10:48.670 --> 00:10:49.270the idea.28800:10:51.050 --> 00:10:53.390And so Jeremy went off, did his thing,28900:10:53.470 --> 00:10:55.310but that's what I was praying while he29000:10:55.310 --> 00:10:56.230was going away.29100:10:56.650 --> 00:10:58.630And then in that same little two week29200:10:58.630 --> 00:11:01.090period, I had that witnessing opportunity where I29300:11:01.090 --> 00:11:01.910drew that thing.29400:11:02.050 --> 00:11:03.710So now let's fast forward to that moment.29500:11:04.270 --> 00:11:05.370Jeremy pitches this thing.29600:11:05.470 --> 00:11:06.550I see that drawing.29700:11:06.690 --> 00:11:09.950I'm like, I just drew that thing and29800:11:09.950 --> 00:11:12.090it was sitting on my desk and he29900:11:12.090 --> 00:11:13.690goes, I know about it.30000:11:13.690 --> 00:11:14.610I was like, wait, what?30100:11:14.970 --> 00:11:17.030I was like, come on, let's come in.30200:11:17.330 --> 00:11:18.470I wanna show you the drawing.30300:11:18.870 --> 00:11:20.070And he goes, I saw it.30400:11:20.090 --> 00:11:21.290And he goes, what do you mean you30500:11:21.290 --> 00:11:21.750saw it?30600:11:22.050 --> 00:11:23.590And so if you wanna take over again.30700:11:23.950 --> 00:11:25.090No, no, I just wanted to make sure30800:11:25.090 --> 00:11:26.610it was like, yeah, I had gone down30900:11:26.610 --> 00:11:28.490the day before to just talk to you31000:11:28.490 --> 00:11:30.230about something, I don't know.31100:11:30.410 --> 00:11:32.110And I was like, or maybe like, hey,31200:11:32.130 --> 00:11:33.490I'm gonna pitch you the stuff tomorrow or31300:11:33.490 --> 00:11:33.670whatever.31400:11:34.010 --> 00:11:36.190And I saw that on his desk and31500:11:36.190 --> 00:11:38.050I just, I was like, this is crazy.31600:11:38.210 --> 00:11:40.230And one of his friends was in the31700:11:40.230 --> 00:11:42.790office there and I was like, Ryan, this31800:11:42.790 --> 00:11:43.330is crazy.31900:11:43.330 --> 00:11:46.470I just drew this drawing and it's now32000:11:46.470 --> 00:11:47.450it's here in front of me.32100:11:47.590 --> 00:11:48.910And so it was in that moment that,32200:11:49.210 --> 00:11:52.250as a showman, as a storyteller, I waited32300:11:52.250 --> 00:11:52.930for my moment.32400:11:53.010 --> 00:11:54.850Cause I was like, okay, I think I32500:11:54.850 --> 00:11:55.310got him.32600:11:55.690 --> 00:11:57.950I think I can show him this drawing32700:11:57.950 --> 00:11:59.210and maybe he'll react.32800:11:59.410 --> 00:12:02.850And sure enough, it was God really, honestly,32900:12:03.210 --> 00:12:06.130like it was the clarification that we both33000:12:06.130 --> 00:12:06.710needed to go.33100:12:06.810 --> 00:12:10.390Okay, go, go do this crazy thing.33200:12:10.910 --> 00:12:12.650And it kind of, there was no turning33300:12:12.650 --> 00:12:14.550back at that point because like, I think33400:12:14.550 --> 00:12:16.450when God asks you to do something, I33500:12:16.450 --> 00:12:18.030truly believe that he set it on our33600:12:18.030 --> 00:12:18.950hearts to do this.33700:12:19.250 --> 00:12:19.530No doubt.33800:12:20.310 --> 00:12:22.470So that, yeah, so that's the story.33900:12:22.610 --> 00:12:22.890There you go.34000:12:23.510 --> 00:12:24.970Yeah, it was a huge answer to prayer34100:12:24.970 --> 00:12:25.790for me too.34200:12:25.990 --> 00:12:27.390You know, it was, it felt like there34300:12:27.390 --> 00:12:29.130was permission to go and do this thing34400:12:29.130 --> 00:12:31.230and felt like the Lord's hand was behind34500:12:31.230 --> 00:12:31.490it.34600:12:31.650 --> 00:12:34.630And I mean, we always call him, we34700:12:34.630 --> 00:12:36.550don't have an executive producer title on there34800:12:36.550 --> 00:12:38.250because we always give credit to the Lord.34900:12:38.250 --> 00:12:40.630He's our executive producer and has always been35000:12:40.630 --> 00:12:43.430leading the project and providing for the project.35100:12:43.610 --> 00:12:46.330And, you know, we were very prayerful over35200:12:46.330 --> 00:12:46.850the project.35300:12:47.070 --> 00:12:49.170And so it was just so amazing to35400:12:49.170 --> 00:12:51.530have that be the beginning of the project.35500:12:51.590 --> 00:12:53.870And we just set sail off that.35600:12:54.010 --> 00:12:55.990And both Jeremy and I then started to35700:12:55.990 --> 00:12:57.810build off of the, you know, the foundation35800:12:57.810 --> 00:12:59.930that Jeremy had given and brought in other35900:12:59.930 --> 00:13:01.630components, the prodigal son thing.36000:13:01.830 --> 00:13:03.510And yeah, and then got to where we36100:13:03.510 --> 00:13:03.930are today.36200:13:04.730 --> 00:13:05.930It's so amazing.36300:13:06.170 --> 00:13:07.150And you know what's great?36400:13:07.150 --> 00:13:09.950One of you mentioned earlier, a spoiler alert.36500:13:10.550 --> 00:13:13.190We don't have to worry about spoiler alerts36600:13:13.190 --> 00:13:16.590with this because I've watched it five or36700:13:16.590 --> 00:13:17.350six times.36800:13:17.430 --> 00:13:20.930And every single time it has drawn me36900:13:20.930 --> 00:13:24.010deeper into some of the things that you37000:13:24.010 --> 00:13:27.750guys have tucked away knowingly or unknowingly as37100:13:27.750 --> 00:13:29.350treasures for the believer.37200:13:29.730 --> 00:13:32.790This is something that it's not like, and37300:13:32.790 --> 00:13:35.990I'm not putting down any other illustration, but,37400:13:36.290 --> 00:13:40.490you know, I remember way, way back before37500:13:40.490 --> 00:13:42.330you guys were probably born, I think Pixar37600:13:42.330 --> 00:13:45.990started out with an old man playing chess37700:13:45.990 --> 00:13:46.690in the park.37800:13:48.150 --> 00:13:50.330And that was, you know, that was pretty,37900:13:50.450 --> 00:13:51.150it was awesome.38000:13:51.270 --> 00:13:52.450We all loved it, but it was pretty38100:13:52.450 --> 00:13:52.750simple.38200:13:52.850 --> 00:13:54.630There was no, you know, there wasn't anything38300:13:54.630 --> 00:13:56.150where I needed to watch it again and38400:13:56.150 --> 00:13:57.770again and again, other than it was cute.38500:13:58.630 --> 00:14:01.830This, what you've done, this is not only38600:14:01.830 --> 00:14:06.070beautiful, but there's that mystique of the animation38700:14:06.070 --> 00:14:06.930that you use.38800:14:07.090 --> 00:14:11.270It's almost kind of, oh, I'm not an38900:14:11.270 --> 00:14:14.170artist, but it's almost kind of like paper39000:14:14.170 --> 00:14:17.550cuttings or like you said, the wood carvings.39100:14:18.650 --> 00:14:22.330But there is, I mean, I noticed that,39200:14:22.790 --> 00:14:25.650uh-oh, when the crows showed up, uh39300:14:25.650 --> 00:14:28.210-oh, my heart went, uh-oh, birds, not39400:14:28.210 --> 00:14:28.490good.39500:14:28.610 --> 00:14:29.650Something's gonna go wrong.39600:14:30.130 --> 00:14:31.750And so I got anxious.39700:14:32.150 --> 00:14:34.030And then you see the little guy, the39800:14:34.030 --> 00:14:36.330bear being lured away.39900:14:36.650 --> 00:14:39.630And then he comes to his, the prodigal40000:14:39.630 --> 00:14:41.690son, you know, pot of gold, so to40100:14:41.690 --> 00:14:44.590speak, an abandoned campsite with a bunch of40200:14:44.590 --> 00:14:45.350trash.40300:14:45.870 --> 00:14:48.110And he thinks he's just inherited, you know,40400:14:48.130 --> 00:14:48.790the lottery.40500:14:49.870 --> 00:14:52.450And it was, it's just so deep.40600:14:53.030 --> 00:14:55.550And so my question to you guys is,40700:14:56.210 --> 00:14:58.410for those who are now going to watch40800:14:58.410 --> 00:15:01.810it, they're seeing this broadcast, they're gonna go40900:15:01.810 --> 00:15:02.330watch it.41000:15:03.110 --> 00:15:04.530Take us behind the scenes.41100:15:04.970 --> 00:15:06.210Who is this little