Winner Takes All or How to Win...

I am stuffed.  I've been feasting for the last month with family in town.  This is actually my first week back to normal since the holidays.  It was even supposed to begin yesterday but a Mardi Gras parade went past my front door yesterday, so we celebrated another day!  I am not complaining, I am just filled up and ready to go!  Filled up with ideas and vision for Perfect Swing and my company, Highwater and filled with expectation of what God is going to do in 2016.
What do y'all think of my vision poster above?  It's not the movie poster it's the vision poster.  Movie posters are created after the film is complete.  This vision poster is for me.  I printed it out professionally and it hangs next to my desk and is the first thing I see when I walk in the door and come downstairs, it's my vision poster, "Winner Takes All"!  So what is a win for me this year?  I bet you can guess.  Perfect Swing in production!  I want to return to the Great NW with big metal hard drives hanging over my shoulder like a trophy kill, containing beautiful footage and performances to tell this inspirational story.  With that hard drive full, I can start editing the movie together, create teasers and trailers, behind the scenes webisodes, making of documentary and even the real finished movie poster!  Which I am sure I will need some help on.  Filmmaking is collaborative.  It takes many people to make a great film, many winners.  I can't direct this film without having a winning attitude.  The story is about an underdog family winning everything with everything on the line.  I am living it and each day becomes less daunting and more exciting.  I am learning how to hear God's voice and make the brave decisions each day to be faith filled and expectant verses fearful.  So how are we going to win and take all the spoils home and be even more exhausted from feasting and even more filled with vision to make this world a better place?  I am going to trust that Jesus is with me everyday and guiding each and every step.  He knows the way to my destiny because He's the one who designed it for me.

What else can we do to receive our breakthrough?

Production work has slowed this month.  I am not making any money.  Fortunately we did pretty well this summer.  I have been working with actors and another screenplay writer on our script.  I love collaboration and can see how God is already attracting amazing people to this project to make it even greater than I can imagine.  I am trying not to put a timeline on production.  We thought we would be shooting in the spring at this time last year.  I wrestle with the thought, "Is there something more I need to do to receive breakthrough?"  Do I not have because, I don't ask?  Or ask with wrong intentions?  Is there something new I need to learn?  Do I need to read another book on launching a business, writing a screenplay, managing my time?  Maybe there is another sermon I need to hear or a seminar I need to attend.  I hunger for wisdom and I know I don't know it all.  I am always looking for ways to grow but is what I don't know hindering this particular breakthrough?  It took me "Writing" Perfect Swing, "Forming" the LLC with my partners, "Going" to a business conference to connect with our investor, "Moving" from our home, and "Working" on other movie productions this summer, to get to where I am today.  Now that we have arrived in our filming location for Perfect Swing, Shreveport, LA, is there something more I need to do?

Remember how God told the golf manager the day before we met that our movie was going to be filmed here.  And the Lord used an amazing family we just met to provide a home for us.  So maybe since the Lord has told us to "Be Still" this month, perhaps that's exactly what he wants us to do.
When the Israelites left Egypt and Pharos' army pursued, Moses said:

"The Lord will fight for you, and you will not need to lift a finger!"  Exodus 14:14 (TLB)

With a pillar of fire and a strong wind to split the sea the Lord did it all!  We have great memories living in Olympia, WA for 12 years.  We made some lifelong friends and our children lacked nothing.  But we were mostly broke and in debt the whole time.  It was our Egypt/Wilderness experience.  But praise the Lord we are on the move on our conquest exploring new land!  The Lord is fighting for us and honoring us as his son and daughters.  I am learning how to "Be Still" in this new season by being thankful for all that I have and all that Jesus has already done.  How can I honor my family and friends this Christmas season?  How can I just be still and enjoy the presence of my children and my lovely wife.  Perhaps I need to finish this year and receive my breakthrough for Perfect Swing by not even lifting a finger...

Living in a Glass House - Expecting Breakthrough!

We lived with the Ericksons for 7 weeks in Shreveport, LA from the end of August through September.  We found our location for Perfect Swing at the Shreveport Country Club.  Then I began commuting and working in Dallas on the new Dinesh D'Souza Documentary, Stealing America, as the Animatic Editor.

Can you spot my red Titleist hat?  

While in Dallas, my film investor told me there is further delay in releasing the funding and the timeline is unknown.  My worst fear... I did nothing, told no one until my peace returned.  3 days later on Sunday morning I prayed a simple prayer on the way to church.  "Jesus, I will continue to wait for Perfect Swing to launch as long as you want me to just tell me where you want me and my family to live as we wait, Shreveport, Dallas or back home in the NW, Portland.  By that evening a couple that we just met that morning in our Sunday School class called us and told us that they have a beautiful, furnished, 1800 sq ft, two story loft apartment in downtown Shreveport for us for as long as we need it, rent free.  They said, "Jesus, wanted us to have it."  Wow, what an answer to prayer!  We moved in at the beginning of October and are truly blessed.  The front of our home is made of Glass Bricks.  I call it my Glass Castle in my city of refuge.  Remember we are on a conquest, we have crossed the Jordan and we are conquering land so we can possess our promised land.  We are just using Capitalism, not Swords.  =)  

Deuteronomy 6:10-12The Message (MSG)

10-12 When God, your God, ushers you into the land he promised through your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give you, you’re going to walk into large, bustling cities you didn’t build, well-furnished houses you didn’t buy, come upon wells you didn’t dig, vineyards and olive orchards you didn’t plant. When you take it all in and settle down, pleased and content, make sure you don’t forget how you got there—God brought you out of slavery in Egypt.

