Branton McMahan is the CEO of Project 29:11 Productions. I met Branton through the Christian Filmmakers Network in submitting my portfolio for his crew call as Director for the film, "Good & Faithful". After submitting my portfolio, I received an email for an interview for their Marketing Position. It was during the interview that I had the chance to meet the infamous three, Branton McMahan, Deja McCray, & Mikayla Denny, who are currently working as First Assistant Camera Operator, Second Assistant Camera Operator, & Line Producer along with me for the "The Sleepover". After the interview I left with two positions, Marketer & COVID-19 Coordinator. I truly enjoyed sitting in a few of their pre-production meetings, as Branton is extremely experienced, motivated, and passionate about filmmaking, and Mikayla Denny, who I absolutely adore, working right alongside him with such a detailed eye, a plethora of background knowledge as a film student abiding in Talking Rock, GA, and extremely organized. Branton abides in Villa Rica, GA, which is where all of his creative juices are stirred birthing the most beautiful divine art.
I started off in graphic design and content creation for their social media platform during pre-production, while creating their COVID-19 social distancing plan for productions days and submitted to be approved by the Film Director. I ended up working both positions remotely during production days due to feeling a little under the weather. Therefore, I virtually met with the assigned Production Assistants, along with Mikayla, via zoom for each production day, and delegated the COVID-19 Social Distancing Plan that I had created for the set, along with a list of materials for them to purchase for that plan, while maintaining the social media page. However, I still had a high time, and came onboard during post production to assist Branton in designing and capturing his vision for the movie's film poster. "Good & Faithful", is currently holding screenings at various locations, you can follow their upcoming screenings on facebook. You can also follow his other projects that are currently in pre-production on his website at https://project2911productions.weebly.com/. There are also several ways to connect with him by clicking on the listed social icons listed above. Click here to view the movie's trailer.
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 Nelson Robertson Sr. is a wonderful director that I have had the honor of getting to know by way of producing his first self written and directed film, The Sleepover. Nelson Robertson Sr. is the Assistant Pastor of Faith to Faith Ministries of Villa Rica, Georgia, a Life Coach, Entrepreneur, Producer/Writer, Husband, and Father of seven. He loves the Lord and his family to no end. He has a passion for enriching and uplifting lives through teaching faith and the unconditional love of the Lord. I met Mr. Robertson at a virtual gathering for the Atlanta Christian Filmmakers Network, coordinated by Filmmaker, Susan Smith, of Mystible Entertainment. It was a small group, each of us expressing our passion for filmmaking and our faith. Immediately after the gathering, Mr. Robertson emailed Marketing Truth as well as left a voicemail stating his interest in seeing how we can help him with a script that he had written. With such a humble spirit, Mr. Robertson stated that it was his first project, and that he will be learning from us through the entire process. Myself, along with Music Producer & Composer, Jonathan White, read the script that Mr. Robertson presented. After reading the script and role playing, we realized that it was a family film geared towards youth, and that the core of the film was for kingdom advancement. We both could not turn it down. The Sleepover, is a story about 4 high school girls, 3 have confessed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. However, one, Taylor, is not saved. While the other 3 teenage girls coordinated a sleepover, they invite Taylor. It's there at the sleepover that Taylor gives her life over to the Lord. Changes can take place anywhere, even at a sleepover. It's been such a delight in working alongside Mr. Robertson as the Producer throughout the pre-production process, from coordinating all of the administrative tasks, hiring crew, selecting cast members, crew and talent contracts, delegating tasks to each department, managing the progress of the crew members within each department from start to finish, and more. I am looking forward to working with him on set during our scheduled production days of April 7-10, 2022. All has been such a wonderful experience that I wouldn't trade in for the world. I am also anticipating what God has in store for the film, as I will be assisting the assigned Editor, Gary Lerenz, of Light Em Up Productions and Music Producer & Composer, Jonathan White, as an Assistant Editor in the pre-production process. We are all looking forward to seeing what Mr. Robertson decides as far as distribution. There is a lot that God has in store for The Sleepover and Mr. Robertson in the film industry as he continues to minister to the lives of the general public by way of film. We are looking forward to announcing his first screening in 2022, and hope to see you there! You can learn about Nelson Robertson and his ministry by click on the social icons posted above.
