The Walk Away

I am discovering it seems to be a right of passage for the independent filmmaker for their investor to walk away suddenly at the last moment before closing.  I've seen it happen to my friends.  And now I am apart of the club.  

Here's how I am processing this disappointment.  First off, forgive.  My wife and I forgive and bless our now ex-investors daily.  Everyday I feel lighter and more peace.  They didn't intentionally hurt us. It's going to take an investor with a passion for Jesus, Christian Filmmaking and our Family to help us create, Perfect Swing Movie.  Secondly, I am strengthening myself in the Lord by reminding myself of His promises for Perfect Swing.  My wife and I were trying to remember specific promises that we knew had to be from God and not our own fantasies.  We've heard plenty of encouraging words ourselves and from friends and family who love us and want to see us succeed and we need and receive those encouragements but in a time like this we needed to remember the promises that came supernaturally through perfect strangers.  We remembered two.  The first one we received in August 2015 from the manager of the golf club in Shreveport while visiting family on our way to Dallas.  He heard from the Lord a couple days before we even met and before he let me introduce myself he told me that God said, "A golf movie will be shot here and Bubba Watson is coming."  Right now I still hold the gate key to the now closed country club and have free reign to film on the entire location without any members, staff or events to schedule around.  It's a perfect studio backlot for our movie and it's available now, for a limited time.  Because of that promise we decided not to look any further for golf courses in Dallas and decided to make the movie in Shreveport.  Our second promise we remembered from perfect strangers and now dear friends is when our investment was delayed last October 2015 and we didn't know where we should live after just receiving our golf course location.  We met them for the first time at church in the morning and by that evening they offered us a fully-furnished 1800 sq ft Loft Apartment in Downtown Shreveport right next to them.  They were trying to lease it but after meeting us they said that, "Jesus wanted us to have this place for as long as we need it."  They are the most amazing generous people I have ever met and our children play so well together.  Those two promises are why we are in Shreveport.  We didn't stay here because of a promise from our investor.  We stayed here and I have planned out every detail of the movie on this specific location because God spoke and said, "Film here."  Live here."  God hasn't changed His mind even though our investor did.

It's a daily battle for me to hold onto these promises.  December was full of disappointment.  I am reminded how disappointed Peter must have been after his Lord died on the cross after expecting Jesus to reign as King and overthrow the Romans.  Peter couldn't grasp the marvel of what Jesus had planned for him and the whole world.  But I can understand why Peter went fishing.  He didn't know what else to do after such a shock.  He caught nothing that night.  This week that's how I feel as I reach out to every person I know asking for help to keep this project alive.  I am waiting for Jesus to walk along the shore and say, “Throw the net off the right side of the boat and see what happens.”  Bill Johnson from Bethel Redding says, "Love and faith are the greatest absolutes in the Bible. No one can live without them. When we do not get an immediate breakthrough, it is because a delayed answer has a higher purpose. When you receive a word of promise and the answer delays, it is only because your answer is gaining interest so that your promise will have a greater, lasting impact."  Don't cry for us.  God's plan for the Himes family is greater then we can even imagine.  He loved on us by giving us a puppy for Christmas and a $10k gift so we can continue on.  Keep praying.  It's Act 3. Resurrection power time when the hero overcomes all!

It's Flood Season - The Close

When I wrote "Road May Flood" in my last blog I didn't expect it to actually be the worst flood in Louisiana in 500 years!  I was also referring to a spiritual flood of God's glory and power.  However the physical flood happened in Louisiana, where I am currently living and prepping to film Perfect Swing, while we were in 21 days of prayer with our church family at Shreveport Community Church, as we were battling for breakthrough it rained hard!

The storm matched my struggle to hold on to my God given promises that Perfect Swing will be made.  On day 21 we heard the news to expect our financing before the end of the year!  During this final season of "The Close" a lot can still go wrong, actually a year ago we were in this closing boat and it sank, but this feels different.  I believe the battle has already been won!  It's a done deal.  Perfect Swing will be made and will empower artists and impact audiences all over the world by the power of the Holy Spirit!  So count down the days with us and look for our "Fully Funded" announcement!  If you want to partner with us in prayer subscribe to our prayer team emails.  Now watch Zoie and I escape the flood waters on our location for Perfect Swing!

Road May Flood - Power of Expectancy

This summer our family drove over 7,000 miles for vacation.  We were able to drive home to Oregon and spend July with our parents, siblings and friends.  We relaxed and had a perfect NW summer enjoying the mountains, flowing rivers and ocean beaches.  As we began the trek back to Louisiana we were very expectant for breakthrough for our movie, Perfect Swing.  Our first stop was in Redding, CA at Bethel.  This is where our journey began.  This is where our dream was resurrected.  We were expectant for God to do something new, to finish the work he began two years ago this same month.  We were encouraged by the believers there and continued south.  We enjoyed our last day by the pool at my younger brother's home with his family near Pasadena, CA.  Then we arose at 4 AM and headed east for two days across the desert.  Several times I saw the warning sign, "Road May Flood".  It was summer and dry and didn't worry me, but it did describe the expectancy I was feeling for my motion picture company, Highwater Entertainment.  The flood I am expecting is a new encounter with God.  A lyric from Bethel's, Spirit Move, says, "Let your power rush in like a flood."  That's what it's going to take to impact an audience with our film, power.  Not my power.  I literally have no way to finish this film.  I am no big shot producer.  I am completely dependent on God to finish this work.  We have been obedient to write the screenplay, complete the business plan, and build the team.  He has provided for us by bringing me other production work, giving us our golf course location and speak to perfect strangers to provide a beautifully furnished home for us as we wait.  Wait for what?  Power.  

