Adapt Magazine: November/December 2013

ADAPTING YOU TO LIFE. ADAPTING YOU TO GOD

Vol. 1 Issue 6

November/December 2013

ALEX FAITH & UPCOMING MUSIC RELEASES

THE BEST TIPS FOR SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS

s y a id l o H e h t r o Home f

“FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.” - JOHN 3:16 (ESV)

#THEBESTGIFTEVER

...MIND GAMES

(CONTENTS) SPIRITUALITY

MUSIC, JUSTICE & ETC.

P. 16 | You Only Live Once, So Dwell

P. 30 | 2013: A Year for Music P. 32 | Film: Familiar Spirits

LIFESTYLE P. 20 | Confessions of A Beauty Queen: Mission Impossible

CAREER PREP & MONEY P. 24 | Home at Last P. 26 | Antoinette Charles

IN EVERY ISSUE • EDITOR’S LETTER • CONTRIBUTORS

Photo: Monique Dos Anjos

(EDITOR'S LETTER) I really love the fact that the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are back-to-back...

show that person (be it a roommate, friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse, parent, or sibling) how we truly feel about them. We get that from the Father, the Creator and originator of love.

Besides the a-Mazing dishes we get to eat (twice!), it is also such a great excuse to get together with my family. I also think it’s such a great way to prepare our hearts and minds for the New Year.

As you prepare to head home for the holidays this year, I know some of you will not be going home to the most ideal situations. Some of you are going home to broken families or perhaps no family at all.

We spend the month of November being thankful, and the month of December buying gifts to show how much we love one another.

If you find yourself in the first situation, I’m praying that the Lord shows you how to be salt and light (Matthew 6:23) to your family this year. While it may be difficult to show love to your family, God placed you in that family for a reason; to be a reflection of His heart to your loved ones. Ask the Lord for strength and opportunities to love on your family members this holiday season.

For believers, the month of December is also spent remembering the ultimate gift: Jesus Christ!

God sent his most valuable treasure to Earth to a world that would never fully appreciate the gesture. Why, because God really loves us. I mean He REALLY loves us.

Even though I “got saved” at the age of 8, I have spent the last 17 years trying to understand the love of God. I haven’t quite figured it out. I have come to the conclusion that it is not something our human minds will ever fully comprehend; we just have to accept it. That’s really hard to do, but not impossible.

When we truly love someone -- or something -- we will do just about anything. We will go out of our way to have that “something” or to

If you’re not going home for the holidays, humbly surround yourself with some amazing friends or people from your church community. If people don’t know what you need, they can’t help you.

Plus, sitting in your college dorm or apartment alone over the holidays is not a good idea at all. When we find ourselves alone and not spiritually guarded, it becomes an opportunity for the enemy to tempt us with self-destructive thoughts.

Don’t allow the enemy to steal your joy and contentment this holiday season!

Surround yourself with strong believers who can love you well (and feed you, too).

Also make time to give back. Giving back is not just good for your mind, it is good for your soul.

Wherever you find yourself for the holidays, make time to volunteer or serve others who can’t do it in return.

This edition of Adapt is full of even more helpful tips on ways to survive the holidays.

We even talk about how to buy gifts without spending ridiculous amounts of money or putting yourself in debt. You may even want to try out some of our favorite recipes for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Write me back! Let me know how the holidays went for you this year. Send an email to editor@adaptmag.com or post a reply on twitter at @adaptmagazine.

Have a blessed and wonderful holiday.

Much Love and Peace,

allysen

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ALLYSEN KERR Editor/Publisher editor@adaptmag.com PAULA KERR Contributing Editor MONICA SOLOMON Contributing Writer ANTOINETTE CHARLES Contributing Writer AARON KERR Contributing Writer CASANDRA MORENO LOMBERA Guest Writer

Adapt Magazine is published six times a year by UnKonventional Media, LLC. All questions regarding advertising, subscriptions or this publication should be directed to publisher@unkonventionalmedia.com.

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Our favorite thing about the holidays...

(CONTRIBUTORS)

MONICA SOLOMON, BEAUTY QUEEN

Paula Kerr, Career Expert

ANTOINETTE CHARLES, Christian Bargain Hunter

Aaron Kerr, Music News

Food, family, and reflecting on God's blessing throughout the year. Oh, and The Temptations' Christmas album, of course!