CHRISTINA KARIS
There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1) It was so good to hear the voice of my sweet sister again, the one that started along with me in the hustle and journey of faith shortly after our days of graduating from graduate school at Regent University. Casually dressed in very comfortable attire, out in the elements of the sun, playing soft worship music, she appears on the screen by way of her laptop’s video camera, and as always cheerful and genuine in spirit. Where were you born; where are you from? I hope this music is not too loud. Its Kari Jobe called “The Garden”, and it’s just so (sigh)…. I just have this sense of intimacy with Jesus when I listen to it. It’s beautiful. So, I recommend it. I was born in Columbus, Ohio. I was more so raised in Alabama…Clanton, Alabama. It’s a super small town. We had a Walmart. That was it…super small town. How and when were you exposed to the art of acting? My first exposure was watching soap operas that my grandma watched (laughs). She use to record Days of Our Lives, Another World, and Young & the Restless every day and watch them on the VCR (laughs)….EVERYDAY. And that was my first experience of acting. It was super melodramatic, and I just thought that uh that’s what acting was, I guess. I’ve actually kind of had this epiphany in the past week or so, that it was my communication with God. It was my prayer time before anybody ever told me about God. I use to go and make up stories, and act them out in the bathroom, in the kitchen, where ever, and looking back, it was the purest form of acting I’ve ever done. Because it was fun; it was play; it was creative; and it was using my imagination with God (tears up). And it was the purest form of prayer and communication. So that’s when I was first introduced to it…when it wasn’t about anyone else; it was me having fun, creating worlds, living in them, experiencing them, and it was beautiful. What made you fall in love with the art form? What made me fall in love with it, is that I just felt free. It felt right; it felt at home, and it felt like I could totally be myself, umm…I was constantly in my imagination. Growing up I didn’t have my mom. And so I remember I use to play Whitney Houston in my bedroom. I would dance and envision her as my mom. I had this whole scenario worked out (laughs), and that was my running story for years. I’ve just always been in my imagination like that. What is your educational background in the field? I have a B.A. and a Master’s Degree in Acting, and I’ve studied with many teachers, workshops, and different things. I’ve learned a lot from working on set, and being in the action of it. That’s when the experience is truly transformational, I think. Umm cathartic…. What inspired you to take on acting as a career? When I was in high school, and it was my senior year in school, everybody was saying what they wanted to be. I was ashamed to say that I wanted to be an actress because I didn’t have any examples. And people wanted to be lawyers, doctors, teachers, and engineers and….I wanted to be an actress (laughs). And it wasn’t until I got to college, and I went to Alabama State University, which is a historically black college, that I emerged myself in the Theatre program, and I was like “Oh my gosh! There’s people who look like me. Who love what I love, who do what I do, and who are planning on making a career out of it. I can do that too.” So working under Dr. Stewart, my amazing acting guru at the time, I really felt like I could make it a career. Who inspired you to pursue your dream in the field? Everybody!! I don’t know if you are talking about professionally and personally. I would say, my biggest inspiration, my biggest motivator, (tears up)…has been my sister, Nicole. Umm, she is the most genuine, generous person that I know, and she has had my back so many times. Like I said, growing up I didn’t have my mom so she’s kind of had the dual role of my mom and my sister, but she has found this perfect balance with allowing me to experience things and being there to pick me up at the same time. Like, she may know there’s a better way, but she in her own way allows me to experience it for myself. And then when I learn the lesson, I come to her, and I’m like, “Hey this is what I learned.” And she listens as if she already didn’t know. And it’s such a beautiful portrait of how God is with us. We talk to God….”Oh I learned this, I learned that, and….” He knows everything, but He listens as if He doesn’t, and that’s the kind of parent I want to be. So my sister has taught me so much about how to parent, for real…not just being a sister. Do you consider acting to be a calling for you? If so, share how you discovered that it was more than just a career for you but a calling. I knew acting was a calling for me, when it started chasing me. And what I mean by that is, for many many years, I ran away from acting