In the words of the legendary Michael J. Fox, "Family is not an important thing. It's everything."
With "Race Against Time," Light Inside Cinema is not just another production company, we believe that every production; it's a family reunion and Race Against Time was just that. From the inception of this project through the stages of development and into the heart of principal photography, this set is a canvas for heartfelt expression.
The Genesis of the Set
What began as a simple concept for a short skit turned into a massive production because of God's guidance. Initially, a humble six-page script was the starting point, envisioning a one-room, one-location shoot inspired by an escape room. But then, God intervened and altered the course of our journey.
With God guiding my hands, I wrote an astonishing 2800 pages, loosely based on the book of Daniel, with a specific focus on the story of Daniel and the lion's den. Subsequently, this epic narrative was condensed to 1300 pages, and the vision for a TV series was born.
The Power of Resilience
"Race Against Time" is more than just a series; it's a powerful message of resilience, the unwavering commitment to stand up, and the refusal to surrender to despair. As we look back on our beginnings, we find it remarkable how a small idea, driven by the desire to create something special for Kiley Opsal, her friend Lhana Richards, and there mom's Kelley Opsal, and Lisa Richard, evolved into a colossal production. It was here that Anna Stadler joined our ranks.
But the script had a life of its own. It evolved, shifted, and transformed, almost as if it had a divine purpose. At this point, I had a heart-to-heart with my loving Abba offering myself as a willing vessel to bring His story to the world. That's where "Race Against Time" truly began.
Originally, the cast and crew were modest, featuring Kiley Opsal, Anna Stadler, and Lhana Richards, with my friend Steven Wilson managing sound, and my wife assisting with the camera and lighting. But divine plans took us on an unexpected journey. In the hands of God, our small team blossomed into a crew of thirty dedicated individuals.
Trials and Triumphs
Our journey encountered trials, as many often do. A crowdfunding campaign, initially met with limited success, encountered a moment of grace when David Siracusa discovered our project. He became eager to join as an extra and generously funded our first two days of production.
However, the heavens decided to test us with torrential rain, turning our chosen abandoned warehouse location into a muddy mess. Most of our crew vanished, except for the cast and a few exceptional individuals who remained steadfast by my side. Karen, our makeup artist, Marie, our production coordinator, and Joy and Ashley Mack, our behind-the-scenes team, stood unwavering.
After the rain finally relented, we decided to film one last scene in the mud, a scene that would go down in history. When the camera team departed with my camera, Joy came to the rescue, offering her camera to capture the pivotal scene. This was the first glimmer of the resilience that has come to define this production.
Yet, even with this scene in the books, we knew there was so much more to tell, and we had no means to share our story effectively. At a moment of despair, I turned to faith, knowing that God was testing me.
The day after wrapping the first film set, we received word that the father of the location's co-owner had passed away unexpectedly from double pneumonia. This hit me hard, even though I just met the father, he was a veteran and he had such an uplifting spirit about him. I guess that is where his son took it from.
Unfortnantly, the location fell into probate and the son told me it was no longer useable. That didn't stop our production though. We kept praying and believing that God would find a way to reopen that facility. Guess what, he did. With the location still in probate, the son told me we would be cleared to film for a day at the facility. This was the first glimmer of the resilience that has come to define this production.
Lhana Richards' Story of Courage
Now, let me share a story of true determination and courage. During our second set, we encountered Lhana Richards, a lead supporting role, and a shining example of the spirit that defines "Race Against Time."
I pitched Lhana the idea of a scene featuring her riding a motorcycle. The catch was that she had never been on a motorcycle before. But that didn't deter her. Lhana was determined to bring this scene to life. She began with training in her hometown, even though it was on a much smaller bike than the one required for the scene.
With just under three hours of practice on my bike, she took a deep breath and got on it.
What truly amazed me was Lhana's unwavering determination. She never gave up, even when fear brought tears to her eyes. She didn't lay that bike down, and even when she burned her leg on the exhaust, she kept it to herself because she was determined to make this happen. Lhana never walked away from that bike; she just kept pushing through
This whole production has been a humbling experience, one of the most efficiently run productions I've ever been a part of. On one remarkable day, we filmed over 20 pages in less than 9 hours. I have to say, Hollywood couldn't even come close to the talent, passion, and dedication of our film family.