LET'S SEE...IT'S THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN EVERYBODY DECORATES THEIR HOMES AND THE STREETS AND PEOPLE ARE FULL OF JOY & GETTING TO SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY SINCE IT'S THE FEW TIMES OF YEAR WHEN PEOPLE ALL HAVE THE SAME DAY OFF WORK

REST AND FOOD. CHRISTMAS DINNER BE ON POINT!

I can't wait to see my two wonderful children!

E N I Z A G A M T P A D A H T I W T CONNEC

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Spirituality Discipleship Prayer Relationship with God Worship

YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE...

SO DWELL Allysen Kerr, Editor We live in a “hurry up” society. We graduate from high school and it’s: hurry up and graduate from college. We graduate from college, and it’s: hurry up and find a job. We find the job and it’s: hurry up and get married. We get married and it’s: hurry up and have kids. Everybody is always in a rush.

The Lord has had to slow me down several times, even allowing illness to cause me to rest. However, once I was well, I went back to my former habits of running with my tank half-empty.

It’s time to slow down.

Even in all of my endeavors, as good as they were, I found myself unable to really enjoy what I was doing.

Why are we moving so fast; to what avail?

Why?

What’s the end game?

It seems as if we have embraced a “YOLO” mentality about everything in our lives. But if we are not careful, we can find ourselves getting so caught up with the “living” that we forget to slow down and dwell.

Dwell in moments? Dwell in fear?

No, dwell in the Lord.

This year has taken me through some crazy and high-stress moments. Between a full time job, running a magazine and my other company, I found myself feeling drained.

Yes, I was making progress, but I was dry, literally running on ‘E.’

adaptmag.com

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YES, I WAS MAKING PROGRESS, BUT I WAS DRY, LITERALLY RUNNING ON "E" I wasn’t dwelling in the Lord. I wasn’t taking the time to sit as His feet and meditate on His word.

Instead, I chose other things. I chose TV, friends, ministry, work, etc., but none of them truly gave me what I needed.

I’ve been a Christian for a while so I KNEW what I had to do, but I kept putting it off…so dangerous.

The Lord was calling me to be with Him, to abide, but in my

mind all of my “good works” had earned me the privilege to hit the snooze button three times in a row.

IT SEEMS AS IF WE HAVE EMBRACED A "YOLO' MENTALITY ABOUT EVERYTHING IN OUR LIVES. BUT IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL, WE CAN FIND OURSELVES GETTING SO CAUGHT UP WITH THE "LIVING" THAT WE FORGET TO SLOW DOWN AND DWELL.

Totally regretting that choice.

It was during these moments that the enemy was able to come in and distract me with the most ridiculous thoughts and temptations.

My defenses had become weakened and I didn’t even realize it. Soon my prayer life become dull, I couldn’t even pray in the spirit.

I hate to say it, but my decision to put myself first has caused me to miss out on some amazing moments with the Lord; moments that could have taken me deeper, brought amazing revelation, increased intimacy with the Lord.

When we chose to put ourselves first instead of our relationship with the Lord, we will always miss out.

God is not someone who is starved for attention or whose essence thrives on the praise of man. He doesn’t need us, but He still created us.

As we travel home for the holidays, I want to encourage, no implore us all, to carve out time to dwell in the Lord’s presence. It may be challenging but it will be so worth it.

He’s not selfish. He’s a caring, loving Father who only desires the best for us. He shares His love freely, no strings attached. We just have to accept it and abide in it.

Later on in the Book of John, Jesus says, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

The world may not realize this but every Christmas we practice the art of freely giving to others, just as the Lord freely gave His son for us.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

We are all walking toward either an eternity of life or an eternity of death. So although we may only live once, we are going to live forever.

Get full.

Spend time with the Lord. You really do only live once, so dwell.

The difference is whether or not we choose the Lord or ourselves, life or death.

GREAT READ...

IF YOU'VE EVER THOUGHT ABOUT STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS, A NONPROFIT OR JUST PLAN TO GET A JOB AFTER COLLEGE, READ THIS BOOK

BY TIMOTHY KELLER FIRST. IT WILL DEFINITELY CHANGE THE WAY YOUR APPROACH THINGS.

November/December 2013

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FEATURE Story

LIFESTYLE College Life Health & Fitness Relationships

Confessions of a Beauty Queen

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE? Monica Solomon, Contributing Writer An increase of turkey commercials and reruns of “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” can only mean one thing: The Holiday season is here!