because I was afraid of it, because I didn’t understand it, because I didn’t think I was worthy enough, and no matter how I try to escape it, it always found its way back to me. And that’s when I kind of realized, it aint going nowhere. So maybe I should stop and listen to what it’s trying to say to me. And when I went to Regent University, and really kind of understood acting from a spiritual place, I realized that it was more than a career for sure because it’s a platform of course to reach people, but it’s also a transformational art for yourself and for other people. And I really believe it’s my calling in the world, I do…. What were your first steps towards your pursuit in the acting industry? I moved to L.A. after school…after Regent. And I would definitely say, I lacked preparation. I understood the art, but I did not understand the business. I’m still coming to understand the business to this day. But it’s been a definite journey. What was your most memorable and successful moment? I think the most memorable moment is when I did an audition…I did a taped audition for a movie, and the casting director said he wanted me to come back for the call back. My agent called me that night. She said, “Can you be in North Carolina tomorrow at 2 PM?” I said, “Uh sure yeah! I can do that!” At the time, I didn’t even have money to take the trip. I didn’t have money. They were putting me up in the hotel, but I was really low on money. And my friend loaned me $200 to take the trip. And I was in my car before the rehearsal, and I felt like it was mine. I felt like the role was mine. And I felt God with me. And they had given me some sides to go over, and I memorized them. Then when I got there, they were just like, “Well, we just want you to improv.” And I was like, “Yeah, let’s do it.” I was so deeply connected with myself and with God, that the improv…he ended up writing it into his script. And it was a film that I got to work on for 4 months. With amazing actors and actresses, but what was so memorable for me was not that I booked it, but that I could sense God aligned with me the whole way…before I walked in the door. It’s like, when God opens doors, no man can close. That was true for me that day, for sure. What was your most challenging moment? Girl, you are going to have a book (laugh). Uh my most challenging moment is some of the dark days. It’s challenging when you lose your perspective. And in the past couple of years I have gone through some life changes, and my perspective was kind of way off. And because my perspective was so off, the way I saw life was off. So I lost my ability to see from God’s perspective, and I could only see what was in front of me. I could only feel what I felt and when that happened for months and months and months, years actually…of kind of losing my sense of connection to what I can’t see, which is what faith is, it was just really dark for a while. And I think it’s challenging to win in any area of your life, when it’s dark. Definitely had my dark days…. So I try to be really committed to keeping my perspective on track. What motivates you to keep going? That’s all God because I think even movies that motivate me and songs that motivate me and people that motivate me, it’s all a reminder of who God is and who I am in Him. On an external level, I would definitely say my family because I see how much happiness it brings them (tears up) when I take a step forward in my career. It’s almost like I’m doing this for them. Not for me, but for them. Like, from their perspective, they feel like it’s happening to them. All these experiences I’m having in Hollywood, and all of these people I’m meeting….it’s like they’re living vicariously through me. And every time I see them, they tell me how proud they are, and they know that I’m just going to take off, and it’s going to happen, it does refresh me and encourages me to keep moving past the “muck” and into the glory. Well, I wouldn’t say muck because muck I think is when you allow obstacles to become distractions as opposed to opportunities. So I would say to maneuver through my own mindset of not seeing things clearly. Who motivates you as an artist? (Other artists, acting coaches, family, etc…) I have a lot of people that motivate me. My favorite actor is Denzel Washington. I think that he is amazingly present in his work. Like, I just get this energy from him, that when that was captured on camera, he was a hundred percent in that moment. And it transfers to me as I’m watching it. I’m inspired by a lot of the Netflix series that are out because they are breaking the mold of what TV should be. And I’m having cathartic experiences watching it. It’s like raising the bar of writing, raising the bar of story structure. I am inspired by innovation. I am inspired by people that are doing their own things, and I’m actually writing a TV series right now. So I’m inspired by innovation. What