bear?41200:15:07.350 --> 00:15:10.310And what about the tree?41300:15:11.210 --> 00:15:14.930Expressions, please talk to me about the expressions,41400:15:15.410 --> 00:15:17.290the eyes, the emotions.41500:15:18.150 --> 00:15:19.110Talk to me about that.41600:15:19.170 --> 00:15:22.010Take me behind into your heart as to41700:15:22.010 --> 00:15:24.270what these little things represent.41800:15:25.310 --> 00:15:25.870Sure.41900:15:26.230 --> 00:15:27.390Jeremy, you want me to take that?42000:15:27.390 --> 00:15:29.110Yeah, go for it.42100:15:29.290 --> 00:15:29.770Cool.42200:15:31.390 --> 00:15:33.610So Jeremy is an incredible woodcarver.42300:15:33.770 --> 00:15:34.790You've seen his stuff.42400:15:35.090 --> 00:15:39.230And so early on, you know, we, I42500:15:39.230 --> 00:15:41.810mean, there was already trees and wood, of42600:15:41.810 --> 00:15:43.310course, and he's a woodcarver.42700:15:43.410 --> 00:15:44.950And so that seemed like a pretty easy42800:15:44.950 --> 00:15:46.030putting it together.42900:15:46.030 --> 00:15:47.290But you don't want to just do a43000:15:47.290 --> 00:15:51.010cool aesthetic style for no narrative reason, right?43100:15:51.030 --> 00:15:53.570You want the visual style of any film43200:15:54.050 --> 00:15:56.750to kind of grow out of the narrative43300:15:56.750 --> 00:15:57.830and the storytelling.43400:15:58.290 --> 00:16:01.110So it's one thing to have a cool43500:16:01.110 --> 00:16:03.790idea, but you really want it to resonate43600:16:03.790 --> 00:16:05.630also on the character level.43700:16:06.450 --> 00:16:07.770And that's what we tried to do with43800:16:07.770 --> 00:16:08.330Forevergreen.43900:16:08.490 --> 00:16:11.370So, you know, we wanted it to make44000:16:11.370 --> 00:16:13.290it feel like in this sort of Genesis44100:16:13.290 --> 00:16:16.090One kind of way where, you know, God44200:16:16.090 --> 00:16:18.390making man in his own image, we wanted44300:16:18.390 --> 00:16:20.750to have it look like the tree, the44400:16:20.750 --> 00:16:23.250bear could have been carved from the tree44500:16:23.250 --> 00:16:26.370so that when they're together in frame, they44600:16:26.370 --> 00:16:27.690just, they go together.44700:16:28.510 --> 00:16:31.430And that whole side is sort of, that44800:16:31.430 --> 00:16:35.130they're on is sort of this handcrafted world44900:16:35.130 --> 00:16:37.350and very stylized.45000:16:37.510 --> 00:16:39.910But, you know, when the bear then goes45100:16:39.910 --> 00:16:43.510prodigal and is sitting in the materials that45200:16:43.510 --> 00:16:47.150is vacuum form plastics and, you know, steel45300:16:47.150 --> 00:16:49.490wool and all these other man-made materials,45400:16:50.470 --> 00:16:54.050he, it will look, there'll be a juxtaposition45500:16:54.690 --> 00:16:58.110with that antithetical material that it will feel45600:16:58.110 --> 00:16:59.490subliminally wrong.45700:16:59.730 --> 00:17:01.310Like you don't want the bear to be45800:17:01.310 --> 00:17:02.450sitting in that pile of trash.45900:17:02.530 --> 00:17:04.089You wanna be sitting in the wooden loving46000:17:04.089 --> 00:17:05.950arms of that benevolent tree.46100:17:06.130 --> 00:17:08.390And so I think that was very intentional46200:17:08.390 --> 00:17:11.750and we even did a little stop motion46300:17:11.750 --> 00:17:12.170nod.46400:17:12.410 --> 00:17:14.550So that's sort of the animation technique that46500:17:14.550 --> 00:17:16.510both Jeremy and I, we love stop motion46600:17:16.510 --> 00:17:16.990animation.46700:17:17.650 --> 00:17:21.190Studios like Aardman or Rankin Bass, those old46800:17:21.190 --> 00:17:24.670Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, special Christmas specials46900:17:24.670 --> 00:17:25.270that you remember.47000:17:25.849 --> 00:17:29.470They had a kind of a nostalgic look47100:17:29.470 --> 00:17:31.850to them and we were very much inspired47200:17:31.850 --> 00:17:32.450by that.47300:17:32.730 --> 00:17:36.290And so, but in CG, since this wasn't47400:17:36.290 --> 00:17:40.170stop motion, you know, really what we wanted47500:17:40.170 --> 00:17:41.970to do is if we had all the47600:17:41.970 --> 00:17:43.210time in the world was to have Jeremy47700:17:43.210 --> 00:17:45.670carve a unique wood carving for every frame47800:17:45.670 --> 00:17:47.450of animation, but that would have taken forever.47900:17:48.250 --> 00:17:49.990It would have taken, yeah, a hundred years.48000:17:49.990 --> 00:17:50.770So, yeah.48100:17:51.510 --> 00:17:53.730So we use the power of technology and48200:17:53.730 --> 00:17:56.470the computers and we had an incredible team48300:17:56.470 --> 00:17:59.470that helped us build a stop motion like48400:17:59.470 --> 00:18:03.130texture system that helped it make it look48500:18:03.130 --> 00:18:04.590like it was stop motion.48600:18:05.310 --> 00:18:07.490And really what's cool about that is that48700:18:07.490 --> 00:18:10.690it was, they're the only characters that oscillate48800:18:10.690 --> 00:18:13.950like that and have that look like it's48900:18:13.950 --> 00:18:15.910a unique wood carving for every frame animation.49000:18:15.910 --> 00:18:18.970And it almost serves as a heartbeat for49100:18:18.970 --> 00:18:22.190those characters and it serves many purposes, but49200:18:22.190 --> 00:18:24.270they're the only two characters that do that.49300:18:25.190 --> 00:18:27.670And when the tree is in the area49400:18:27.670 --> 00:18:31.190that we call Death Valley, after sacrificing himself,49500:18:32.970 --> 00:18:37.610you really feel that the tree, after kind49600:18:37.610 --> 00:18:39.530of being trained the whole short up until49700:18:39.530 --> 00:18:41.690that point, that that is kind of the49800:18:41.690 --> 00:18:44.490life heartbeat of the character and then it49900:18:44.490 --> 00:18:48.230being completely still next to this very slow50000:18:48.230 --> 00:18:52.090oscillating texture of the bear, hopefully that will50100:18:52.090 --> 00:18:53.250hit harder visually.50200:18:53.570 --> 00:18:55.570And so we're always as filmmakers looking for50300:18:55.570 --> 00:18:59.990those opportunities to say something specific with our50400:18:59.990 --> 00:19:03.850animation, with our lighting, with our effects and50500:19:03.850 --> 00:19:04.870the sound design.50600:19:05.050 --> 00:19:10.250Every part of the film, those 200 volunteers,50700:19:10.550 --> 00:19:13.130you can't highlight them enough that they brought50800:19:13.130 --> 00:19:18.150their masterful craft to the table to like50900:19:18.150 --> 00:19:21.470a beautiful mosaic, everyone putting their piece of51000:19:21.470 --> 00:19:23.390the tile to create kind of the big51100:19:23.390 --> 00:19:25.510frame of the film.51200:19:26.150 --> 00:19:28.190Yeah, and I wanna jump in too and51300:19:28.190 --> 00:19:30.970you had mentioned this specifically and I'm so51400:19:30.970 --> 00:19:33.690glad you noticed all those details because for51500:19:33.690 --> 00:19:35.210all of us that worked on it so51600:19:35.210 --> 00:19:37.030hard and again, each one of those 20051700:19:37.030 --> 00:19:39.250people, some of them would work on just51800:19:39.250 --> 00:19:40.950the crow or they'd work on just the51900:19:40.950 --> 00:19:43.130texture of the crow or the animation of52000:19:43.130 --> 00:19:43.470the crow.52100:19:44.110 --> 00:19:46.830So knowing that it communicated and that it52200:19:46.830 --> 00:19:49.430was the effects of the crow, they had52300:19:49.430 --> 00:19:51.630some dust particles and so I wanted to52400:19:51.630 --> 00:19:53.090talk about this for a second because I52500:19:53.090 --> 00:19:55.290think this is, we geek out about this52600:19:55.290 --> 00:20:01.410as animators but with those crows, there's a52700:20:01.410 --> 00:20:03.910fun little story of again, just how you52800:20:03.910 --> 00:20:06.510get stuck on an idea and it's like,52900:20:06.530 --> 00:20:08.230what is that solution gonna be?53000:20:08.910 --> 00:20:10.450And it was a prayerful moment.53100:20:10.450 --> 00:20:12.270I literally was like, Lord, just give us53200:20:12.270 --> 00:20:12.730the answer.53300:20:12.870 --> 00:20:14.870What should these crows be made of?53400:20:15.830 --> 00:20:17.770And we knew they were gonna be the53500:20:17.770 --> 00:20:21.490tempters, they were gonna be this alluring figure53600:20:22.790 --> 00:20:24.790that lets the audience know that that's where53700:20:24.790 --> 00:20:25.170he's heading.53800:20:25.250 --> 00:20:26.530They can actually fly over to the other53900:20:26.530 --> 00:20:26.850side.54000:20:27.050 --> 00:20:28.430A good friend of mine, Don Doherty is54100:20:28.430 --> 00:20:31.130actually the one who came up with, he's54200:20:31.130 --> 00:20:32.410like, you should have it be crows.54300:20:32.590 --> 00:20:33.990So there's just like all these people adding54400:20:33.990 --> 00:20:36.230these little things in and we just go,54500:20:36.330 --> 00:20:37.330oh my goodness, that's it.54600:20:37.550 --> 00:20:39.990Well, I'm sitting around in a campfire, we54700:20:39.990 --> 00:20:41.870had gone on a family road trip to54800:20:41.870 --> 00:20:44.310Yellowstone and I'm looking at all these rocks54900:20:44.310 --> 00:20:45.230and different things around.55000:20:45.330 --> 00:20:47.370I'm like, okay, maybe this black rock or55100:20:47.370 --> 00:20:50.090this could be the texture of this crow,55200:20:50.170 --> 00:20:51.350it could be an organic thing.55300:20:51.930 --> 00:20:55.850And then I go down to the campfire55400:20:55.850 --> 00:20:58.250the next morning after just really thinking about55500:20:58.250 --> 00:20:59.910this a lot and I look in the55600:20:59.910 --> 00:21:02.650fire and there's a burnt piece of wood55700:21:02.650 --> 00:21:04.670and I pick it up and I just55800:21:04.670 --> 00:21:07.410kind of rotate it in the glistening from55900:21:07.410 --> 00:21:09.890the sun and it has that sort of56000:21:09.890 --> 00:21:13.830multicolor even that a oily wing of a56100:21:13.830 --> 00:21:14.290crow has.56200:21:14.930 --> 00:21:16.710And I just, I flipped out.56300:21:16.910 --> 00:21:18.950I sent Nathan a quick video of it56400:21:18.950 --> 00:21:20.790and I'm like, dude, we got the crow.56500:21:21.170 --> 00:21:23.930And so, and it works thematically that it's56600:21:23.930 --> 00:21:26.790this character that has been over there.56700:21:26.950 --> 00:21:28.590It's been messing around in stuff that it56800:21:28.590 --> 00:21:30.810shouldn't be and that trash is not where56900:21:30.810 --> 00:21:34.670they're supposed to be and that they're sort57000:21:34.670 --> 00:21:37.910of a representation of what you could become57100:21:37.910 --> 00:21:39.850if you let yourself get burned by the57200:21:39.850 --> 00:21:40.090fire.57300:21:40.270 --> 00:21:42.190And so it just, it was this just57400:21:42.190 --> 00:21:43.170epiphany moment.57500:21:43.350 --> 00:21:45.450You know, again, like it felt like, oh,57600:21:45.490 --> 00:21:46.050that's a gift.57700:21:46.170 --> 00:21:46.550Thank you.57800:21:46.890 --> 00:21:47.410Thank you, Lord.57900:21:47.810 --> 00:21:48.610I love it.58000:21:48.710 --> 00:21:49.570Yeah, really cool.58100:21:49.710 --> 00:21:49.930I love it.58200:21:50.250 --> 00:21:52.130You guys, one of the scenes, I don't58300:21:52.130 --> 00:21:54.090know if people picked up on it but58400:21:54.090 --> 00:21:56.570it just grabbed my heart, which is why58500:21:56.570 --> 00:21:59.090I do believe this one scene I'm gonna58600:21:59.090 --> 00:21:59.690bring up.58700:22:01.290 --> 00:22:04.590In the short time of the film that58800:22:04.590 --> 00:22:05.770was shown to our church.58900:22:05.810 --> 00:22:07.530So we showed it at all three services.59000:22:08.670 --> 00:22:11.110And so you're looking at, you know, roughly59100:22:11.110 --> 00:22:14.1302,500 to 3,000 people per service.59200:22:14.910 --> 00:22:16.850As soon as it came on, there was59300:22:16.850 --> 00:22:17.430silence.59400:22:19.770 --> 00:22:23.330And how an animation can put smiles.59500:22:23.730 --> 00:22:25.190We heard, we saw smiles.59600:22:25.450 --> 00:22:26.430We heard laughter.59700:22:29.410 --> 00:22:31.950We heard a gasp.59800:22:32.210 --> 00:22:33.030It was remarkable.59900:22:33.030 --> 00:22:35.170What it was doing to, you know, at60000:22:35.170 --> 00:22:37.130least like a beta test, you know, you're60100:22:37.130 --> 00:22:39.490talking about thousands of people in a matter60200:22:39.490 --> 00:22:42.750of a few hours seeing this thing.60300:22:42.990 --> 00:22:44.650And I almost wish we could have had60400:22:44.650 --> 00:22:47.510like a, you know, a response by the60500:22:47.510 --> 00:22:49.670audience type of poll.60600:22:50.070 --> 00:22:51.710It was off the charts amazing.60700:22:52.010 --> 00:22:54.590And so, but this is one of the60800:22:54.590 --> 00:22:58.030things that the first sighted, the first time60900:22:58.030 --> 00:23:01.210I saw it grabbed me and it moved61000:23:01.210 --> 00:23:02.690me to emotion.61100:23:03.090 --> 00:23:03.850And it was this.61200:23:04.870 --> 00:23:11.130The tenderness, the tenderness, and yet the sovereignty61300:23:11.130 --> 00:23:17.690of God where the bear is enjoying creation.61400:23:18.590 --> 00:23:21.170The tree is looking down at him, kind61500:23:21.170 --> 00:23:23.110of parenting him.61600:23:23.850 --> 00:23:27.670And the porcupine goes by.61700:23:28.490 --> 00:23:31.810And the bear is curious about the porcupine.61800:23:32.770 --> 00:23:35.130And you would think that the tree would61900:23:35.130 --> 00:23:37.610intervene before he ever got near the porcupine.62000:23:38.330 --> 00:23:44.450But the tree willingly turns instead of rescuing62100:23:44.450 --> 00:23:48.710him from this pain, you could see the62200:23:48.710 --> 00:23:51.990tree say, I'm gonna go through this pain62300:23:51.990 --> 00:23:52.490with you.62400:23:52.570 --> 00:23:54.210I'm not gonna stop you because you've got62500:23:54.210 --> 00:23:55.210to learn from it.62600:23:56.010 --> 00:23:58.510And as soon as you get that needle62700:23:58.510 --> 00:24:01.230in your nose, I'm gonna be here to62800:24:01.230 --> 00:24:01.950comfort you.62900:24:03.250 --> 00:24:05.510But man, that ministered to me about the63000:24:05.510 --> 00:24:06.230heart of our God.63100:24:06.570 --> 00:24:09.470Sometimes we've got our minds set on things63200:24:10.430 --> 00:24:13.050that we're not gonna let it go.63300:24:13.410 --> 00:24:16.490And the Lord will say, all right, if63400:24:16.490 --> 00:24:19.450that's what you wanna do, let's see how63500:24:19.450 --> 00:24:20.090this turns out.63600:24:20.130 --> 00:24:21.110You're gonna learn from this.63700:24:21.310 --> 00:24:23.270And he, of course, he's crying.63800:24:23.270 --> 00:24:25.930He's got that one needle sticking out of63900:24:25.930 --> 00:24:28.430his nose and there's the compassion of God64000:24:28.430 --> 00:24:30.090who pulls it out of his nose.64100:24:30.350 --> 00:24:32.290And it was just so moving for me64200:24:32.290 --> 00:24:34.930about the character of God that just blew64300:24:34.930 --> 00:24:35.610my mind.64400:24:36.730 --> 00:24:39.390Yeah, those kinds of things are this.64500:24:39.910 --> 00:24:41.470I don't know how you guys, in fact,64600:24:41.530 --> 00:24:43.950I told our staff, I said, I don't64700:24:43.950 --> 00:24:46.910know how these guys packed so much biblical64800:24:46.910 --> 00:24:51.250truth in such an attractive way that no64900:24:51.250 --> 00:24:52.610one, I don't care who you are.65000:24:52.610 --> 00:24:54.470I don't care what your worldview is.65100:24:54.890 --> 00:24:56.010I don't care if you're an