Although, the Holiday season is all about helping others, as college students we often neglect our own health in the hustle and bustle of final exams, stalking a new place to crash for Thanksgiving, and research 25 gifts that don’t look too cheap and tacky, but are cheap and under five dollars.

My sister always says you can’t help anyone if you are sitting in the hospital because you didn’t take care of yourself first.

BOOM! Thus, my mission is to show you how to care for others, while caring for yourself.

Yep, you can be selfless and selfish at the same time, weird concept right?

Mission accepted.

Home: While watching television shows at home try doing a series of short exercises during the commercial breaks.

Give yourself a challenge of doing 10 jumping jacks or sit-ups during every commercial of one of your favorite television shows.

Exciting: Doing boring exercises was so 2012, if walking aimlessly around a track isn’t your thing try a new way to exercise. Zumba, dance walking, hip hop exercise routines are great ways to spice up your fitness life, seriously goggle adaptmag.com

dance walking and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Academics: While you are studying for your final exams, take 10-minute walking breaks every two hours. It’s a great way to stretch and exercise as well as rejuvenate your mind for another exciting hour of studying biochemistry.

Who I am kidding? Studying biochemistry is never exciting.

Let’s just say it’s another way to squeeze in some exercise.

Limit your Portions: An easy way to control your portion size is to use a Tupperware [plastic] container when eating your meal. Sure, it isn’t your mother’s fancy China dinner set, but it will help you to not eat that entire gigantic pile of rice on your plate.

Time for Exercise: Make sure that you schedule time in your weekly planner to exercise in order to meet the recommend 30 minutes of cardio each day. Studies have shown that even if you break up the 30 minutes in three 10-minute increments, you can still reap great health benefits.

Habits: If you really want to have a healthier lifestyle you have to develop a habit of health and wellness. A perfect place to start is devoting the next 21 days to exercising at least for 30 minutes each day. I mean really, who says that you have to wait until next year to start making new lifestyle choices?

Have a joyous Holiday season and wonderful New Year!

Mission completed.

CAREER & MONEY INTERNSHIPS JOB PREP FINANCES

HOME AT LAST Paula Kerr, Contributing Editor

Picture this...

You arrive at the front door of your house and you let out a big, long sigh of relief.

You’re now smiling from ear-to-ear as loved ones run to greet you with hugs, kisses, and perhaps a bunch of balloons (to celebrate your academic accomplishments during the semester).

Yes, it’s true. No one has to pinch you – you’re really home for the holidays. So, how do you make the most of your time over the next few weeks?

Here are a few suggestions: Relax!

Take time for some much deserved R&R. You’ve literally spent the last several months dealing with homework, papers, and midterms, managing your social life, managing finances, completing finals, with very little time to focus on anything else.

Ye s, you did all that a nd at a ve r y fa st pace, too.But now all the r ush is ove r a nd you ca n f inally break fre e, at lea st for a few shor t we eks!

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This is a great opportunity for you to reward yourself by taking a mental break and relax -- completely guilt-free.

Read.

A good book can be one of the best remedies for relieving stress, especially school-related stress. So read on.

Read up on common trends in the industry where you may find yourself someday; or read that article you’ve been wanting to so you can contribute to class discussion, or a group project when you return to school; watch your favorite TV show or even go see a couple of movies. Go ahead.

You’ve earned it! You might even want to party a little, but be careful not to overdo it; you will want to keep your focus while renewing your mind for the next semester.

Another great way to unwind, is by doing some holiday shopping. After all, ‘tis the season to relax and be merry; and shopping for holiday presents, decorations or food can be a very therapeutic experience. Who wouldn’t want that?

Reflect...on the previous semester.

Think about your academic performance – what you accomplished, what you learned and how you can apply that learning to your world; or where you will find yourself after graduation.

Think about anything you did that you thought went well,

Right to Work.

or things that you could have done differently or better.

Consider what you will do next semester to do better.

It wouldn’t be such a bad idea to get a job as you might come up short on cash over the holidays to spend on things you might want. Start looking for work in your local mall or shopping centers around town. Nothing too stressful, just the right job to help you pass the time while you’re home.

Research.

If you are a junior or senior, it’s never too early to start looking into internship (or employment) opportunities after graduation.

If you worked during college, this will be a great way to maintain your skills. If you can’t find work, volunteering is always good for getting some perspective, always good for your spirit, and always good for people in need.