is your motto? Girl, I don’t think I have a motto. I have so many things that I live by. But you know, I guess I would say love (shows her minute love tattoo on her wrist). That’s why I have it tattooed. And it’s interesting because this meaning of this tattoo has taken on different meanings throughout the years that I’ve had it. I’ve had it for going on 4 years. And today it reminds me when I look at it…it reminds me that I’m unconditionally loved. I don’t have to work for it, earn it, do anything right, be perfect… that it’s who I am. What legacy are you currently making or hoping to leave behind for your fan, viewers, and followers? I would definitely say, empowerment. But not empowerment in the sense of “I’m the boss, I can do it, I can do anything.” But empowerment from freeing yourself, or allowing yourself to be free from your bondage and living a life of freedom. But not a life of freedom in the sense that you have to put other people down, or become closed off. But more like a sense of freedom of more like I’m opening myself up to the love of the universe. To use your pain for beauty. To take your pain and create something. To create a gift…a gift to other people. Empathy…I’m really seeing as an actress that the point of it is to empathize. We tell stories to empathize. We tell stories to see life from other people’s perspectives and as an actress, it is a blessing to do work that requires me to do that because it helps me to show up in my own life with empathy in more ways. Yea…surrender. What was your spiritual journey throughout the process? You keep giving me these questions that are complete novels (laughs). If I could sum it all up, it’s so interesting that, like when I said I was a little girl…. My spiritual journey throughout the process is me coming back to that, when I was so comfortable in my communion and fellowship with God and myself that I was free. My spiritual journey has been to help me be free. And playing these characters, I am freeing myself. When you are free, you are able to take risks, and you are able to jump and dive and swim and just go for it, and that’s the work that wins Oscars for sure. What are your future plans and goals as an actress? What projects are you currently working on? I’m really focused right now on fine tuning my craft, and aligning my spiritual journey with my artistic preparation and portrayal. And I think I’m going to write a book about that one day… on Christina’s approach to acting. Something that was kind of planted in me a long time ago and I kind of forgot about and it’ been on my heart lately. Like I said, I’m writing a T.V. Series, and I’m really…I mean of course I want to do film and I want to do TV shows, but I really want to do things that are purposeful for me and for other people. I’m learning that acting really is a service, and I don’t want to be selfish about it. And that takes a certain amount of surrender for sure. Because if you consider acting to be a service, then you are surrendering to a higher calling…a higher purpose…and I want to have meaning and I also want to create my own stuff…which I’m doing. What other hobbies do you have besides acting? I love reading. I read every day. I journal every day. I love watching acting. Some of my favorite things to watch are TV shows now because they are so good. I love being out. I love being in the element of the sun. I love working out. I’m about to love Alabama football because it’s coming back real soon (laughs). Umm gosh I’m boring. Oh I love to dance! But I haven’t been dancing in a while. Remember when we went dancing at loca lunas (laughs)? I love music…absolutely love music. And I love to imagine. I love to put myself in different places and different scenarios; I love to dream. I like getting dressed up. Like if I get to go to a red carpet event, I like putting on a really nice dress. It’s fun! What advice do have for an inspiring actor/actress? Right now…the why. Why do you want to do this? Tape it on your mirror and in your bathroom and constantly go back to the why. Because the why is the most important thing, and I would say really evaluate the why because if you want to do it to be rich and famous, the trajectory of your career is going to look a certain way, and you might do certain things or allow certain things that you wouldn’t have…. Let’s say, if your why was because I feel called to change the world through stories, I feel called to bring attention, I feel called to help people empathize, it kind of changes the mood of your pursuit, and it helps you keep things in perspective. And I would say that’s what I want to do; I would want to create empathy. I think the world can world can be healed in so many ways through empathy. List any favorite scriptures to share with readers. Ahhhh! (laughs) What have I been meditating on lately? I have so many scriptures, and they are all so different. It’s hard to think of just