I woke up this morning extremely burdened. I have lost another friend in this last week. I first met Joshua Hurlburt in Kona Hawaii. We went to film school together. We ended up working together at the security checkpoint of our university campus. I don't think I have ever laughed so much. This guy was so full of life, and he was such a good storyteller. Last week Josh lost his battle Chronic Granulomatous Disease. This was hard news to hear. If you knew Josh, you knew a huge light just went out. This guy was incredible and had so much potential. Josh was only 27.

A few months back, I also lost another friend. Leah Dettling. I learned so much about leadership from Leah. Leah was a friend and a co-worker. I had the honor working next to Leah for almost 6 years. She had a huge vision of the future. She was not just a teacher, but she was a role model. She exemplified everything she taught about leadership. She had a goal and she was headed towards that goal. She had a huge vision to work with Youth in India and awaken their creative passions through a cafe' she was starting. Unfortunately, cancer took over her lungs before that vision could be realized. She dead a few months ago. Leah was only 28.

Dealing with Leahs death earlier in this year, I found myself asking the question "Why"? It was a process asking God why did this happen. Soon after I discovered an audio recording from Leah where she Talked about learning about trust the hard way. Even though we don't understand, we must still trust that God is good. Hearing this message straight from leah's mouth was powerful. Even thought he message was recording almost a year prior, her voice was helping cope with this question "why?"

This past week, I heard about Josh's death. I was no longer asking the question "Why?", but I was just asking God to hold me a little bit tighter this time. Over the past couple of days, I went through a natural process of mourning. But something felt different this time. I didn't feel terribly sad, I didn't feel anger towards God. I felt something else. I felt an unsatisfaction. I couldn't understand it until this morning. I look at these two people who are no longer here on this earth. Both of them were completel inspirations. Both were fighting for causes or bringing awareness. Both had lives that touched everyone that came into contact with them. Their very presence brought strength and encouragement to those surrounding them. So what was this unsatisfaction about?

My unsatisfaction was grounded in the place of complacency. There is an entire world of people that are not called to action about anything. My unsatisfaction quickly faded into inspiration. Once I unlocked the reason why I was unsatisfied, the negative feeling of unsatisfaction gave way to the urging call to action. These people lives scream of action. I feel urged to do more. I hope that both of these stories urge everyone to do more with their lives. In a sense to pick up where Josh and Leah left off. Where they could not continue, I will pick up and aspire to visions that are far beyond myself. I found myself wanting to share this revelation, in hopes that others would be inspired to bigger visions that are beyond themselves. Even if you did not know these two, I hope you are as inspired by there stories as I am. I pray that it nudges you out of complacency as it has for me. I don't want to sound judgemental, but I do think that complacency is a disease that riddles most of us. Some choose to give into it, and some choose to fight and conquer it. Even though different sickness killed my two friends, the disease of complacency did not. So don't just reach for the ordinary. Whatever you do, do it with extraordinary ferver. Don't just wait for your opportunity to do good. Do good with everything you do. Be inspired by those around you, don't wait for tragedy to appreciate people. Love one another. Inspire one another. Catch a larger vision than yourslef and chase after it.

Thank you Josh and Leah for teaching me this. I hope that it teaches you too.
 For more about Joshua Hurlburt, check out http://www.joshuasride.com
For a bit about leah, check out her memorial video http://bdyoutube.com/video/SkeLHaTb7jY/leah-a-tribute.html

Another School of Digital Filmmaking is complete and what a school it was…We started out with fresh young faces, excited and nervous for what lay ahead and through the course of three months churned out bright young filmmakers with exciting futures.

The students this year were exceptional in their endurance. Every obstacle facing them, whether it was losing actors at the last minute or losing locations half way through filming they pushed through with determination. They fought for their stories. They went the extra mile. They persevered through late nights and early mornings. And in everything they pushed through with positive attitudes, making the adventure something exciting and fun.


We had great speakers like Bruce Ladd, who got the students’ creativity flowing to really understand their characters. Kevin Miller guided their writing to make their stories come alive. Patrick Dodson shook foundations, provoking them to really think about what they write, encouraging them to write from the heart, to dig deep and turn out stories that impact and change lives.

All in all it was an amazing school, with great speakers, awesome students and enjoyable films. We’re proud of the 2009 School of Digital Filmmaking and we hope next year will be just as great.

Speaking of next year, we can officially announc

e the dates for the next School of Digital Filmmaking. The dates are 5th of August – 29th of October 2010. You know you wan to apply now!

In the last few weeks my production company The Initiative have been keeping
busy with film shoots for new promos for Ywam Brisbane and for the SDF.

All Saturday the team stayed busy shooting the Ywam Brisbane Promo. Included in the promo is information about all the focused DTS’ run here at Ywam Brisbane—Beach to Bush DTS, Frontiers DTS, MAD DTS and Sports DTS. The promo also gives information for all the second level schools offered—Basic Leadership School (BLS), School of Leadership and Missions (SLAM), School of Biblical Christian Worldview (SBCW) and of COURSE the School of Digital Filmmaking (SDF). Moving swiftly on from there the promo gives information on all the ministries run here on the Ywam Brisbane campus—Go Teams, The Initiative, Mad Ministries, Go Help and Epic.

The SDF Promo will be a goodie too! Obviously the promo focuses on the School of Digital Filmmaking.With the next SDF coming up on the 29th of July 2009 we are eager to get the info out there. “Our passion for filmmaking has increased with these two shoots,” says The Initiative’s Charis Joy Jackson, “and we know we aren’t the only ones eager to get our hands on a camera. We are eager to let everyone know about the school so their imaginations can explode onto film too!”

Check them out at goywam.com.

