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Documentary

"A Toy's Life" Location Photos

 Kitchen

Living Room

Bedroom

Dialogue: How People Talk

5 Phrases 

1. "I'm a confident man, but I'm not cocky. You know what I mean?"

2. "And the truth of the reality is I didn't sleep with Yolanda, I didn't have any sexual relationship with her when me and my wife split."

3. "My mom said I was born with one gray hair."

4. "It's not that big of building but it's charming looking."

5. "When you're just sitting there at night, every knuckle head that's trying to get a fix is stealing and causin nothing but trouble."

Dialogue 

I based this conversation on one I actually heard while we were shooting our documentary at the coffee shop. 

One evening in the local town coffee shop, Carla sat talking with her friend, Steve. He was worked up about some drama with his ex-wife, Stacy, who had accused him of cheating on her while they were still married.

Steve: “I just don’t understand why she’s gotta come busting into my life causing all this drama when we aren’t together anymore. She swears that I was cheating on her with Yolanda, says I was always actin like I was hiding somethin. And the truth of the reality is I didn’t sleep with Yolanda, I didn’t have any sexual relationship with her when me and my wife split.”

Carla: “Why does it even matter at this point whether you did or not? Its not like she wanted to be in the relationship anyhow.”

Steve: “I dunno, I guess she thinks I have too big of an ego and that I let my image go to my head, at least that’s what she always used to nag about. She says that’s why things weren’t workin out, that I thought I was too better than her and all this crap about not respecting her. I’m a confident man, but I’m not cocky. You know what I mean?”

Carla sat there listening to him go on and on about how he had done no wrong and that Stacy was nothing but a nagging ex-wife. She had hoped this conversation over coffee would be more than just complaining about someone that wasn’t, or shouldn’t, be a big part of his life anymore. She was hoping it would be more of a date than a venting session.

Carla: “Did ya ever think that maybe you should just ignore her? What’s done was done and is in the past and I think its time to move on. All she wants to do is cause you drama.”

Steve: “Its hard to ignore someone that’s so annoying. She just begs for attention. She says I have too big of an ego? Ha, well I think that attention whore should take a good long look in the mirror.”

Carla: “And you’re giving her exactly what she wants, the center of attention in your life. Whether its good or bad attention, she wants it and you’re giving it to her. Just leave her alone.”

Carla just wanted her chance but Steve couldn’t see past what Stacy’s little games were really about. She sat there just sipping her lukewarm coffee, hoping Stacy would leave the conversation.  

Documentary Movie Poster

Documentary Subjects

Dan Reisen 

Dan Reisen is the worship leader at GracePoint church in Valparaiso and he does a lot of his own performances in Valparaiso. He does a lot of cover songs and is a well loved singer in his town. I would want to explore where he started and what motivated him to become a singer, how he discovered he could sing and where the life of a performer has taken him. I would also want to explore his present and what he thinks his future will look like. 

Anthony Lesniak

Anthony Lesniak is a friend of the family and he's been riding motocross for most of his life. He spends most of his time practicing and competing. He's ranked among the top 3 in the state of Michigan. Its been his goal to become a professional and in this documentary, I would like to discuss how he started riding, his experiences with riding and what he's learned from it, and how he plans to reach his goal. For most professional motocross riders, they have an intro documentary clip that plays before they ride at big events and this would be able to serve as that video. 

GracePoint: Those Behind the Scenes

GracePoint is a church that started because they wanted to create a church that the unchurched people would love. Starting with only 24 people 5 years ago, they have now grown to 800 people. Ben Lamb (lead pastor), DJ Murvine (pastor of operations), and Cindy Hall (office administrator and assistant to lead pastor) would be the three main people I would interview for this documentary. I would want to explore how they started and the struggles they faced with starting a new church. I would also want to talk about how they expanded and some of the stories and memories they share as their church grew from 24 to over 800. 

My Emotion Video: Loneliness