atheist.65200:24:56.670 --> 00:25:00.150You cannot see this film without relating to65300:25:00.150 --> 00:25:02.470it because everybody's the bear.65400:25:03.590 --> 00:25:05.590Well, can I, I wanna jump on that65500:25:05.590 --> 00:25:08.870because so that is tremendous.65600:25:09.270 --> 00:25:11.790I love that you pointed to that moment65700:25:11.790 --> 00:25:14.650because that's one of our, we've just enjoyed65800:25:14.650 --> 00:25:18.090that so much making that moment and everyone65900:25:18.090 --> 00:25:18.550involved.66000:25:19.190 --> 00:25:23.450But we have actually had multiple people and66100:25:23.450 --> 00:25:27.470these are people that have completely different ways66200:25:27.470 --> 00:25:28.750of probably thinking about things.66300:25:28.890 --> 00:25:29.410We don't know.66400:25:29.470 --> 00:25:31.010We don't know where everyone's heart's at, but66500:25:31.010 --> 00:25:33.770they actually come to us and say, hey,66600:25:33.910 --> 00:25:35.770I want you to know that we need66700:25:35.770 --> 00:25:38.530more of this kind of content, that I66800:25:38.530 --> 00:25:40.850love this, but I'm an atheist.66900:25:42.390 --> 00:25:44.510You can tell that there's this kind of67000:25:44.510 --> 00:25:47.490moment of like, they have to explain that67100:25:47.490 --> 00:25:50.970to us to say, I love what you67200:25:50.970 --> 00:25:51.770are all doing.67300:25:52.090 --> 00:25:54.630This needs to exist.67400:25:55.470 --> 00:25:57.890And what a confirming thing that that has67500:25:57.890 --> 00:25:58.170been.67600:25:58.330 --> 00:26:00.570And it's been multiple times, Nathan, that we67700:26:00.570 --> 00:26:04.770have had people have been speaking into it67800:26:04.770 --> 00:26:05.130that way.67900:26:05.290 --> 00:26:08.130And I also just want to say that68000:26:08.130 --> 00:26:12.510first and foremost, because when you spend so68100:26:12.510 --> 00:26:15.930much time on something, it needs to be68200:26:15.930 --> 00:26:16.610worth it.68300:26:16.830 --> 00:26:18.150It needs that, you know, for you to68400:26:18.150 --> 00:26:21.610invest your personal time like this and to68500:26:21.610 --> 00:26:22.630sacrifice your time.68600:26:23.290 --> 00:26:27.090But we knew that our walk with God,68700:26:27.250 --> 00:26:31.450what Jesus did for us, taking our place68800:26:31.450 --> 00:26:33.630and paying our fine the way that he68900:26:33.630 --> 00:26:37.010did, that each of us had a personal69000:26:37.010 --> 00:26:40.370story of that journey where we were that69100:26:40.370 --> 00:26:44.650knucklehead bear and we went away, we disregarded,69200:26:45.030 --> 00:26:46.930even for the smallest of things, even for69300:26:46.930 --> 00:26:49.370a bag of chips, like everyone can know69400:26:49.370 --> 00:26:50.330what a bag of chips is.69500:26:50.630 --> 00:26:51.870And that's why it was just like, it69600:26:51.870 --> 00:26:54.130was such a enjoyable thing when you found69700:26:54.130 --> 00:26:56.310these sort of this imagery that could kind69800:26:56.310 --> 00:26:59.830of be something to bring people together and69900:26:59.830 --> 00:27:01.510go, oh, I know exactly what that is.70000:27:01.630 --> 00:27:02.210I have that.70100:27:02.250 --> 00:27:03.690Because what you're saying is exactly right.70200:27:03.750 --> 00:27:04.710We are all that bear.70300:27:07.750 --> 00:27:09.990And Nathan and I, it was our personal70400:27:09.990 --> 00:27:12.830journey to walk people through a beat by70500:27:12.830 --> 00:27:16.790beat version of when you fall away and70600:27:16.790 --> 00:27:20.310you realize that you get to the end70700:27:20.310 --> 00:27:22.250of yourself and you say, there's nothing else70800:27:22.250 --> 00:27:22.970that I can do.70900:27:23.790 --> 00:27:25.030And so here's this bear on the edge71000:27:25.030 --> 00:27:27.730of that cliff and he's still holding on.71100:27:27.810 --> 00:27:30.730He's still holding on to his precious things.71200:27:31.530 --> 00:27:34.470And he looks across the way and now71300:27:34.470 --> 00:27:35.590he's desperate, right?71400:27:36.250 --> 00:27:37.710And he goes, all right, I'm gonna make71500:27:37.710 --> 00:27:40.550the choice and I'm gonna, and, but it's71600:27:40.550 --> 00:27:42.850only because of, it's only because of the71700:27:42.850 --> 00:27:47.870tree's generosity, falling across, blowing the smoke away71800:27:47.870 --> 00:27:49.250so that he can take a breath.71900:27:49.690 --> 00:27:52.690He looks up and only because the flame72000:27:52.690 --> 00:27:57.470gets on the tree, he took upon himself72100:27:57.470 --> 00:27:58.050the flame.72200:27:58.990 --> 00:28:00.610And so now, not only has he uprooted72300:28:00.610 --> 00:28:02.610himself, there's no way back, but he's taken72400:28:02.610 --> 00:28:03.270on the flame.72500:28:04.010 --> 00:28:06.610And it's in that moment that the animator,72600:28:06.990 --> 00:28:12.710this wonderful guy, Brendan Gottlieb, animated this shot,72700:28:12.990 --> 00:28:15.670which it's him looking up and sort of72800:28:15.670 --> 00:28:17.570having this moment of like, oh my goodness,72900:28:18.190 --> 00:28:19.370this is what I've done.73000:28:20.070 --> 00:28:21.690And he looks down at his trash and73100:28:21.690 --> 00:28:24.050he tosses it away.73200:28:24.630 --> 00:28:28.730And that is the beat by beat version73300:28:28.730 --> 00:28:30.110of how you truly get saved.73400:28:30.330 --> 00:28:32.850You don't save yourself, there's nothing we can73500:28:32.850 --> 00:28:33.110do.73600:28:33.330 --> 00:28:35.810That it is God reaching to us and73700:28:35.810 --> 00:28:37.430we have to let go of our sin,73800:28:37.970 --> 00:28:39.490reach up and be saved.73900:28:40.370 --> 00:28:42.270Yeah, I'm gonna talk a lot about that.74000:28:42.450 --> 00:28:45.670Jeremy, yeah, what, I just wanna stick in74100:28:45.670 --> 00:28:47.170there at this moment with what you, I'm74200:28:47.170 --> 00:28:48.130just afraid I'll forget.74300:28:48.690 --> 00:28:53.130Jeremy, what you just said, another captivating moment74400:28:53.130 --> 00:28:54.930for me is I was looking at the74500:28:54.930 --> 00:28:59.170face of the tree when all of this74600:28:59.170 --> 00:29:01.170processing was going on with the little bear74700:29:01.170 --> 00:29:04.330and when the bear gets on the tree's,74800:29:04.750 --> 00:29:08.370let's say belly, right, on his belly and74900:29:08.370 --> 00:29:14.470the cost where the scripture says that Jesus,75000:29:14.810 --> 00:29:16.390for the joy that was set before him,75100:29:17.050 --> 00:29:20.550endured the cross, despising its shame, offering himself,75200:29:20.770 --> 00:29:24.930sacrificing himself, that the face on the tree75300:29:24.930 --> 00:29:28.430has got, I don't even know how to75400:29:28.430 --> 00:29:29.990say it, I lack the English.75500:29:30.530 --> 00:29:35.370The eyes are full of compassion and yet75600:29:35.370 --> 00:29:40.830sacrifice and there is a type of a75700:29:40.830 --> 00:29:44.710smile on that part of the bark of75800:29:44.710 --> 00:29:47.650its mouth where it is saying, clearly it75900:29:47.650 --> 00:29:53.130is saying, because this has happened, this is76000:29:53.130 --> 00:29:54.390what I'm doing for you.76100:29:54.950 --> 00:29:58.230It's costing my life, but I'm so happy76200:29:58.230 --> 00:30:00.350to do that so that you can carry76300:30:00.350 --> 00:30:01.330on your life.76400:30:03.070 --> 00:30:06.570And basically, the thought was do this in76500:30:06.570 --> 00:30:10.070remembrance of me because at the end, I76600:30:10.070 --> 00:30:12.770see the bear living his life in the76700:30:12.770 --> 00:30:16.070offspring of the tree, doing this in remembrance76800:30:16.070 --> 00:30:19.990of the sacrifice and it was just so,76900:30:20.750 --> 00:30:22.610you know what, I'm not a