Lhana, and to everyone who made this possible, I'm incredibly grateful for all of you. Lhana, your courage and determination are remarkable. You are an unstoppable champ, and you've just created one of the greatest moments in filmmaking history.
The Set Grows and Evolves
In discussions with the cast, I acknowledged that we would need to schedule reshoots. This decision led to a fortuitous meeting with Melissa Coles, a woman of deep faith and an incredible actress brimming with ideas. While I hadn't initially planned on adding the protagonist's mother to the production, God had other plans, and Melissa became a pivotal part of our team.
We recommenced our marketing and crowdfunding efforts, but still, the funds trickled in slowly. However, I'm not one to give up, and with Melissa's fervent prayers and the cast's unwavering commitment to completing the project, we pushed on, with or without funding.
With this seed of faith, we witnessed our cast and crew grow each day. It was as though a new member joined our family daily. Marie introduced me to Lisa Asebo, who eventually became our first assistant director. More on her incredible story shortly.
In the weeks leading up to our second set of shooting, Karen called to say she might need to bow out due to her mother's ailing health and car troubles. Shortly thereafter, we received a call from Marie, who had fallen down a flight of steps at a hotel, threatening her participation in the production. Throughout these challenges, Melissa and I remained unwavering in our determination in Melissa's words: "Not today, Satan. This project will go on."
Miraculously, Marie's recovery allowed her to rejoin the production, and Karen's mother improved enough to allow her to return. David Siracusa stepped up to provide Karen with transportation to the set, and I invited him to be my co-director. Our artistic visions aligned seamlessly, and we found ourselves making a formidable team.
An Unstoppable Force
Despite multiple Facebook ads and four crowdfunding campaigns yielding minimal funds, the remarkable happened. With nearly no financial backing and only a mustard seed of faith, our second set attracted over forty individuals wholly dedicated to the project. This marked the third shining wave of resilience that defines this production.
Moreover, God brought incredible people into our lives. An aviation company offered to provide a Blackhawk helicopter for our production, but a $15,000 aviation coordinator fee posed an insurmountable obstacle. However, I firmly believe that everyone crosses our path for a reason and she is still one of my friends that is eager to put her expertise to work on our future sets.
As fate would have it, a karate studio near the Airbnb I had rented for another location became another unexpected gift. The studio Focus Passion Martial Arts located in Lake Wales, Florida, and owned by Devante, opened its space to us for free, and we discovered that Devante possessed untapped talent. He joined the cast as a guard for the abandoned mine, which we had been granted permission to return to by the mine owner's son.
The Stories of Resilience
The stories of resilience are endless in this journey. Throughout our second set, not only did Karen experience the challenges with her mother, but Marie, the production coordinator, had endured her own hardships after falling down those hotel steps.
But I remained un wavered and knew God was going to carry this set through till the end. Bolstered by my faith and the indomitable spirit of the cast and crew. When Marie recovered and Karen's mother improved, the obstacles we faced became but stepping stones on our path to realizing the vision. The resilience of our team remained steadfast.
The Legacy of Courage
On the final day of our second set, Lisa Asebo, our first assistant director, handed me a special gift with a profoundly moving story. The story we were bringing to life was loosely inspired by the book of Daniel, and on the eve of our second set, Lisa had a mystical experience in her children's room.
A book had fallen from the shelf, and it was a childrens book on the story of none other than; Daniel and the lions den. She then presented to me. It was a poignant and meaningful gift, almost as if it were a sign from above, a reminder from God that our series was destined for greatness with His guidance.
I am filled with anticipation as our set moves forward. With a release date at the end of January for the Pilot Episode and Early February to being preproduction for the next, we are all eager and ready to see God's hand at work and what he has in store next.
Continuing the Journey As I reflect on this incredible journey, it's evident that the production of "Race Against Time" is more than a series. It's a testament to the power of faith, resilience, and the unwavering spirit of a dedicated cast and crew. With God as our guiding force, we've faced challenges head-on and found solutions even when the odds seemed insurmountable.
As we move forward with the release of the Pilot Episode in January and early preparations for the next chapter in February, we are eager to see how God's guiding hand will shape the future of "Race Against Time." The resilience that has defined this production will continue to shine brightly, a testament to the strength that comes from unwavering faith and the support of a dedicated film family.
Please consider supporting us as we move this to post production. Your support will help with proper marketing and distribution as well as editing, coloring and bring this pilot episode to life. You can click on the link below to donate and share to your friends. We greatly appreciate your support.
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