Doing some research while at home can be beneficial because you are in a calmer and more quite environment; you can pace yourself, and you don’t have to deal with the distractions at school because you are now more focused.

Phew! So, by now you’re probably thinking that this is a lot to do in three short weeks, but truth be told, you can do this! You can take the first week and a half of being home, or you can spread it all out over the three weeks, leaving time in between to still celebrate and enjoy the holidays.

After all, that is the main reason you are going home.

Knowing ahead of time what your career goals are will always give you an edge above the rest. So “get in the know” by studying all prospects and options now.

Register for classes.

What? You really mean that? Yep! Take ownership of your future and always stay one step ahead of your game. Hence, registering early for classes ensures that you get the class or classes you want so you won’t have to obtain special admission permissions, or even worry about dropping a class you don’t like, because you [may have] procrastinated, and now have to settle for “left over” classes not suitable to your academic requirements.

A few last words…

• Heading out to a party while home for the holidays?

Make sure you have a plan – know where you’re going, know how you’re getting there, and know how you’re getting back home.

• Share important contact information with family and friends so you can be reached if necessary.

Use this time also to connect with your professors – get to know who they are and collect and keep their contact information in your planner in the event you have questions about your classes.

November/December 2013

• Be well and be safe. Enjoy your holidays. After all, you will want to bring back some great memories to share with your friends at school.

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE Antoinette Charles, Contributing Writer

When it comes to gift shopping we all know the importance of making a list. However, the most important aspect of gift shopping (yes, even more important than the list itself!) is to have a financial plan. You will want to decide up front how much you are going to budget and spend for all of your gifting this year. Let’s walk through this plan together.

1. After you pay all of your bills and obligations, how much will you have left to spend on gifts?

Big Lots had decorative tape for $1.50!

2. Who will you be gifting this year? Consider immediate family, extended family, significant other, social groups (fraternities, sororities, bible study groups, etc.)

3. Consider the types of gifts you might want to purchase this year. Do you want to buy a specific item for each person, gift cards, create gift packages, make something crafty?

adaptmag.com 26

Now, all the gifts on your list don’t need to be individually purchased. In fact, after strolling through a Big Lots

Tea lights come in all kinds of scents and make great options for gift bags.

recently, I decided it would be a great idea to put together my own little packages. The items are fun and cost-friendly.

Now I’m sure everything looks random but consider this, you can make 24 gift bags with $40.00! Here’s how: • 144-count tea lights $6.00 (x1) • 12-count lip gloss $4.00 each/$8.00 total (x2) • 10-count flameless tea light candles $6.00 each/$12.00 total (x2) • 8-count mini decor tapes $1.50 (x1) • 8-count gift bags (x3) In the first 20 bags ($1.56 each) you will have: • Tea lights (decorated) (x5) • Flameless tea light (x1) • Lip gloss (x1) In the last 4 bags (which cost $1.26 each) you will have: • Tea lights (decorated) (x11) • Lip gloss (x1) • To decorate the tea lights just put some of the decor tape around the tea lights. Voila!

Trinket boxes

HERE’S AN EXAMPLE OF HOW TO GET YOURSELF ORGANIZED:

Really, you can make your own packages with anything, including cookies, hot chocolate packets, tea packets, etc. Here are some other fun things I found: Also, Name: if its easier already put together Parentto buy packages Name: Significant like these below, then consider taking them out of the Group: Immediate Other packaging and wrapping yourself. I noticed that not all the Group: Significant boxesFamily on the shelf were in good condition or even looked Type:how Item Other nice. Gift Imagine much nicer these items would look in a box lined with tissue paper and a bow top.Gift Specific Gift on Type:

A set of note cards make great presents, especially personalized note cards.

Wallet from Ross Package Have Gift: a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Cost: $10.00

Name: Parent Group: Immediate Family Gift Type: Gift Card Gift: $10.00 Gift Card to Target Cost: $10.00 Name: Sibling Group: Immediate Family Gift Type: Gift Package Gift: A gift package I create Cost: $0.00

November/December 2013

Gift: Fragrance Set from Wal-Mart Cost: $20.00 Name: Friend Group: Bible Study Gift Type: Gift Package Gift: A gift package I create Cost: $0.00

For gift wrapping ideas and more fun gift package ideas including “Christmas Cocoa in a Jar,” “Candy Sleighs,” “Tea & Cookies,” “Mason Jar Sewing Kit,” and other DIY gifts, check out our Pinterest page!