prophet, but77000:30:22.610 --> 00:30:25.170I gotta tell you, I've spent years in77100:30:25.170 --> 00:30:29.810Russia witnessing evangelism in Europe and we used77200:30:29.810 --> 00:30:33.130to do, of course, skits that were beyond77300:30:33.130 --> 00:30:36.190language so we would act out things to77400:30:36.190 --> 00:30:37.470communicate the gospel.77500:30:38.450 --> 00:30:42.390And I just believe that this film is77600:30:42.390 --> 00:30:46.390going to go so international for ministries to77700:30:46.390 --> 00:30:54.180use because you guys so perfectly articulated beyond77800:30:54.180 --> 00:31:01.080the gospel, the gospel, restoration, commitment, discipleship, love,77900:31:01.280 --> 00:31:04.660sacrifice, sovereignty, choice matters.78000:31:05.840 --> 00:31:08.200There's an evil world that's on fire but78100:31:08.200 --> 00:31:09.820there's a way to live again.78200:31:10.360 --> 00:31:12.160I just believe, I mean, I'm telling you78300:31:12.160 --> 00:31:13.760right now, if we were heading out right78400:31:13.760 --> 00:31:15.560now to anywhere in the world with a78500:31:15.560 --> 00:31:18.300mission team, I would be asking you guys,78600:31:18.400 --> 00:31:20.540can we take the film and show it78700:31:20.540 --> 00:31:22.720to the streets of Paris or Moscow because78800:31:22.720 --> 00:31:24.880I'm telling you, it is gonna be a78900:31:24.880 --> 00:31:29.640spiritual home run even if somebody's deaf, they79000:31:29.640 --> 00:31:31.100don't even have to be able to hear79100:31:31.100 --> 00:31:32.720to get the gospel.79200:31:32.960 --> 00:31:33.920It is truly remarkable.79300:31:34.440 --> 00:31:37.640I want everybody, listen, team, everybody, you've got79400:31:37.640 --> 00:31:39.640to watch this time and time again and79500:31:39.640 --> 00:31:41.680get it out into the eyes and the79600:31:41.680 --> 00:31:44.500ears of everybody you know.79700:31:45.200 --> 00:31:49.380So tell me, I'm curious, what's behind the79800:31:49.380 --> 00:31:50.000porcupines?79900:31:50.000 --> 00:31:53.200Is there anything I've missed about the porcupines?80000:31:53.500 --> 00:31:54.840I mean, that's just incredibly beautiful.80100:31:54.860 --> 00:31:55.540They're cute and adorable.80200:31:55.920 --> 00:31:56.520What can you miss?80300:31:56.520 --> 00:31:57.080They're cute and adorable.80400:31:57.380 --> 00:31:57.740They're perfect.80500:31:58.780 --> 00:32:00.980Yeah, I did wanna circle back to something80600:32:00.980 --> 00:32:02.460you said pastor there is that it was80700:32:02.460 --> 00:32:04.840so very much intentional.80800:32:05.060 --> 00:32:07.140Jeremy and I, I mean, we really fought80900:32:07.140 --> 00:32:10.640long and hard about what the, again, this81000:32:10.640 --> 00:32:13.640isn't the gospel but it is a picture81100:32:13.640 --> 00:32:16.440of that unmerited grace, right?81200:32:16.740 --> 00:32:18.800Of what Christ did for us.81300:32:18.800 --> 00:32:20.280So there's a Christ likeness.81400:32:21.040 --> 00:32:24.120And so, but we, even though, even that81500:32:24.120 --> 00:32:26.460being the case we did think about the81600:32:26.460 --> 00:32:29.760theological ramifications of what a visual would convey,81700:32:29.960 --> 00:32:30.680right?81800:32:30.800 --> 00:32:33.400If the bear climbed up, you know, the81900:32:33.400 --> 00:32:35.240tree on his own it could be construed82000:32:35.240 --> 00:32:36.860as works righteousness, for example.82100:32:37.360 --> 00:32:39.920Right, and so if you, and if the82200:32:39.920 --> 00:32:42.160tree didn't push him, you know, like the82300:32:42.160 --> 00:32:44.900running across, you know, it's there's a sanctification82400:32:44.900 --> 00:32:45.840kind of piece of that.82500:32:45.840 --> 00:32:48.200You know, that's like, it's not all of82600:32:48.200 --> 00:32:48.780us, right?82700:32:48.820 --> 00:32:51.400It's us and the Lord working together after82800:32:51.400 --> 00:32:53.000you were saved and justified.82900:32:53.300 --> 00:32:55.800And so there's an element of, you even83000:32:55.800 --> 00:32:57.540see the tree that gives him a shove.83100:32:57.720 --> 00:32:59.760Like it's not like, it's even at the83200:32:59.760 --> 00:33:01.740very end before he makes a jump, he's83300:33:01.740 --> 00:33:02.480not gonna make it.83400:33:02.560 --> 00:33:03.940And you can sort of see the animator83500:33:03.940 --> 00:33:07.260added a little flick to the trunk that83600:33:07.260 --> 00:33:08.520actually helped him get up there.83700:33:09.000 --> 00:33:11.380All these things were very much intentional where83800:33:11.380 --> 00:33:15.360we could say this act was all the83900:33:15.360 --> 00:33:16.520tree not the bear.84000:33:16.740 --> 00:33:19.600And that's to parallel, you know, the allegory84100:33:19.600 --> 00:33:22.000of it's all the Lord that does the84200:33:22.000 --> 00:33:23.400work and it's not us.84300:33:23.600 --> 00:33:26.560So anyways, just, I mean, I think you're84400:33:26.560 --> 00:33:27.360right.84500:33:27.660 --> 00:33:29.500And we're so happy that you picked up84600:33:29.500 --> 00:33:31.240on all that because it was things that84700:33:31.240 --> 00:33:33.760were very much intentional and trying to make84800:33:33.760 --> 00:33:36.520sure, because when you have a visual there's84900:33:36.520 --> 00:33:38.780a lot of responsibility and making sure you're85000:33:38.780 --> 00:33:40.760saying the correct thing that you wanna say.85100:33:41.400 --> 00:33:42.960And then to be able to layer in85200:33:42.960 --> 00:33:45.400all the other, you know things like discipleship85300:33:45.400 --> 00:33:46.000and everything else.85400:33:46.820 --> 00:33:48.880So hopefully follow suit as well.85500:33:49.120 --> 00:33:50.580But so we're just, so I just wanna85600:33:50.580 --> 00:33:52.160make a quick comment on that and just85700:33:52.160 --> 00:33:54.520how happy I am to hear that.85800:33:54.820 --> 00:33:55.880So, so good.85900:33:55.880 --> 00:33:59.780And there's one little quick thing that we've86000:33:59.780 --> 00:34:01.340experienced just now that the film is out86100:34:01.340 --> 00:34:02.120there and getting seen.86200:34:02.740 --> 00:34:05.000So we're getting lots of wonderful comments and86300:34:05.000 --> 00:34:07.780they're coming from all different angles but one86400:34:07.780 --> 00:34:10.600of the ones that I particularly and Nathan86500:34:10.600 --> 00:34:14.320and I particularly enjoying seeing is ones where,86600:34:14.639 --> 00:34:15.840where people are watching it.86700:34:16.320 --> 00:34:17.780They're sticking through all the way to the86800:34:17.780 --> 00:34:20.580end and then they write their review and86900:34:20.580 --> 00:34:23.380they say, they say that bear did not87000:34:23.380 --> 00:34:24.560deserve that.87100:34:24.880 --> 00:34:26.780That bear does not deserve that.87200:34:26.880 --> 00:34:28.340That bear does, and they keep, it's like87300:34:28.340 --> 00:34:29.980the same comment.87400:34:30.980 --> 00:34:33.580And, and I, it's just like, it's so87500:34:33.580 --> 00:34:35.980encouraging because that is why we made the87600:34:35.980 --> 00:34:39.260film was to if there's any perfect tee87700:34:39.260 --> 00:34:41.620up to a conversation, it's that.87800:34:41.620 --> 00:34:44.080It's saying, yep, you're right.87900:34:44.460 --> 00:34:45.540You are right.88000:34:45.659 --> 00:34:46.800We don't deserve that.88100:34:47.739 --> 00:34:49.540And let me, let's talk about that.88200:34:49.659 --> 00:34:51.540You know, I know I don't deserve that.88300:34:51.620 --> 00:34:53.360Like I'm a, I'm the chief of sinners,88400:34:53.520 --> 00:34:53.840you know.88500:34:54.199 --> 00:34:56.620And let me tell you about my experience.88600:34:56.740 --> 00:34:59.300And it's just like, to me, if, if88700:34:59.300 --> 00:35:01.180this short could help as you're talking