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Dear Friends:
Here's an update of what we've been up to in recent months.
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Sincerely,
Stan Williams
Executive Producer/Director
SWC Films & Nineveh's Crossing
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3 Cardinals, 2 Bishops, and a Monsignor...
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That headline sounds like the beginning of a joke. But, in fact, that's how the phone call began when Orchard Lake Schools called to contract us to record coverage of Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz's visit to SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary.
Cardinal Dziwisz (pronounced Gee.vish) was the former secretary to John Paul II for 30 years, and is now Archbishop of Krakow, Poland, He was accompanied on his tour by his host Cardinal Adam Maida (Archbishop of Detroit), and Cardinal Edmund C. Szoka, (former Archbishop of Detroit and retired Vatican Treasurer), two Detroit auxiliary bishops and, of course, the rector of the seminary, Msgr. Charles Kosanke.
 The visit wasn't without drama. The opening event was to be the dedication of the new statute of John Paul II next to the beautifully landscaped outside Lourdes Grotto by the lake. Multiple sound systems, cameras and over 100 well wishers in Polish costumes waited for the escorted vehicles. What came was one of the most dramatic and severe thunderstorms I've experienced. The equipment was saved, but not without the crew being drenched, and the audience's white plastic chairs being blown across the lawn. Luckily the VIPs escaped in time to the new Maida Library and watched the storm through large windows next to the lake.
After the storm, they did dedicate the statue and grotto, toured the seminary, enjoyed a welcome ceremony at the large Shrine chapel with presentations by Polish groups from across the U.S., celebrated Mass, and enjoyed a large banquet. Altogether we recorded over 6 hours of High Definition footage, with two cameras, of the celebrations.Over the years we've completed three projects for Orchard Lake Schools, the most recent BRINGING THE POLISH SOUL TO AMERICA is mentioned in the story below.
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BRINGING THE POLISH SOUL TO AMERICA
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A few months ago we completed our third major DVD project for Orchard Lake Schools titled BRINGING THE POLISH SOUL TO AMERICA. In it, four seminarians tell in Polish how they made the decision to become priests, come to America, how SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary are preparing them for service, and the challenges and hope they have for the future.
Shot in film style (16 x 9, 24P) over 2 years, the 17 min piece is accompanied on the DVD with a 10 minute interview with Cardinal Dziwisz recorded in Poland (by a Polish crew), as well as welcomes by the student body president and the rector, Msgr. Charles Kosanke.
The project is now in Poland being replicated for distribution to the seminaries, bishops, and churches there. You can watch the main track of the DVD on-line at SWCFilms.com. Scroll down the page and click on the QuickTime movie link: BRINGING THE POLISH SOUL TO AMERICA.
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BEST PRACTICES... ELEMENTS IN THE CAN
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It appears that we've begun to record the initial elements for a television series on the Best Practices of Faith Formation that will be part of our Nineveh's Crossing Presents series (see below) although we're never quite sure where our actions will take us.
Nonetheless, a few weeks ago Pam and I traveled to Howell, NJ to document a Catholic Tent Revival organized by Good News International and Bill Wegner, on the grounds of St. Veronica's Catholic Church. While there, we interviewed the 30-year pastor of St. Veronica, Fr. Brendan Williams, to compliment our interview of Bill Wegner when he was recently in Michigan for a conference.
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In between other deadlines, video editor Mike Sroka continues to prepare 30, 60, and 90 -minute episodes of Nineveh's Crossing Presents for our distribution arm Nineveh's Crossing.. CatholicTV, out of Boston, requested a set of masters but has not yet assigned air dates. In the meantime, The Miracle Channel, the first Christian network in Canada, will begin broadcasting the weekly series the first Saturday in August, 2PM ET, 5PM PT.
Nineveh's Crossing Presents bills itself as Catholic Programming for Protestants. There are 31, 30-minute programs in the series, with more on the way -- hopefully. Currently the series are talks, dialogues and documentaries featuring Dr. Ray Guarendi, Dr. Ray & Fr. Kevin Fete, Deacon Alex Jones, Donna Jones, Coach Jerry Faust, Fr. John Riccardo with Pastor Steve Andrews, with concert specials featuring Tatiana Cameron. In the past, Nineveh's Crossing Presents programs have aired on Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), FaithTV, EWTN, Salt & Light TV (Canada), and the National Religious Broadcasting Network.
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OTHER PROJECTS
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Over the past months we've also finished shooting a couple of interviews with EWTN host Teresa Tomeo for her upcoming EWTN series based on her media book, NOISE.
We also finished editing a special effects loop for a trade show industrial client, and a long form commercial for a local agency..
We're working on a re-make of Dr. Ray Guarendi's Better Parent Infomercial.
We have begun the editing and laying out of Nineveh's Crossing's first book What Catholics Really Believe-the BOOK based on Dr. Ray Guarendi and Fr. Kevin Fete's successful television series of the same title. Ignatius Press, by the way, has picked up the DVD series for their summer catalog. Thanks, Ignatius, the shipment is on the way.
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David Crawford Update
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 During a recent trip to Atlanta for a couple of conferences, Pam and I stopped in Rocky Face, Georgia to visit (and meet for the first time) David Crawford, his wife Amy, and charming girls Tiffany and Sarah.
If you recall, David has signed an agreement with us to record an album of his wonderful family songs. We're making progress on the writing and the arrangements with my long time musical collaborator, composer and producer, Terry Herald.
We had hoped to be in Nashville recording before the end of the year, but that may stretch into next. Creativity takes time. Nonetheless, David has written some wonderful new songs that bring tears to our eyes and laughter to our lives, and we're anxious to share his faith, joy and songs with you.
You can visit David's page HERE and watch and listen to a couple of the songs that have made him famous on YouTube.
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STAN ON CTND DIALOGUE
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 Finally, because of the new film production incentives here in Michigan that offer filmmakers 40- to 42% rebate on production expenses, I was asked to come on Catholic television here in Michigan with Dialgoue host, Ned McGrath, Archdiocese Director of Communications, to explain the incentives, what they mean to Catholic filmmakers, and answer some questions about filmmaking in general. You can watch the 15 min interview by clicking on the picture at right and then scrolling down to the QuickTime link "Stan on DIALOGUE."
We continue to look for commercial sponsorships for select television projects. If you'd like to be involved, please contact me.
My utter thanks to the great team that helps me do all this stuff: My ever suffering wife Pam (who seems to enjoy most of this), my Business Manager Deb Davis who pays the bills but makes me sign the checks, Mike Sroka our video editor and technical guru, Catholic apologist Dave Armstrong who edits most of what I write for Catholic Exchange and has written some of our study materials, and Amy Row and Kathy Dul who pitch in as needed.
Sincerely,
Stan Williams, Ph.D.
SWCFilms.com
248.344.4423
sdw AT StanWilliams DOT com
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