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MUSIC New artists New releases Artist Interviews Music reviews

Sho Baraka closing the night at Authentik's Groan's B4 Glory Concert in Orlando, 2012

Photo: Collision Records

2013: THE YEAR FOR MUSIC Aaron Kerr, Contributing Writer

ALEX FAITH There have been so many great projects released all these past few months.

With Lecrae’s Gravity, Andy Mineo’s Heroes for Sale, and Derek Minor’s Minorville, the Reach Records camp has been steadily dropping loaded bangers for the last half of the year... Not to mention Lecrae received a Grammy for “Best Gospel Album!”

Let’s see…Authentik released their debut project “Groans B4 Glory.” Reggae-pop influenced artist Benjah released “Vanity Fare” and “Haze & Reflections.”

Then there’s and up-and-coming producer/rapper duo Cardec Drums and Swade Beatz (currently working on new material) who have made songs for fan-favorite Social Club, and produced some tracks for top artists like Benjah,, as well as for Collision Records’ Alex Faith on his official debut project, “ATLast.”

Let’s talk about this release..

First off, as an avid fan of the art that is Hip-Hop, I have to say that I was overjoyed for the album’s release from the day I heard the first single, “Letting Me Go.” The track oozes with elements of true, southern Hip-Hop. The perfect blend of live instruments, strong bass riffs and hearty samples fill the speakers as you hit play.

draws you in. No doubt the rest of the album is, musically, just as spectacular.

The piano and bass mesh with each other so well it just adaptmag.com

30

CARDEC DRUMS All Artwork featured belongs to respective artists

I would go as far as saying that “ATLast” is most definitely an instant classic. It’s the kind of album that you can press play, and let it ride from the first track to the last.

Collision really pulled out all the stops for this project, and you can actually hear the hard work that was put into it. It’s got all the makings of an album to be remembered.

The other thing I love about “ATLast” is the high level of transparency that Alex Faith puts in his lyrics.

He doesn’t cover anything up or sugarcoat any element of his testimony. It’s all there, raw, exposed, and filled with Jesus at almost every turn.

From reminiscing on college temptations and high-school folly in “City of Nightmares,” to heartfelt ballads like “Hold Me Down” with label-mate Christon Gray, Alex Faith has produced a genuinely heartfelt project, and without a doubt “ATLast” is a shoo-in for album of the year.

Reflection Music Group (Derek Minor’s label) has also placed a great hit on the market with fast-rapping Canon’s debut album “Mad Haven.”

Up until its announcement and release, most people knew Canon for having a lot of features and, for the most part, being Lecrae’s hype-man at various conferences and concerts. However, on “Mad Haven” he finally gets to put out work of his own.

CANON

The album has a very mainstream sound to it, and in almost every track you can expect the speedy rapper’s signature style: high energy, lightning-fast lyrics.

However it isn’t all about the rapping, the music behind the lyrics has an identity of its own, yet not one that is so unique it clashes with Canon’s style of lyricism.

Radio-ready tracks like “Out of Tune” with Derek Minor and Deraj, “Different,” and “How We Do It” featuring Lecrae and This’l, are mixed in nicely with slower, meaningful tracks like “Relations” featuring crooner Sean C. Johnson and “Special” with J.R., and “Mad Haven,” the title track with upcoming vocalist SPZRKT (pronounced Spazzy Rocket) in order to balance out the album .

Other upcoming projects for the year include newly signed Dee-1’s free mixtape “Psalms of David II,” MC Jin’s “Hypocrite EP,” and Jacob Cardec’s (aka Cardec Drums) first EP, “Birthday Wishes and Bad Decisions,” is available for download now.

Stay tuned. This year is sure to go out with a bang.

Benjah

November/December 2013

MC Jin

Dee-1

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FILM: FAMILIAR SPIRITS Casandra Moreno Lombera, Guest Writer

Award-Winning Filmmakers, Susan Shearer and Christopher Shawn Shaw, are teaming up with FaithLauncher to raise their production budget for the faith-based, Supernatural, Suspense/Thriller, “Familiar Spirits.”

wrote our own version of a similar premise. Although the original story Christopher heard may have been an urban legend, we know the supernatural realm to be very real, and we wanted to tell a story that reveals that -- as well as the element of faith and prayer and how that affects the supernatural realm.

As far as the title, Pastor (and nationally-known Comedian) Thor Ramsey, who served as one of our script consultants, came up with the title.

