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I just returned from the National Religious Broadcasters convention in Nashville.  It’s a conference I try not to miss - not because of the great lineup of speakers (I’d rather listen to their podcast or read their books); not because of the musical talent (you won’t find any of those guys in my iPod); not because of the exhibition floor (I go to NAB to drool) — but because of the relationships and workshops.

There are many people I see once a year - at NRB - and that in itself makes the trip worthwhile.  But what I really love is sharing what I’ve learned with others at the workshops, and picking up new ideas from those I respect.  I never have enough time to go to all of the sessions that I could benefit from.

But every year I come home with a bag full of meaningless swag and a pile of business cards. This year, only five of these cards have remained on my desk - the rest are in the trash along with the stress balls and brochures.  Hopefully, these five cards will open up new relationships and new business - and new ways to serve the Kingdom of God.

On Christmas Day, I turned my Blackberry off as I boarded a flight from Grand Rapids to Ft. Lauderdale.  The four of us (Kat, Tori, Alex & I) were off for a week of relaxation, sun, scuba and fun in Key West.   The next day, we used the phone once to set up a lunch and then to find our girls on the beach, and then I turned it off with no intention of even thinking about it for the rest of the week.

I brought my trusty Toshiba netbook with me, but only used it to do a mapquest and check diving conditions.  For the first time in  - well, maybe ever - I totally unplugged my business side for an entire week.

Finally, ten days later, driving to a client location on January 4, the phone went back on and the list of messages (email and voice) was lengthy.  Some were thought to be emergencies when they were left, but everyone survived, no projects derailed, and I could just smile…

Try this on your next vacation. As I found out, not only will you benefit, but your family will feel they finally have you - and your full attention - and that will be reward enough.

I’ve had the privilage of working with many great men and women in the Christian world - Pat Robertson, Luis Palau, Kay Arthur, Rod Parsley, Leighton Ford, Joyce Meyer, Benny Hinn, Thomas Zimmerman… really, it’s a long list.   But I put Billy Graham and Oral Roberts in a completely different category, and I’m humbled to have worked with both of them.

Less than a month before the Lord called him home, I had the immense honor of producing what would be the final television interview with Oral Roberts.  We did it in the living room of his home in Newport Beach. This is not a room made for TV, it’s long and narrow.  One wall is all glass windows looking out on the golf course, the other wall is all mirrors - you who know television production are feeling my pain. We had a very limited time to set up the 3 cameras, lighting and sound.  Somehow we did it, and it looked good.

Rod Parsley did the interview, which was more of a conversation and a time of prayer.  Here were two men, friends, who both knew the anointing and power of God, from two generations, and both had the sense that this could be their last time together.  The atmosphere in the room was charged, and when Oral looked at the camera and said “something good is going to happen to you” - I believed it.  And later during prayer when he again looked up into the camera and said “be healed” - I knew people were being healed.

We can tell stories some other time… but today, as his funeral is taking place, I wanted to recall the man who told millions to “expect a miracle” - and who today is hearing his Savior say “well done”.

Sometimes, maybe once a week, I find myself at Waffle House enjoying their steak and eggs (medium, over medium, wheat, scattered and well done).  I admit, this is not where you go for a great steak, and the atmosphere is passable at best - but sometimes, good enough is well, good enough.

That’s why I was shocked recently when a employee came in while I was waiting for my order.  As soon as he hung up his coat, he went to work. He first washed all of the tables, then swept and washed the floor. All the while he was telling the other employees that a clean restaurant is a good restaurant.  That it’s good for business and they would all make more money if the place was clean and neat.  By now, my food had come and he was filling ketchup bottles.  Finally someone asked him why he was there so early. You wouldn’t believe it…

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You know the routine… meet someone new, and one of the first questions is: “So, what do you do?”  My answer, “I’m a television producer” is usually followed by their quissical response, “And what does a television producer do?”  It’s a good question!  On any given day I could be doing any one of a great variety of things… negotiating, formatting, editing, flying, shooting, invoicing… the list is endless.

One thing I find myself doing every single day is writing… and writing on a deadline. Or, as I like to say, writing with a shotgun held to my head.

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I’m no stranger to travel. After having spent the majority of my career covering stories in more than 65 nations of the world, travel is second nature. I know the layout of the major airports of the world like many people know their neighborhoods.  But no matter how much time I spend on the road, being away from my family for holidays and special events always hurts.

There have been some good times… [Read more →]

Panera is great. Free wi-fi, free coffee refills, superb music, and those amazing cinnamon crunch bagels.  But tonight (as the incredible Concerto for Two Violins by J.S. Bach is playing) I’m having the Greek salad, with no hot peppers, no olives, no onions and dressing on the side. (Some would argue: “so how’s that a Greek Salad?” — my reply:  It has feta.)  But I digress.

I came here because I couldn’t write in my office. As soon as any spark of inspiration would come, a distraction drowned it out.  And voila… I just finished writing a show.  I think it’s pretty good, and it got done in near record time.  But just as I was feeling great about it and refilling my iced coffee, it dawned on me…

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I recently had the great privilage of being the director of photography and assistant director on a major video production. I wish I could tell you all about it, but it’s forbidden. You know, strict secrecy… very hush-hush.  But I can tell you about the technical stuff (and half the fun is playing with the toys).

I selected the camera package, and ended up doing a shoot out that I’d long wanted to do, and the results really surprised me.  Because of the fast schedule (we didn’t want to keep the talent waiting around) I had two complete camera packages. One was a Sony CineAlta EX1 with a Letus Ultimate and a full set of Zeiss T* primes. The other was a Sony CineAlta EX3 with a Fujinon 2/3 adapter and a full set of Zeiss DigiPrime lenses. (I love the DigiPrime sales line: Imagine a set of prime lenses so precise, they redefine the concept of High Definition.) But hey, at a cost of $135,000 or so, they’d better be good.

Before I get to my findings, let me tell you about the crew… [Read more →]

I have no idea how the redneck title on this post came about.  Yeah, we lived in Tennessee for a spell, but never in a trailer… but I digress.

Kat (my marvelous, talented and beautiful bride) tells me that it’s a natural law - when I’m out of town, something breaks, and the further away or more out of touch I am… the greater the likelihood of something major going south. (I can’t recall what died while I was in the Guatemalan rainforest - but trust me… something broke.)

So on Friday I’m back home after a week on the road and the screen on the sliding door had fallen off the track (simple fix) and the TV had given up the ghost.  It did so in a most asthetically pleasing way, or so I was told. During the opening animation of Sleeper Cell there’s a flash, but this time it was much brighter with a very high pitched noise, mixed with that sweet burnt electronic smell.

Well, that’s good news and bad news.  Bad, because now we can’t watch anything on TV (unless we wanted to walk all the way downstairs to the rec room area - yeah, as if!) and good because hey, let’s be honest, if you’re going to buy a new TV you just have to go 1080p HD!  And of course, I need new 5.1 speakers, and…

I was honored to lead two workshops at the recent National Religious Broadcasters convention. Thanks to my fine friends Jenni Catron, Matthew Paul Turner and Michael Buckingham, the workshop UnChurched was both intellectual fun and tremendous motivation.  And my fabulously talented and beautiful wife Kat shared the teaching and motivation responsibilities with me for our Digital Storytelling workshop. Thanks everyone!

Getting tons of new ideas from workshops (like mine) is one of the great benefits of really good conventions. There’s a real downside, however…

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