We are expecting breakthrough at any moment.  Could God be any more clear?  Perfect Swing will be shot in Shreveport.  Currently I am moving forward in faith by creating an Animatic for Perfect Swing just like I did for Stealing America.  Just hearing the actors read the lines is breathing life into this project.  Keep praying and keep expecting with us!  The walls delaying funding are coming down!

21 Days of Prayer...

When we arrived in Shreveport we found our locations in the first week.  By the second week the local news interviewed me for a story on the film industry in Shreveport.  You can check it out here:  Billions used to roll through Shreveport Bossier leaving Millions

By the third week the Lord has called us to pray for the next 21 days.  Before we can begin pre-production some things beyond my control need to wrap up first.  April and I have chosen to join our Pastor at Shreveport Community Church in 21 days of prayer.  Today is day 7 and we will conclude September 22.  This is a great time to join our Perfect Swing Prayer Team.  You can sign up for weekly email updates here:  I am also posting daily prayers on www.facebook.com/HighwaterMovies

On Saturday, I was on a date with my wife at Starbucks.  We were enjoying a familiar setting that made us feel at home in the NW with the smells and sounds of coffee, when suddenly a large man with a white beard came up to our table and asked if I worked out.  I laughed and said no I am just a big guy.  He said that he used to play professional football and would like to arm wrestle me for $100.  I said I didn't have $100 cash on me to bet.  He pulled out his $100 and put it on the table.  This made April nervous.  She thought he was trying to hustle us or something.  He said he's left handed and would wrestle me right handed and he just went in to give blood so he was feeling weak and assured us that I would win and politely asked April to scoot on over so we could wrestle.  I laughed again and said why not, let's do this!  We arm wrestled and I won but he didn't even try.  He walked away without saying a word and left the $100 on the table.

We were a little stunned at what just happened.  I asked April to remind me what we were talking about right before he came.  I remembered I just confessed a fear of what if our breakthrough for our movie never comes.  That is actually a fear that's in our movie and one that most people I have found struggle with, the fear of being abandoned by God.  We have such short memories that is why it is important to remind ourselves of His promises daily through His Word and fellowship with Him and other believers.  I have shared this story several times and a lot of people think it was an angel sent to bless us and encourage us.  Here is one of my prayer partner's impression.

 "Wow!! I had the Holy Spirit shoot through my body as I read the story about your date. I also believe that was an angel! The number 100 is God's election of grace. Children of promise. Full reward. Abraham was 100 when his son Isaac was born. Just like Perfect Swing is a promise from God. You are birthing something new and God will give you your full reward. Blessings to the Himes family. Continual prayers going up daily for you all!"

Amen.

Scouting for Perfect Swing in Shreveport, Louisiana

Our last stop on the way to Dallas, Texas this summer was in Shreveport, Louisiana to visit with my Sister-In-Law, Rebecca, and her awesome family!  After Nouvelle Vie wrapped in Indiana we had time to visit extended family in Illinois for a couple weeks.  We rested and recovered from the long days on set and enjoyed being with family and eating large midwest meals twice a day plus dessert!  But when we arrived in Shreveport our pace of life began to pick back up to work mode.  David, Rebecca's husband, reminded me of a golf course that was owned by his Pastor and that I should check it out.  Our first meeting at the Shreveport Country Club began with the General Manager asking to begin and told me that the Lord spoke to him yesterday and told him that a movie was going to be shot here as well as some other details from our story.  I was blown away and blessed that God went before me like that.  I tried to explain to him the negative impact a film crew and 200+ extras may have on his course.  He didn't care.  He heard from the Lord and wanted our movie to be shot on his course.  

The next day I arrived with my camera and my oldest daughter Adalie to scout out the course.  We both asked Jesus his thoughts about this location individually and then shared notes before we got out of the car.  Jesus spoke clearly to both of us that, "We have arrived at our destination!"  We scouted the course and sure enough I found all my locations.

The church, the city officials, family, friends, film crew all confirmed and welcomed us like family.  It looks like Texas will have to wait for now.  I am trusting God to button up business details so we can officially begin Pre-Production in Shreveport!  Until then I will continue to prep on my own for directing, Perfect Swing!

I am going to be blogging weekly so follow the action here!  For daily updates follow www.facebook.com/HighwaterMovies or Twitter www.twitter.com/HighwaterMovies.  To join the Perfect Swing Prayer team and receive weekly prayer points via email fill out the form on the right.  Thank you all for your support!  Let's make a movie!

Week 5 - Behind the Scenes - Nouvelle Vie

Week 4 - Behind the Scenes - Nouvelle Vie