one. Well, I would just say, the one I have to remind myself of a lot is, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Because I can go back to wanting to be a perfectionist. And thinking I need to earn everything and I’m not good enough for the things I do get. Just this crazy…. That one is very crucial for me because I live in a society of rejection or I live in a business where rejection is a major part of it. And just that I’m a daughter of God. Christ is the glory, and our glory is in Him. It’s such a beautiful reminder that this is not a selfish thing. That…my glory is in Christ and I don’t need validation or likes or followers. I think it’s such a slippery slope with social media, and I just try to keep that in perspective. List any websites, links to reels, or social media pages that you would like for readers to view. Well I am on IMDB under Christina Marie Karis, and I have my recent reel there. So you can go there. Post additional comments, information, or words you would like to share for the readers. I mean I just have so many thoughts because I’m constantly learning and observing. Oh! There’s something that Maryanne Williamson said that really stuck with me…that growth is not so much horizontal but vertical as going down a path this way (reaching arm forwards), when really life is going down a path this way (reaches up to the sky and draws a line down to her heart and rubs her chest)…into your heart because life is not about becoming, it’s about remembering. And a lot of times, this journey is about remembering and maintaining what you know to be true and not forgetting what you know to be true. Before I learned all the things that made me feel like I had to get people’s approval, as a little girl, the only thing I knew is that acting was fun and that it allowed me to engage my imagination. And it was freeing, and then I learned all these things along the way about approval, validation, worthiness, blah blah blah, and I started putting these things down in me…got do this…can’t do that…need to do this…. Ya know? When really if I could just remember that I’m already approved, that I’m already validated, that I’m already worthy, that I’m already enough that I could take all those things out that I stuffed in, and I can fly. I can be free. Let’s just be free. And things that we encounter along the way…. This is another thing that I’ve been focused on is… don’t take stuff personally. People don’t want to deal with you not because of who you are but because of who they are. Nobody has an issue with you, it’s about who they are in your presence. They can be like, “You really get on my nerves. “ Aint got nothing to do with you; it’s who they are in your presence, that’s the nerves. So when people betray you, hurt you, whatever, it’s not about you…it’s about them. And let go...let go...let go and be free. Be Encouraged. Christina Karis IMBD http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2458187/?ref_=nmvi_tt Christina Karis Acting Reel http://www.imdb.com/videoplayer/vi269924633?ref_=nmvi_vi_imdb_7
First off, I MUST start by saying, I-LOVE-SANNA-HAYNES! She is eclectic, cultured, well-rounded, sincere, polite, artistic, intelligent, responsible, supportive, helpful, grounded, selfless, giving, patient, humble, passionate, and she loves the Lord! It has been an honor in getting to know her, and I'm so glad we're friends! Sanna is another actress that I had the honor in inviting to teach introductory acting to the students of my dance organization a few years back, Aletheia. Dance, Inc, and they absolutely enjoyed her! Sanna was born in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, but moved to the United States at the age of eight months old. At the age of 14, Sanna started modeling and acting, and by age 15 she landed a major modeling contract in New York City. Quickly discovering that modeling wasn't her passion, Sanna decided to stick to acting. Sanna studied theatre, film, and animation in college. Sanna moved to Los Angeles in 2008, graduating Magna Cum Laude with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts at Azusa Pacific University. Sanna soon landed the Alloy Entertainment (production company responsible for Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Vampire Diaries) project PRIVATE based on the New York Times Bestselling Book series. While in LA, Sanna worked as an actor on several other projects before relocating to work in Atlanta. Sanna's credits include Coca-Cola, Tyler Perry Studios, Country Music Television, and more. She has also produced her very own film entitled, 34 inches. Sanna is a member of SAG-AFTRA in good standing. In addition to acting, Sanna is a media professional, director, writer, and editor, and teaches acting for the camera through classes and private lessons. One of Sanna's favorite scriptures is Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct[a] your paths.
