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Do Hard Things Conference Philippines

Friday, August 22, 2008

The Widow's Might

Last May, Alyssa posted about The Widow's Might by Heumoore Productions. In my visit to The Rebelution today, I happened upon John Moore's letter and it offers a very exciting motivation for us teens. Alyssa and I are keen on promoting this kind of endeavors. Read on, support HeuMoore Productions and take action!

LETTER FOR REBELUTIONARIES

Fellow Rebelutionaries,

In 2004, my friend David Heustis and I formed a “production company” to make movies. Our goal was the spotlight, our quality was on par with the average YouTube video. Now, after a few years of listening and learning from more experienced filmmakers, we have improved. But we’re still teens. And while we’ve added to the crew, many of our strongest additions are teens, as well. So when we announced our plans to create a feature-length film, with the joint aim of sparking a movement towards tax reform in our Texas county, it was hard for outsiders to take us seriously. Would this just be a feature-length YouTube video?

Over many labor-filled months we wrote the screenplay, secured locations, locked down contracts with various professionals, and prepared for the hardest thing we’ve ever done. As we interacted with crew members, facilities, and local officials, they were shocked to discover that the writer and director of our film is eighteen, that our producer is nineteen, that our visual designer is seventeen, and that a majority of our grips and cast are teens as well. But they weren’t shocked that we were producing a film. Other teens have done that. Instead, it was the content and purpose of the film, and the seriousness with which we take our mission.

Why not an action film? A thriller? A horror or sci-fi piece? All of those genre are far more common among young filmmakers. Why a story like The Widow’s Might?

The Widow’s Might tells the story of an elderly widow who is about to lose her home due to tax foreclosure. When teen friends John and Cameron learn about it, they are
determined to stop it. With the support of their families, they start educating the citizens in their town on the issues in an effort to turn her situation around. What they discover is that making a difference is a hard thing. A very hard thing.

What makes The Widow’s Might different than other films with young people fighting for change is that we’re actually doing it. The story is fiction, but the issues are real. What’s more, in the story of the film, John and Cameron put out a call to thousands of people for a rally in support of the needy widow. We’re doing that right now.

On Wednesday, August 27th, about 45 minutes southeast of downtown Dallas, TX, we will be shooting the biggest sequence of film: A showdown between our story’s heroes and villains. We need your help to make it happen. We’re looking for 1,500 people to join us. The message of the film hinges on the turnout. We’ll be issuing a press release using the crowd as a key indicator of the newsworthiness of the film release. We’re working to get national news writers to attend.

Are we crazy? Well, yes. Crazy about making a difference. And we want you to join us. It will be fun, but it also will make a real and meaningful artistic statement. Tell
your friends. Join us on the 27th. Let’s make a difference together.

In
Christ,

John R. Moore


Be a part of this exciting endeavor to make a difference! Visit Widow's Might and be involved!

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Passion Manila Conference


I could not even begin to describe what happened in Passion Manila last Friday evening. It was and still is indescribable and totally amazing! God is so amazing!

Over 7,000 Filipinos in the Metro and from near provinces have come to the Passion Conference last Friday evening. The whole PhilSports Arena was jam packed and the tickets sold out a week before the conference, but God is good on our part.

A few weeks ago, Alyssa told me that Chris Tomlin would be coming to the Philippines with some team and shortly after that, I saw promotions of the Passion Conference all over my Facebook account. We were stalling on our plan to go because the schedule of the conference is until late in the evening and we’re dubious if we’ll be allowed that late by ourselves. We already gave it up two days before the Conference because tickets were sold out as announced. But as I said, God is good on our part. He always does the unexpected. Thursday morning, a friend, Ate Irene texted that she got ten tickets from Becca Music. The last ten tickets I presume for the conference. Isn’t just God amazing?

Probably, one would not have thought it an amazing night because of the lashing wind and heavy rains but God just worked everything out. Worshipping the Lord through prayer, preaching, and music with 7,000 people was just so overwhelming. Singing Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) with Chris Tomlin after Louie Giglio’s message brought the arena down. I began to wonder, what would it be like in heaven? I stopped wondering. Worship in forever would be uncontainable. Everybody was blessed and above all, we hope to have blessed and glorified Him who gave such grace.


The Passion Manila crowd at PhilSports Arena.

Louie Giglio preaching and telling a story about a girl named Ashley.

Chris Tomlin leading the singing.

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Ate Irene and Kuya Jomer who bought tickets for us and drove us to our homes early one in the morning, we could not be more than grateful for you. London, thank your for praying for Passion Manila. God heard your prayers. Kuala Lumpur, we’re joyful for you. The organizers of the Passion Manila Conference, guys without your tremendous efforts, there would not have been Passion Manila. To the Passion Team, Louie Giglio, Kristian Stanfill, and Chris Tomlin, thank you for coming and sharing.

Though Alyssa was not able to come with me (she had exams to prepare for last Friday), I was there to be her reporter. I hope I took enough pictures and recorded enough audio.