FaithLauncher’s Casandra Moreno Lombera, jumped at the chance to chat with Susan and Christopher to give adapt Magazine readers early insider details about the movie starring sixteen year old, Christine Galyean.

FL: How would you describe the movie?

S&C: We’ve had numerous discussions about this, as this story delves into a number of genres, but more succinctly, Familiar Spirits is a human (and spiritual) interest story that deals with deep grief over the loss of a loved one and how unseen forces can take advantage of and isolate people in such an overwhelming, grief-stricken state.

FL: Where did the story for Familiar Spirits originate from?

Susan & Christopher: Christopher heard a story nearly two decades ago about a mother who believed she was being visited by the ghost of her deceased son, only it turned out to be a familiar spirit, which - in a nutshell - is a deceiving spirit with the intent to lead people astray. He thought it would make a great short and we wanted to work together on something.

There’s definite suspense and thriller elements to the film, as well as exploring the truly irrefutable reality and power of faith and prayer...and their spiritual impact.

We did not locate the original story via online research, so we brainstormed and, over the next six months, coadaptmag.com

FL: Tell us about your team: writer, producer, director, talent etc.

32

S&C: We co-wrote and are producing the film together and Christopher is directing. Christine Galyean is portraying the deceased daughter, and - pending her availability - Jenn Gotzon is co-starring as her aunt in the film (a few roles were not been finalized at the time of this interview).

and the project. We’d also greatly appreciate contributions to the production budget - both large and small - via our FaithLauncher crowdfunding campaign site, as well as sharing that same Familiar Spirits crowdfunding website with their various spheres of influence -- e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest, etc. Remember, every little bit helps and adds up!

Eric Blackburn of BLACKBURNFilms is our Director of Photography, and Ron Lucarelli is our Art Director. We’re very honored to have Jurgen Beck on board as our composer.

FL: Are there any special rewards for supporters that you’d like to mention?

S&C: Some of the rewards are copies of the finished DVD, signed scripts, phone calls from the filmmakers, various Producer credits, bracelets like Christine will wear in the film, and more! Check out our perks at http://bit.ly/ FamiliarSpirits!

Award winning editor, Mike Vlasaty, plays an important part in telling our story. Chris Jones is our Line Producer and our two Co-Producers are Richard Brian Galyean and Steve Ausburne.

FL: What brought you together to make this film?

FL: What social media sites are available for Familiar Spirits fans to engage with you and get updates on the film/ campaign?

S&C: We know each other and each other’s work through the 168 Film Project, a faith-based, speed-filmmaking competition in which teams from around the world have 168 hours (7 days) to shoot, edit, and turn in a finished short film. It’s a phenomenal hands-on experience in filmmaking as well as a huge networking opportunity.

Through our Facebook and Twitter pages:

We have both worked on multiple projects with people we’ve met through the 168 family of filmmakers and talent.

@FamiliarSpiritsMovie

FL: Are there any challenges, blessings, or interesting stories about this journey you’d like share?

S&C: Honestly, the biggest challenge thus far has been funding, as neither of us are made of money. So, we’re thankful for our partnership with you and the FaithLauncher team (and to those who support and share our project) to help get our crowdfunding campaign videos in front of as many eyeballs as possible.

@FSMovie @SusansHearer @DirectorCSS @CKGalyean

We truly believe that every little bit helps...and adds up fast...when people give. Think about it, if a million people saw our campaign video and gave just a buck...we could do a feature-length film. So, the potential in crowdfunding through FaithLauncher is great. Plus, we’re asking for small potatoes compared to that size budget!

@NDpendentFilms FL: When will the movie be released?

S&C: We plan to shoot in February 2014, then move promptly into post-production. Stay tuned for more details!

FL: Who is your audience and why will they want to help make this film happen?

_______________________________________________

S&C: Honestly, our audience can cover a wide gamut from practically anybody who likes compelling stories that deal with both human and spiritual interests to people who like suspense, thriller, and a cup of scary.

About FaithLauncher: FaithLauncher’s vision is to build the most collaborative online community who is passionate about advancing the success of faith-based projects. Their mission is to empower all enterprisers of excellent work in business, entertainment, technology, humanitarian aid, education, and ministries everywhere to take action and influence our culture while building God’s Kingdom.

FL: How can they get involved?

S&C: Primarily, people of faith can pray for us, the team,

The Film Makers, Susan Sherear & Christopher Shawn Shaw November/December 2013

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