“Three Girls” Visual Painting Film!
The “Three Girls” Visual Painting Film is coming! Filming took place in Chicago on Sunday, April 12 and—Lord willing—we are set to premiere it across social media during Mother’s Day weekend.
Nothing about this project has happened without prayer and moving in faith. Back in December, I felt in my spirit to reach out to Nicolette Shegog for this project. Nicolette founded Nhik Nak Productions and is an incredible storyteller. She was extremely excited to collaborate when I explained the vision to her; since then, we’ve had ongoing meetings regarding the direction of this film project right up until the weekend of filming.
I’ll be honest… this process pushed me out of my comfort zone. For the first time, I found myself seeking financial support for a creative project. I had a “big dream” vision that required about $3,500 to cover a 10-member cast, stipends, meals, wardrobe, production, travel, and marketing. Through YouTube, displaying postcards throughout my local community, and text messages, I raised about 20% of my goal—$720. While I didn’t hit the intended number, this was a huge learning experience in stepping out and sharing what has been put in my heart. I’m so grateful for the funds that were raised; they helped more than I can say.
Additionally, with Chicago’s weather, you have to expect the unexpected—I mean, it can snow in the summer, you just never know. Because the storyline was set to be filmed outdoors, I spent weeks watching the forecast, praying against the rain and cold temperatures that were predicted. We ended up preparing alternative storylines for indoor filming, just in case. Not only was the weather a factor, but the cast size changed as well. Originally, I envisioned three lead roles and seven extras. By the day of filming, we had one lead and one supporting role. Because of these shifts, the storyline transformed from a look at parenting perspectives through observation of multiple children at play to a more simplistic story: a teen artist’s journey to find inspiration while dealing with thoughts of not being good enough.
I want to give a huge thanks to Myla Saunders (our lead) and Cheryl Pearson (playing the mom) for their incredible willingness and flexibility as we navigated these changes on the fly.
With this project, I had my mind set on the film going one way, but the Lord reminded me that He is sovereign—He is in control of everything. Proverbs 16:9 says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” This process just continued to teach me to trust in the Lord and surrender to His way. Yes, I plan, but the Lord guides me, and I continue to pray that what’s in my heart aligns with His will.
By the grace of God, the rental car process was seamless on Friday, April 10; the 5.5-hour drive to Chicago was smooth while transporting the painting; and Sunday was such a glorious day that we ended up filming both indoors and outdoors—the rain had not come until later that evening. Even having a smaller cast made things easier to manage and allowed for a more intimate focus. All of this to say, once I let go of the original vision I had for the short film, I found so much more room for gratitude. The Lord has gotten me this far and will take me all the way to the end. All I can do is praise the Lord!
As we head towards Mother’s Day weekend, please join me in prayer. Pray that God softens the hearts of every viewer to receive the message that their gifts—each so uniquely different from the next—are to be used solely to glorify Him. He is the source of our gifts, and it is only when we seek Him that we truly learn their purpose. There is no need to compare ourselves to others; comparison only leads to a sense of pride from thinking we are better, or discouragement from feeling inferior. Either way, it’s unwise and leads to a loss of joy. Through this story, pray that all are drawn closer to the marvelous light of Jesus Christ.
Morgan