You can see a full list of credits on Sanna's IMDB page. You can also learn more about Sanna by viewing her website at www.sannahaynes.tv & www.sannaerica.com and follow her on instagram, @sannahaynes, twitter, @SannaHaynes, and pinterest, Sanna Haynes. You can view her reel by clicking Sanna's Reel!
Friend, "producing mentor", Regent University Alumni, & Executive Producer of Aniworks Multimedia, Kevin Monroe, births another project! Check it out: Bass, God, and Hip Hop: The Hub A production company bringing the word of God to the underground. https://www.facebook.com/BGHHTheHub  New Website Coming Soon!
 Actors, Models, and Talent for Christ (AMTC) is a nonprofit ministry dedicated to making good bolder in film, fashion, music and theater. Through a unique faith-based educational program, AMTC teaches performers how to become positive role models in the entertainment industry, then introduces them to top media executives through its international talent convention. AMTC follows The Great Commission of Jesus Christ by preparing actors, models, singers, dancers and comedians to ‘go into the world’ of arts and entertainment with love and excellence—as reflections of Christ and His truth. AMTC’s vision is to see the Great Commission of Jesus Christ fulfilled in film, fashion, music and theater. During the summer of 2011, I had the honor of performing in the AMTC Summer 2011 Convention in Orlando, FL, and I was indeed "spotted" by an agent. It was an amazing experience as I attended several seminars and workshops taught by top professionals of the industry and was a contestant in several showcases: cold read, on camera acting, commercial runway, dance, and voice in which I presented my talents in front of top agents of the industry. Leading up to the convention, I auditioned for AMTC in September of 2010 for hip hop dance and in order to be well-rounded in craft, I was encouraged to do other categories as well. I was given several classes and private lessons, along with online seminars and an online account loaded with information and tips about the industry and auditioning. I was also given several resources. Overall, I learned a lot about myself as an artist during this experience, and I discovered that there was more sides to myself than simply dance. I also confronted my fears, and grew as a person. For more information about AMTC and auditions in your area, go to: http://www.amtcworld.com/
 Freelance Choreographer, Producer, and Marketer, Ashley Card, interviews "Mobsters of Light" On April 16, 2011 Bass, God, and Hip Hop appeared on the scene of Atlanta's 2011 Holy Hip Hop Awards! Once again, founder and executive producer Kevin Monroe worked his gifting and abilities to make it happen! Bass, God, and Hip Hop is a rapidly growing Christian Hip-Hop documentary and web series that was designed to bridge the gap between God and hip-hop culture. As executive producer, Kevin Monroe has a mission to travel nationwide interviewing Christian hip-hop artists from all walks of life with only one mission in mind...to spread the message of hope, love, and peace to those heavily influenced hip hop culture. These artists have a strong desire to create original works and a relevant message that reflects the heart of hip hop culture. They yearn to express God's love towards those within the demographic, and they won't stop until their mission is fulfilled. Interviewers Jessica Williams and Ashley Card "dug out the juice" while Kevin Monroe coordinated the set, artists, and camera. Artists answered questions such as, "Why holy hip hop?";"What divine encounter have you experienced which lead you to the call of holy hip-hop?"; "What do you say to individuals who view holy hip-hop as a mere joke?"; and much more. To hear more about the movement, go to the Bass, God, and Hip documentary and web series site at http://www.youtube.com/user/BassGodandHipHop. Until next time....peace ;) Follow BGHH!  |
AuthorAshley Card 
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