about88800:35:01.180 --> 00:35:03.320getting, getting out into the world if it88900:35:03.320 --> 00:35:06.540could just help Christians in general just be89000:35:06.540 --> 00:35:08.360more open with their faith and sharing their89100:35:08.360 --> 00:35:09.960faith that would be amazing.89200:35:09.960 --> 00:35:11.760But we also know that it can also89300:35:11.760 --> 00:35:15.460communicate and baffle people that watch it.89400:35:15.580 --> 00:35:17.880Like they don't understand like how that does,89500:35:18.120 --> 00:35:19.280that's undeserved.89600:35:19.500 --> 00:35:21.960And then again, maybe someone will be able89700:35:21.960 --> 00:35:24.160to come alongside them and say, yeah, well,89800:35:24.180 --> 00:35:25.160let's talk about that.89900:35:25.320 --> 00:35:27.160You know, so it's just really encouraging.90000:35:27.500 --> 00:35:28.120So yeah.90100:35:28.220 --> 00:35:30.160Yep, to all that, I would say this,90200:35:31.180 --> 00:35:33.680what you guys have done is truly anointed90300:35:33.680 --> 00:35:35.120and inspired by the Lord.90400:35:35.400 --> 00:35:37.360And the one of the, there's many evidences90500:35:37.360 --> 00:35:41.780to this but one of them is that90600:35:41.780 --> 00:35:51.000you see a presentation of truth delivered90700:35:51.000 --> 00:35:56.320for a child profound enough to cause a90800:35:56.320 --> 00:35:59.420crowd of thousands to break a tear or90900:35:59.420 --> 00:36:01.180laugh or gasp.91000:36:01.960 --> 00:36:07.190And you guys know that in the making91100:36:07.190 --> 00:36:09.230of movies or anything like that, you're gonna91200:36:09.230 --> 00:36:10.250target an audience.91300:36:10.530 --> 00:36:11.970We're gonna target this audience.91400:36:12.610 --> 00:36:14.770This transcends that and only the Lord can91500:36:14.770 --> 00:36:17.710do that because you've got an old man91600:36:17.710 --> 00:36:20.350and you've got a little kid getting it91700:36:20.890 --> 00:36:23.170that is just absolutely so powerful.91800:36:25.610 --> 00:36:28.170And one of the things that, and I91900:36:28.170 --> 00:36:30.370think you alluded to this earlier but I92000:36:30.370 --> 00:36:34.310just wanna make sure you talked about that92100:36:34.310 --> 00:36:35.350it's not of works.92200:36:35.550 --> 00:36:36.690He made the sacrifice.92300:36:37.250 --> 00:36:38.710Did I read this right?92400:36:39.130 --> 00:36:43.470That at the part where the tree decides,92500:36:44.170 --> 00:36:45.630I'm gonna lay down my life.92600:36:46.530 --> 00:36:47.870Am I reading it right?92700:36:47.910 --> 00:36:49.370When you see him kind of like, I92800:36:49.370 --> 00:36:51.410gotta get myself out of this earth.92900:36:51.990 --> 00:36:52.870Is that true?93000:36:53.090 --> 00:36:53.990Is that what was going?93100:36:54.210 --> 00:36:55.450Yeah, he's trying to uproot himself.93200:36:56.390 --> 00:36:57.270Uproot himself.93300:36:57.970 --> 00:36:58.390Yeah.93400:36:58.610 --> 00:36:59.770Just so powerful.93500:37:00.330 --> 00:37:03.190Yeah, well, let me just respond quickly to93600:37:03.190 --> 00:37:04.950the thing you just said, which was, I93700:37:04.950 --> 00:37:07.650mean, this is loosely based off the prodigal93800:37:07.650 --> 00:37:11.730son story as we mentioned before, but the93900:37:11.730 --> 00:37:14.510whole this resonates with everyone thing.94000:37:14.630 --> 00:37:19.250I mean, everyone is either a parent or94100:37:19.250 --> 00:37:21.250as a child of a parent, right?94200:37:21.530 --> 00:37:24.630And so everyone, and so there was a94300:37:24.630 --> 00:37:28.550universality and Jesus, he is the master storyteller.94400:37:29.190 --> 00:37:30.510And so, I mean, he knew what he94500:37:30.510 --> 00:37:31.070was doing.94600:37:31.070 --> 00:37:36.290And so it's, in that culture, what that94700:37:36.290 --> 00:37:38.810meant to ask for an early inheritance and94800:37:38.810 --> 00:37:41.890to then go and squander that.94900:37:42.030 --> 00:37:45.610I mean, people haven't changed since 2000 years95000:37:45.610 --> 00:37:45.850ago.95100:37:45.990 --> 00:37:47.730I mean, there's still selfishness.95200:37:47.850 --> 00:37:49.190There's still evil in the world.95300:37:49.330 --> 00:37:52.070There's still people who hate one another.95400:37:52.930 --> 00:37:55.310And so I think everyone can resonate or95500:37:55.310 --> 00:37:57.670take something away from it because there's a95600:37:57.670 --> 00:38:00.270universal, as you said, there's universal truths that95700:38:00.270 --> 00:38:03.090are just embedded in life that God has95800:38:03.090 --> 00:38:07.910given us, whether it's familial or spiritual or95900:38:07.910 --> 00:38:09.150environmental or whatever.96000:38:09.190 --> 00:38:11.930There's so many different layers, I think, to96100:38:11.930 --> 00:38:12.210this.96200:38:12.470 --> 00:38:14.770And our desire was always from the beginning96300:38:15.200 --> 00:38:17.410to have this be a feast that everyone96400:38:17.410 --> 00:38:20.470can enjoy, that it can resonate with everyone,96500:38:20.570 --> 00:38:23.470but then can also have great deep conversations96600:38:23.470 --> 00:38:24.870afterwards, as Jeremy said.96700:38:25.010 --> 00:38:26.990So, yeah, I just wanted to point at,96800:38:26.990 --> 00:38:29.090Jesus, the master storyteller.96900:38:29.850 --> 00:38:31.850And I think that's a good part in97000:38:31.850 --> 00:38:34.250why this resonates across the board.97100:38:35.490 --> 00:38:37.830Well, and I have to, I wanna jump97200:38:37.830 --> 00:38:38.550on that real quick.97300:38:38.910 --> 00:38:41.150And it was so, it was just encouraging97400:38:41.150 --> 00:38:44.350to us, again, to go to all of97500:38:44.350 --> 00:38:46.930these friends that we've worked with for years97600:38:46.930 --> 00:38:48.430at Disney.97700:38:48.590 --> 00:38:50.690And even there was folks outside of Disney97800:38:50.690 --> 00:38:51.930that worked on this with us.97900:38:52.090 --> 00:38:55.330And it was just this thing of like,98000:38:55.330 --> 00:38:57.630we had a chance to share, but say,98100:38:58.030 --> 00:39:00.050we understand that we all don't have the98200:39:00.050 --> 00:39:02.590same, we don't come from the same places98300:39:03.230 --> 00:39:06.130in our spiritual walks or in our whatever.98400:39:06.790 --> 00:39:08.930But it was just really cool to see98500:39:08.930 --> 00:39:11.630everyone coming together and saying, we all agree98600:39:11.630 --> 00:39:14.250on this is an important thing to say,98700:39:14.470 --> 00:39:17.170and that we're willing to put our free98800:39:17.170 --> 00:39:19.630time into this thing, which was just, again,98900:39:19.830 --> 00:39:22.050it was, we just, we can't love up99000:39:22.050 --> 00:39:24.790on our crew enough and thank them for99100:39:24.790 --> 00:39:27.050all that they gave to help bring this99200:39:27.050 --> 00:39:27.790thing to life.99300:39:27.930 --> 00:39:29.810So it really, it's all on them.99400:39:30.190 --> 00:39:31.210So, so good.99500:39:31.570 --> 00:39:35.090You know, I think the word disarming would99600:39:35.090 --> 00:39:35.950be a good word.99700:39:36.550 --> 00:39:42.750That this delivery of truth, you cannot find99800:39:42.750 --> 00:39:43.690fault with it.99900:39:44.470 --> 00:39:45.150Think about it.100000:39:45.490 --> 00:39:50.550What would somebody possibly have angst with this100100:39:50.550 --> 00:39:51.110presentation?100200:39:51.610 --> 00:39:54.730And then disarming.100300:39:54.970 --> 00:39:56.770It's almost as though you could show it.100400:39:56.930 --> 00:39:59.710Somebody, one of you guys mentioned how hateful100500:39:59.710 --> 00:40:00.410the world is.100600:40:00.930 --> 00:40:04.310It's almost like, gosh, can I show you100700:40:04.310 --> 00:40:06.210this before you go off and do your100800:40:06.210 --> 00:40:06.830hatred?100900:40:07.270 --> 00:40:07.910Watch this.101000:40:08.410 --> 00:40:09.510It's so disarming.101100:40:09.850 --> 00:40:11.430I mean, who's gonna walk away from this101200:40:11.430 --> 00:40:14.250beautifully presented, you know, just call it an101300:40:14.250 --> 00:40:17.030animated cartoon for the most basic way.101400:40:17.510 --> 00:40:18.790It's, what do I wanna watch that for?101500:40:18.790 --> 00:40:21.450Just give it 15 or 12 minutes, whatever101600:40:21.450 --> 00:40:22.090the length of it is.101700:40:22.090 --> 00:40:22.930Just watch this.101800:40:23.630 --> 00:40:24.870It's so disarming.101900:40:25.450 --> 00:40:27.310It's like, who can find fault with this?102000:40:27.930 --> 00:40:31.230It's just, ah, it's just so good.102100:40:31.430 --> 00:40:32.930And I think, yeah.102200:40:33.230 --> 00:40:34.930I think that's the power of storytelling though,102300:40:34.950 --> 00:40:35.150right?102400:40:35.270 --> 00:40:39.190I think stories have a way of conveying102500:40:39.190 --> 00:40:42.450deep survival information, as Brian McDonald would say.102600:40:42.870 --> 00:40:44.790I think that's a, it's a really neat102700:40:44.790 --> 00:40:49.650thing just to be able to tell a102800:40:49.650 --> 00:40:51.750story, to have someone get sucked in.102900:40:51.950 --> 00:40:54.550And then again, without feeling too preachy or103000:40:54.550 --> 00:40:58.110anything like that, but you're able to entertain,103100:40:58.590 --> 00:41:00.090but then also have a POV.103200:41:00.590 --> 00:41:02.930And I mean, again, that's exactly what the103300:41:02.930 --> 00:41:05.270prophet Nathan did to David, right?103400:41:05.350 --> 00:41:08.210Which was, you know, he's confronting him in103500:41:08.210 --> 00:41:11.210the cinema with Bathsheba, and he's telling him103600:41:11.210 --> 00:41:14.190a little story about, you know, this guy103700:41:14.190 --> 00:41:15.510stole this little lamb.103800:41:15.870 --> 00:41:17.510And you know, Dave's like, he's into the103900:41:17.510 --> 00:41:18.010story.104000:41:18.430 --> 00:41:20.250And he's like, that man must pay.104100:41:20.370 --> 00:41:22.410And he's like, that man is you, right?104200:41:22.490 --> 00:41:26.070There's something about story that it's so disarming,104300:41:26.390 --> 00:41:28.190especially when you're invested in it.104400:41:28.530 --> 00:41:33.150And that layer, that veneer of storytelling sometimes104500:41:33.150 --> 00:41:37.950can help you to see like David was104600:41:37.950 --> 00:41:40.290able to see the truth about yourself.104700:41:41.650 --> 00:41:44.510And I think that's always, I think what104800:41:44.510 --> 00:41:47.550any filmmaker would try to convey is that104900:41:47.550 --> 00:41:49.210message that's underneath.105000:41:49.950 --> 00:41:53.290But again, done in an artful, non-preachy105100:41:53.290 --> 00:41:55.650sort of entertaining way that, and when you105200:41:55.650 --> 00:41:57.350do that, it will always come across as105300:41:57.350 --> 00:41:59.050truthful and sincere.105400:41:59.410 --> 00:42:00.810And I think people can pick up on105500:42:00.810 --> 00:42:01.070that.105600:42:01.570 --> 00:42:03.810And there's one last thing off of that105700:42:03.810 --> 00:42:04.950is the pine cone.105800:42:05.990 --> 00:42:08.450That, you know, there's just truth in nature,105900:42:08.450 --> 00:42:11.070in our world, you know, as we understand106000:42:11.070 --> 00:42:12.210everything around us.106100:42:12.790 --> 00:42:15.450So a pine cone for those giant Sequoia106200:42:15.450 --> 00:42:19.170redwoods, it needs fire, it needs heat for106300:42:19.170 --> 00:42:21.850it to break open, for the seals to106400:42:21.850 --> 00:42:24.590get undone and for it to replant.106500:42:25.470 --> 00:42:27.290And there was just something that, again, it106600:42:27.290 --> 00:42:28.790was like all those little things, those little106700:42:28.790 --> 00:42:29.370details.106800:42:29.950 --> 00:42:31.210There's one last thing I was gonna share106900:42:31.210 --> 00:42:34.950is Joe Sutphin, who's this amazing illustrator, a107000:42:34.950 --> 00:42:36.470friend of ours that worked on the film.107100:42:38.170 --> 00:42:40.490He watched the very first pass of this107200:42:40.490 --> 00:42:41.970and we used to not have the tree.107300:42:42.910 --> 00:42:45.430The tree regrew, but it was the bear107400:42:45.430 --> 00:42:46.530planting the tree.107500:42:47.290 --> 00:42:48.950And, you know, basically just saying, oh, I'm107600:42:48.950 --> 00:42:50.090gonna plant mini trees.107700:42:50.830 --> 00:42:52.890And the tree never really had, it was107800:42:52.890 --> 00:42:53.450just a tree.107900:42:54.270 --> 00:42:56.810And what was so cool is Joe goes,108000:42:57.090 --> 00:42:58.910and the bear used to look over the108100:42:58.910 --> 00:43:00.110edge and the tree was just gone.108200:43:00.250 --> 00:43:01.550He fell away and he never got a108300:43:01.550 --> 00:43:01.790moment.108400:43:01.790 --> 00:43:06.030And Joe goes, guys, I think Christ would108500:43:06.030 --> 00:43:07.390be smiling back at us.108600:43:07.570 --> 00:43:09.190I think that he would be happy.108700:43:09.310 --> 00:43:11.010He would be happy to take this upon108800:43:11.010 --> 00:43:11.410himself.108900:43:12.070 --> 00:43:15.230And you pointed at this earlier, Pastor, but109000:43:15.230 --> 00:43:18.550it was just like this great, again, everyone109100:43:18.550 --> 00:43:22.470adding these little details to help you feel109200:43:22.470 --> 00:43:25.050all the right things that Nathan was, you109300:43:25.050 --> 00:43:26.010know, you're just talking about there.109400:43:27.090 --> 00:43:29.670It's all that stuff that adds up, you109500:43:29.670 --> 00:43:29.850know.109600:43:29.850 --> 00:43:30.770So good.109700:43:31.070 --> 00:43:34.030You guys have produced, if I might be109800:43:34.030 --> 00:43:40.650so bold, you guys have produced, created a109900:43:40.650 --> 00:43:41.850modern day parable.110000:43:42.110 --> 00:43:46.150The word parabolic, Jesus obviously spoke in parables.110100:43:46.270 --> 00:43:47.670What a lot of people don't realize is110200:43:47.670 --> 00:43:51.370that the Jewish scholars will tell you that110300:43:51.370 --> 00:43:57.090the Hebrew form of bringing a message that110400:43:57.090 --> 00:44:00.930was taught by a rabbi would be that110500:44:00.930 --> 00:44:02.770message or that doctrine given.110600:44:03.070 --> 00:44:04.450It could have been an hour or two110700:44:04.450 --> 00:44:09.170hour long message, but it's always ended with110800:44:09.170 --> 00:44:11.990a parable, which causes all of the truth110900:44:11.990 --> 00:44:15.730and the doctrine that was preceding the moment111000:44:15.730 --> 00:44:18.290of the parable, which is the bow on111100:44:18.290 --> 00:44:21.410top to make it technicolor.111200:44:21.950 --> 00:44:25.350So notice when it says Jesus sat down111300:44:25.350 --> 00:44:27.970and taught them saying, notice most of Jesus's111400:44:27.970 --> 00:44:30.430teaching is wrapped up in a parable.111500:44:30.910 --> 00:44:35.350And that parable is the postmark of a111600:44:35.350 --> 00:44:36.390tremendous message.111700:44:36.990 --> 00:44:39.110So what you guys have done, you've taken111800:44:39.110 --> 00:44:42.830the reality of a tremendous message and you111900:44:42.830 --> 00:44:45.330in the modern day technology to modern day112000:44:45.330 --> 00:44:49.150eyes, you have so perfectly honored the very112100:44:49.150 --> 00:44:53.830nature of Jesus's teachings of parabolic delivery to112200:44:53.830 --> 00:44:57.230para, para means to be alongside and bolic112300:44:57.230 --> 00:45:00.290is to cast, to cast alongside truth and112400:45:00.290 --> 00:45:03.070let the receiver decide on what to do.112500:45:03.170 --> 00:45:05.410That's why when a parable is