BROTHERS IN CHRIST PRODUCTIONS DEVELOPS 'CRAVE' FILM INTO A TRILOGY
First assistant cameraman Johnick Petry slating a shot with Rebecca Peterson for the two new Crave sagas. Insets: Elaina Hagstrom, Joshua Cody, Tori Koglin, Tim Holmes, Ted Rich and producer/writer/director Micah Versemann.
▶ BY KEVIN SCOTT COLLIER
Brothers in Christ Productions founder Micah Versemann has announced the third installment in the Crave Trilogy will begin filming soon. The upcoming series continues the original Crave saga, which was filmed in August, 2017, and premiered in June, 2018.
“Currently, we are in post-production on the second film in our Crave series, while also working to get all the pieces in place to finish shooting the third film in the series,” Versemann told CM.
The 2018 short film presented the tale of Olivia, a young student in her first year of college. Not only does she have to contend with her boyfriend stationed overseas, and falling grades, but a tragedy that sends her spinning and questioning everything she was rooted in.
“The whole reason the trilogy got started is because I felt the need to create a film that churches could use to open up discussion with their members, especially high school and college age youth, about the importance of being rooted in the Word of God,” Versemann conveyed.
The original Crave starred Elaina Hagstrom as Olivia, Jonathan Bocinsky as Dustin, Craig Knutson as Curtis, Lindy Nelson as Claire, Rodney Perry as the convenience store manager, Kris Rogahn as Josh, Rev. John Wegener as Pastor Ron, and Jamin Wass as a customer.
In the two new entries, Elaina Hagstrom returns to reprise her role as Olivia. Talents appearing in the series include Rebecca Peterson as Claire Dawson, Tori Koglin as Hayley Dawson, Joshua Cody as Brian, Tim Holmes as Pastor Dathan, and Ted Rich as Pastor Jansen.
Part two, Stand Firm, was shot in May. It focuses on standing on the Word of God through persecution. Part three, titled Freely Given, will focus on using the Word of God to recognize and confront false doctrine in the church.
“We've actually shot a small portion of the third film this past May, with the second film,” Versemann explained. “The biggest challenge right now is just with securing the needed funding to finish shooting the trilogy. Besides funding, everything else is ready to go in terms of casting, crew, locations, etc. Our overall deadline is to shoot it no later than May, 2020.”
Developing Crave into a series has been a different experience for producer, writer, and director, Micah Versemann.
“With shooting the second film we're not only having to keep in mind what we had previously done in Crave, but also thinking ahead as to how this connects to Freely Given,” he said. “The dynamic on set was also quite different as much of the crew had worked together on previous occasions this time around, whereas with Crave, that was many of the crew's first time working together."
Versemann relayed he’s experienced two big challenges with the trilogy.
“The first, like many filmmakers, is to keep securing the funding to be able to be moving forward with each part of the series,” he said. “The second would be with working on multiple films at the same time, each in a different area of production.”
Each film in the trilogy will be accompanied by a Bible study series that will let youth groups, Sunday schools, Bible study groups, and individuals dive deeper into the theme of the films, and help strengthen and encourage their faith.
The first part of the trilogy is available on DVD through the Brothers in Christ Productions website, and available digitally through Goodchristianmovies.com and Amazon.com.
“The whole trilogy will most likely at least be on these platforms, and hopefully we will see the Lord open up doors to get it on more platforms,” Versemann said. “Lord willing, we would like to have the whole trilogy released by the end of 2020.”
Brothers in Christ Productions, based in Waverly, Iowa, was established a decade ago. Its humble beginning involved creating films in “our basement of our church,” Versemann conveyed, with zero budget, and making use of friends in acting roles. Today, BICP is a leading independent Christian production entity on a godly mission.
“The main theme I want people to pull away from the trilogy is the importance and power of the Word of God,” he said. “While each film has a different theme, they are all centered around the Word of God, and how the Word can teach, comfort, rebuke, correct, and train.” 8/6/19
Brothers in Christ Productions founder Micah Versemann has announced the third installment in the Crave Trilogy will begin filming soon. The upcoming series continues the original Crave saga, which was filmed in August, 2017, and premiered in June, 2018.
“Currently, we are in post-production on the second film in our Crave series, while also working to get all the pieces in place to finish shooting the third film in the series,” Versemann told CM.
The 2018 short film presented the tale of Olivia, a young student in her first year of college. Not only does she have to contend with her boyfriend stationed overseas, and falling grades, but a tragedy that sends her spinning and questioning everything she was rooted in.
“The whole reason the trilogy got started is because I felt the need to create a film that churches could use to open up discussion with their members, especially high school and college age youth, about the importance of being rooted in the Word of God,” Versemann conveyed.
The original Crave starred Elaina Hagstrom as Olivia, Jonathan Bocinsky as Dustin, Craig Knutson as Curtis, Lindy Nelson as Claire, Rodney Perry as the convenience store manager, Kris Rogahn as Josh, Rev. John Wegener as Pastor Ron, and Jamin Wass as a customer.
In the two new entries, Elaina Hagstrom returns to reprise her role as Olivia. Talents appearing in the series include Rebecca Peterson as Claire Dawson, Tori Koglin as Hayley Dawson, Joshua Cody as Brian, Tim Holmes as Pastor Dathan, and Ted Rich as Pastor Jansen.
Part two, Stand Firm, was shot in May. It focuses on standing on the Word of God through persecution. Part three, titled Freely Given, will focus on using the Word of God to recognize and confront false doctrine in the church.
“We've actually shot a small portion of the third film this past May, with the second film,” Versemann explained. “The biggest challenge right now is just with securing the needed funding to finish shooting the trilogy. Besides funding, everything else is ready to go in terms of casting, crew, locations, etc. Our overall deadline is to shoot it no later than May, 2020.”
Developing Crave into a series has been a different experience for producer, writer, and director, Micah Versemann.
“With shooting the second film we're not only having to keep in mind what we had previously done in Crave, but also thinking ahead as to how this connects to Freely Given,” he said. “The dynamic on set was also quite different as much of the crew had worked together on previous occasions this time around, whereas with Crave, that was many of the crew's first time working together."
Versemann relayed he’s experienced two big challenges with the trilogy.
“The first, like many filmmakers, is to keep securing the funding to be able to be moving forward with each part of the series,” he said. “The second would be with working on multiple films at the same time, each in a different area of production.”
Each film in the trilogy will be accompanied by a Bible study series that will let youth groups, Sunday schools, Bible study groups, and individuals dive deeper into the theme of the films, and help strengthen and encourage their faith.
The first part of the trilogy is available on DVD through the Brothers in Christ Productions website, and available digitally through Goodchristianmovies.com and Amazon.com.
“The whole trilogy will most likely at least be on these platforms, and hopefully we will see the Lord open up doors to get it on more platforms,” Versemann said. “Lord willing, we would like to have the whole trilogy released by the end of 2020.”
Brothers in Christ Productions, based in Waverly, Iowa, was established a decade ago. Its humble beginning involved creating films in “our basement of our church,” Versemann conveyed, with zero budget, and making use of friends in acting roles. Today, BICP is a leading independent Christian production entity on a godly mission.
“The main theme I want people to pull away from the trilogy is the importance and power of the Word of God,” he said. “While each film has a different theme, they are all centered around the Word of God, and how the Word can teach, comfort, rebuke, correct, and train.” 8/6/19