And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” - Luke 24:49

Just like the yellow warning sign says, it may or may not flood down the road ahead.  But when the rain season is upon us we will be ready and I see the clouds billowing up into the heavens ahead and I can hear the thunder roll in downtown Shreveport as I write. Expect with us.

Our Year in Review - The Production Road to Perfect Swing

On May 31, 2015 we moved out of our house in Lacey, WA.  This is a reflection of the last 12 months away from home.  When I wrote Perfect Swing in 2012 I had no idea the cost of resurrecting a dream to direct feature films with Jesus.  While pursuing this dream it has costs us everything, but our family.  Our house, my videography equipment, our car, all our money and most of our possessions.  When we hit the road May 31st we had two moving trucks, one for donations and the other for a small storage facility in Sherwood, OR.

Only what fit in our Tahoe came with us when we decided to fully embrace the adventure of independent feature filmmaking with Jesus.

We were traveling light and here's some highlights of our year...

In-N-Out in Redding, CA to visit friends...

Bethel Church, Redding, CA

Disneyland with family

Grand Canyon -  Leilani

Grandma and Grandpa Bunfill in Mt Sterling, IL

Our first new home of our own since our move in Winona Lake, IN right on the canal for the next 6 weeks. - June 2015

Working on the movie New Life - Nouvelle Vie as a family!

Here's the Behind the Scenes I created! Coming to theaters October 2016!

Time to hit the trail again!  Heading south to Texas!

Stopping to see more family including Grandma Jump along the way.

Last stop in Shreveport, LA before Texas to visit the Erickson cousins...or is it? - August 2015

We were invited to scout our first golf course in Shreveport, LA for Perfect Swing and God told us to look no further.  "We have arrived!" - Favor - Handed the keys to this golf course to make our movie. - August 2015

Finally made it to Dallas, TX to work on another production as the Animatic Editor for Hillary's America
The girls enjoyed the Dallas Zoo while I worked at the production office.  During this production our financing for Perfect Swing got delayed.  "God where do you want us to live now?  Dallas, Shreveport or back home in Oregon?" - October 2015

Within 24 hrs of that prayer, perfect strangers, and now dear friends, heard from the Lord and told us Jesus wanted us to live here until our movie was complete.  The Erickson family helped us move in after living with them for 7 weeks! Downtown Shreveport - Beautiful, Furnished, Rent Free! - October 2015

This is the storefront "Thrive" right next to our new home!

Thanksgiving with the Bunfill family!

Christmas Eve with cousins.

April's folks celebrated Christmas with us!

My parents brought in the New Year!

Mardi Gras Parade right outside our front door!

Spring at the Asian Gardens across the street.  During this time I am editing 14 television episodes for The National Bible Bee Game Show.

Celebrating Easter with new friends in our home.

Playing the land as a family that God promised to us to make Perfect Swing!

Updating the screenplay, playing and praying over our golf course and letting God do the rest. - May 2016

We have decided to commit another year in Shreveport!  We are hitting the road for summer vacation at the end of June, getting refueled and refreshed back home in Oregon and we are praying and expecting financial breakthrough for Perfect Swing on the way back to Shreveport in August.  Will pre-production begin when we return?  Stay tuned!  God's got this!

Fighting to Win

On Saturday I played a solo round on our location for Perfect Swing in Shreveport, LA.  I played and prayed on the land that Jesus gave us.  Before we arrived in August, God told the manager we were coming and opened up the doors before us.  When our financing was delayed Jesus gave us a fully furnished home less then 10 minutes from the course.  I have been working on other projects as a video editor to provide for my family as we wait for production to begin.  Our family became members of the local church we have been attending as well as joining the country club.  My girls are learning to play golf.  I take them to the driving range 3 times a week to hit a bucket of balls.  My wife and I are playing golf for the first time as a couple.  As we possess this land, our inheritance, we feel the spiritual attack increase;  discouragement, doubt, feelings of being insignificant, feelings of being a fool while we wait for the funds to be released.  I continue to do the work set before me to provide for my family, play the course in faith to prepare me as a director, teach my children, love my wife, meet with young men to encourage them and let wiser men speak into my life.  We are trying to partner with a prophetic word spoken to me during church from the stage in February, "The season of delay is over and stability beyond what you can imagine is coming from the Lord, continue to worship Him."  This week I've experienced more delay in my video editing work, hence the time to blog and reflect today.  Will you declare with us this season of delay over?!  The stability of joyful expectation to rule in our home.  Let all the resources we need to make this movie be attracted to us.  The enemy knows we are here to destroy the works of the devil and lift up Jesus and reveal the truths of who Father God really is.  The enemy may now know our intentions but how much more do I need to be reminded that my God is with me fighting for me, preparing the way.  This is what I am learning and is also the main theme of Perfect Swing.  

Deuteronomy 20The Message (MSG)

20 1-4 When you go to war against your enemy and see horses and chariots and soldiers far outnumbering you, do not recoil in fear of them; God, your God, who brought you up out of Egypt is with you. When the battle is about to begin, let the priest come forward and speak to the troops. He’ll say, “Attention, Israel. In a few minutes you’re going to do battle with your enemies. Don’t waver in resolve. Don’t fear. Don’t hesitate. Don’t panic. God, your God, is right there with you, fighting with you against your enemies, fighting to win.”

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...