given, some112600:45:05.410 --> 00:45:08.310receive and some don't, the parable actually judges112700:45:08.310 --> 00:45:09.410the listener.112800:45:10.190 --> 00:45:12.250God doesn't even judge the listener.112900:45:12.950 --> 00:45:16.650They choose to accept his very, very graphic113000:45:16.650 --> 00:45:17.990truth or reject it.113100:45:18.330 --> 00:45:21.450And it's a remarkable thing because God invented113200:45:21.450 --> 00:45:24.790parabolic teaching and you and I first hear113300:45:24.790 --> 00:45:27.250about that in Genesis 1, 1, where in113400:45:27.250 --> 00:45:29.290the beginning, God created.113500:45:30.050 --> 00:45:32.010And so you guys have honored the Lord.113600:45:32.330 --> 00:45:33.710You've honored biblical doctrine.113700:45:34.310 --> 00:45:38.630Your creativity is so Christ-like and like113800:45:38.630 --> 00:45:40.370you said, but not preachy.113900:45:40.910 --> 00:45:42.610And I don't think Jesus is preachy.114000:45:43.770 --> 00:45:44.790It's just beautiful.114100:45:44.910 --> 00:45:46.650You guys, I can't, with the few seconds114200:45:46.650 --> 00:45:48.590I have left, what can you tell us?114300:45:48.650 --> 00:45:49.250What's next?114400:45:49.350 --> 00:45:51.690I'm sure everybody's, I'm dying to find out,114500:45:51.690 --> 00:45:53.050hey, what are you gonna do in the114600:45:53.050 --> 00:45:53.810next six years?114700:45:54.890 --> 00:45:55.850This is amazing.114800:45:55.970 --> 00:45:56.950We have to have more.114900:45:58.270 --> 00:45:59.350Well, I'll just jump in.115000:46:00.570 --> 00:46:03.530Again, as we walk by faith, as we115100:46:03.530 --> 00:46:06.350take those steps, we're just asking the Lord115200:46:06.350 --> 00:46:07.550to keep directing our steps.115300:46:07.870 --> 00:46:10.650We've met so many wonderful people, including yourself115400:46:10.650 --> 00:46:12.090throughout all this process.115500:46:12.450 --> 00:46:14.910And it really feels like, I think God115600:46:14.910 --> 00:46:17.050has said it on our hearts that it'd115700:46:17.050 --> 00:46:19.390be great to make more content like this.115800:46:20.290 --> 00:46:23.910That just tells things that are true that115900:46:23.910 --> 00:46:26.530people could come around and enjoy together.116000:46:26.810 --> 00:46:29.310Whatever walk of life you're from, those are116100:46:29.310 --> 00:46:30.430the things that I think are on Nathan116200:46:30.430 --> 00:46:30.870and I.116300:46:31.150 --> 00:46:32.070That's on our hearts.116400:46:32.550 --> 00:46:34.190Through these six years, we've had a lot116500:46:34.190 --> 00:46:36.770of conversations about what could be next, what116600:46:36.770 --> 00:46:37.310could be next.116700:46:37.470 --> 00:46:40.210And we're just really enjoying this moment right116800:46:40.210 --> 00:46:40.450now.116900:46:40.710 --> 00:46:42.970Keep saying like, it's like popping the popcorn,117000:46:43.250 --> 00:46:45.690sitting back and just enjoying watching the Lord117100:46:45.690 --> 00:46:46.930work this out.117200:46:47.410 --> 00:46:49.130And I think that he'll bring the right117300:46:49.130 --> 00:46:49.930people along.117400:46:50.570 --> 00:46:53.950But again, just see what he has for117500:46:53.950 --> 00:46:54.970us is really exciting.117600:46:55.390 --> 00:46:58.930Yeah, I will say the Bible is a117700:46:58.930 --> 00:47:01.050big book and there's a lot of amazing117800:47:01.050 --> 00:47:01.510truth.117900:47:02.190 --> 00:47:04.090And this is just one story of many.118000:47:04.690 --> 00:47:07.410And so I think that that excites us118100:47:07.410 --> 00:47:10.190and Lord willing, there'll be other opportunities.118200:47:10.790 --> 00:47:11.750Yeah, so good.118300:47:12.790 --> 00:47:16.170Jeremy Spears and Nathaniel Englehart, you guys have118400:47:16.170 --> 00:47:17.870just opened my eyes.118500:47:18.430 --> 00:47:21.130And Jesus said in Matthew 11, for us118600:47:21.130 --> 00:47:23.350to enter the kingdom of heaven, we have118700:47:23.350 --> 00:47:24.330to become like children.118800:47:24.490 --> 00:47:25.570And that's exactly what he meant.118900:47:25.830 --> 00:47:28.270Not childish, childlike.119000:47:28.830 --> 00:47:30.250And you guys have taken us there in119100:47:30.250 --> 00:47:31.450this remarkable work.119200:47:31.570 --> 00:47:35.050I'm encouraging everybody to click on or to119300:47:35.050 --> 00:47:37.930tap on what you see provided for you119400:47:37.930 --> 00:47:39.010to watch it for yourself.119500:47:40.430 --> 00:47:42.450But it's been an incredible joy.119600:47:42.450 --> 00:47:44.150I look forward to seeing what's coming forth119700:47:44.150 --> 00:47:46.590from you guys and very, very proud of119800:47:46.590 --> 00:47:46.870you.119900:47:47.310 --> 00:47:50.250And anything that we can do to help120000:47:50.250 --> 00:47:51.370you along the way, I don't think you120100:47:51.370 --> 00:47:52.910need our help, but if you want somebody120200:47:52.910 --> 00:47:54.470to just jump up and down and shout120300:47:54.470 --> 00:47:56.950about how great it is, here I am,120400:47:57.070 --> 00:47:57.950send me.120500:47:58.990 --> 00:48:00.630Well, we do, we need prayer.120600:48:01.170 --> 00:48:01.750We need prayer.120700:48:02.030 --> 00:48:04.490We said that this film has been powered120800:48:04.490 --> 00:48:06.490by prayer and we would like that to120900:48:06.490 --> 00:48:06.870continue.121000:48:07.010 --> 00:48:09.370So anyone watching it can pray for the121100:48:09.370 --> 00:48:10.870project and that the Lord's will will be121200:48:10.870 --> 00:48:11.190done.121300:48:11.590 --> 00:48:12.790And that it would get out there and121400:48:12.790 --> 00:48:14.250it would spark many great conversations.121500:48:14.710 --> 00:48:15.850And that is the prayer we pray to.121600:48:15.870 --> 00:48:18.570And I would say, my hope too, and121700:48:18.570 --> 00:48:20.750I know Nathan is like, we would hope121800:48:20.750 --> 00:48:22.990that people would hear, again, the things that121900:48:22.990 --> 00:48:27.110we've talked about on this hour together, hopefully122000:48:27.110 --> 00:48:29.110you hear the story of how this film,122100:48:29.410 --> 00:48:33.990how it was orchestrated, not by us, we're122200:48:33.990 --> 00:48:36.910just tools here, but it's just, I hope122300:48:36.910 --> 00:48:39.410you're inspired and I hope you go, hey,122400:48:39.610 --> 00:48:42.470there's something that, whatever you do for a122500:48:42.470 --> 00:48:44.470living that you'll go, there's something more that122600:48:44.470 --> 00:48:45.470I could do for the Lord.122700:48:45.790 --> 00:48:49.170And so I really hope that it just122800:48:49.170 --> 00:48:50.430sparks good conversation.122900:48:51.050 --> 00:48:53.310Please help us again, yes, by prayer, but123000:48:53.310 --> 00:48:56.330share the film, share the story, now that123100:48:56.330 --> 00:48:58.790you've heard it, share it out there and123200:48:58.790 --> 00:49:02.270just hopefully you're encouraged as we are to123300:49:02.270 --> 00:49:04.370see the reactions that everyone's having.123400:49:04.570 --> 00:49:05.910So thank you so much.123500:49:06.430 --> 00:49:09.170Amazing, Jeremy and Nathan, thank you so much.123600:49:09.230 --> 00:49:09.810God bless you guys.123700:49:09.810 --> 00:49:10.770Thanks for taking the time.123800:49:11.550 --> 00:49:12.790Thank you for having us again.123900:49:13.250 --> 00:49:14.170You bet, thank you.124000:49:18.620 --> 00:49:21.200This Jack Hibbs podcast, as well as all124100:49:21.200 --> 00:49:24.240the broadcast outreach opportunities are listener supported.124200:49:24.800 --> 00:49:27.100Will you consider partnering with us through a124300:49:27.100 --> 00:49:27.740special gift?124400:49:28.480 --> 00:49:32.200Go to Jackhibbs.com to learn more and124500:49:32.200 --> 00:49:33.080stay connected.