It’s Friday night and the whole Initiative gang are dressed up and ready for a night at the awards. Everyone shuffles into the van and they head off to the Palace Centro Cinemas.

As they arrive to the contemporary styled building, it’s buzzing with life. Young filmmakers fill the building with laughter and conversation. Each team wondering what awards they are nominated for. The Initiative collect their tickets and rush for the screening room.

As they take their seats a hush falls over the room. The only sounds are camera’s madly snapping pictures. The large cinema screen lights to life and the evening begins, with none other than the Initiative’s short “The Film Company”.

“What an honor,” says Initiative’s Charis Jackson, “to see our first film as a company up on the big screen.”
After all the films were shown the awards night really started, filmmakers were on the edge of their seats.Straining their ears to hear what they were nominated for. The Initiative was no exception. Each member shifted in their seats, eager to hear what they were nominated for.

And the results…? The Initiative’s first film, “The Film Company” is in the top ten films for this years 48 Hour Film Festival. Not only that, but their main actress was nominated for best actress. Amazing, considering this is The Initiative’s first project!
The Initiative is a new film production company out of Youth With a Mission Brisbane and the School of Digital Filmmaking Australia (SDFoz).This is the first year Jason Solari has run the SDFoz and The Initiative, and they are both off to a great start.
All in all The Initiative gang had a great night at the Judges Awards. “To be awarded,” says Initiative’s leader Solari, “for top 10 short films of 2008 is a great start to our production company. We are thrilled what will come next.”

After turning in “The Film Company”,a short film created for the 48 Hour Film Project, The Initiative has eagerly waitedfor news on nominations. Weeks of waiting patiently and the results are in…“We’re nominated!”

Fourteen teams will compete for thecoveted awards such as the “Best Overall Film” which includes a $2,495 MediaComposer Software Package from Avid, $1000 cash from Perception Pictures forairfares to the World Best of Competition in the US, $1000 Equipment hirevoucher from Lemac and a private catered screening of “American Teen” for theteam valued at $5,000. Other awards “Best Director” and “Best Script” include aone year Associate Membership with the Australian Directors or Writers Guild.

“Justgetting involved is reward enough,” Says Initiative leader, Jason Solari, “butbeing nominated for our debut short film project as a company is extremelyexciting.” As for what they are nominated for Initiative’s 1st AD,Charis Joy Jackson says, “We won’t find out until the Awards night.” So TheInitiative will have to continue to wait.

Andrew Condor, a highly respectedDirector of Photography and Camera Operator, who worked on Peter Pan andScooby-Doo is one of this years panel of judges for the 48 Hour Film Project.The Judges Awards night will take place on Friday, the 21st of Novemberat the Palace Centro Cinemas.

“I'mexcited.” says Initiative sound man, Beau Thorne. Being a new company, thewhole Initiative Company feels blessed to be a part of this adventure. “It's atestament to the crew's hard work,” says Initiative’s self proclaimed techgeek, Jonathan Proby, “I'm glad that it is recognized.”

When they aren't staff for the School of Digital Filmmaking, they arepart of The Initiative, a new production company. And when they are The Initiative what are they up to??? Check it out!

The past couple of weeks have been an exciting one for The Initiativeproduction company, who took on the 48 Hour Film Festival to producetheir first short film.

Thirty-four teams, including The Initiative, came together from allover Brisbane this last Friday 24 Oct. 2008 to the Kick-Off for the 48Hour Film Festival. Each team took turns throwing dice-shaped beachballs into the air to find out what genre they would be filming. JasonSolari, the leader of The Initiative, took to the stage and rolled"Romance".

After every team "rolled" the dice, it was time to announce the"Special Ingredients". Filmmakers, on the edge of their seat, eager tostart, listened intently while the hosts announced, "Character: HadleyJones, door to door missionary, Prop: A sock Puppet and Line ofDialogue: I'll Come Back with Answers." As soon as this was announcedthe 48 Hours began and The Initiative team bolted from their seats,eager and ready to begin the adventure.

For the rest of the night, Jason Solari and Charis Joy Jackson hunchedover their computers, writing away. When they combined theirscreenplays, the quirky romance, "The Film Company" was twelve pageslong and full of comedy.

The next day the team drove to the location, Empower Plus, a stylishoffice building, to start shooting. Filling out the team were fellow GoCentre staff: Juan Haniel Stantiago Martinez as Script Supervisor,Gwendy Carman as 1st Assistant Camera, Mark Fox as Assistant Editor,Jolene Higginson as Gaffer and Chrissy Hildebrand as Production Design.Also helping were Tony Lunnon from CCC Westside as Camera Operator andHannah Dare from Empower Plus. The cast included, Amy Fitzgerald in thelead, Kelly Arndt in the lead, co staring: Jenni Neibling, CameronRabbit, Jacob Turner, David Laverty and Ryan Hernandez. Sixteen hours,several cups of coffee and heaps of pieces of pizza later TheInitiative had the footage they needed. After releasing the patientactors, the crew had everything packed and were on their way back tothe Go Centre, by 11:30pm.

With little rest the night before, Solari and Jonathan Proby launchedinto editing mode and had a rough cut of the film done by early morningSunday. With the rest of the day to edit, the two sat at their desks,an iMac in front of each of them, sweetening the sound and colorcorrecting, while Beau Thorne made coffee and food to keep everyoneawake and Jackson made sure all the paper work was in order.

At 9pm the team drove their final cut of the film to the drop off andcelebrated with a well deserved trip to Macker's, where Gwendy Carmantreated everyone to sundaes.

They now wait for word on the nominees and are excited for theScreenings and Award Nights. "This is our first time to compete in the48 Hour Film Project." Said Solari, when asked if he thought the filmwould win, "We did it for the experience and just to have fun. If wewin, great, but we really did it for the fun."