FATHER OF OUR NATION TURNED TO FATHER OF UNIVERSE
Official "Washington's Armor" graphic. Inset at right: actor Willie Mellina cast in the role of play the young, adventurous George Washington, before we became a nation.
▶ BY KEVIN SCOTT COLLIER
It has been announced that Washington’s Armor will make its public premiere on November 19 at the Hippodrome Theater in Waco, Texas. The pilot of the proposed 6-part series was screened at the Content 19 Christian film festival in Texas, the end of September, garnering praise from reviewers.
Based on David Barton’s book, The Bulletproof George Washington, the project is about the first United States president’s formative years and putting on the full armor of Christ. Set in the early 1750’s, with the impending French and Indian War looming overhead, a young British subject named George Washington is faced with challenges that test both his faith and character.
The project is directed by Tammy Lane, President at Capernaum Studios.
Washington’s Armor features, among others: Stephen A. Elkins, Ashley Bratcher, Wayne Matychuk as Augustine Washington, Todd Terry as Colonel Fairfax, Kimberly Gail Williams as Mary Washington, the president’s mother, and Willie Mellina as George Washington.
Andrew Librizzi, writer of the series, who is co-owner of Pathlight Entertainment with Benjamin Dane and James Burgess, conveyed the series message is a reminder that our nation was founded on faith.
“Looking at the formative years of George Washington has been fascinating, and seeing the Lord's INVISIBLE HAND on his young life has made evident God's Providential Hand on both the ‘man’ and the ‘nation’ soon born,” Librizzi told CM.
Actor Willie Mellina, who plays the young George Washington in the project, recognizes that this project has little to do with politics.
“This is a story about testimony and relationship,” Mellina told CM. “How God protected and directed this man, because he had an eternal plan for his life. Just how he has a plan for all of us. We get to have a glimpse of George Washington's testimony, and the relationships that were woven into that testimony.”
Mellina sees that the series is important for many reasons.
“Many people today can't tell you anything about George Washington, aside from the cherry tree (many say untrue), the general, and the president,” he said. “We want to show what he was like, through his experience and his relationships, and how he eventually became the ‘Father of our Country.’”
Mellina also has a hunch that Washington might cringe at the “Father” moniker history attached to him.
“If he were here today, I guarantee you he wouldn't accept that title,” Mellina conveyed. “He would point to his ‘FATHER,’ our ‘FATHER.’ His faith, and his spiritual walk, defined him. He always went to the Father, and in turn, ended up seeking the counsel of many (from the Good Book), in all major decisions.”
Mellina admits he is not a historian, but sees Washington’s Armor as a crucial piece of work in an age that seeks to rewrite history for petty, politically-correct purposes.
“At a time when politics, government, and the entire country seems to be reading from different books, Washington's Armor seeks to show how a faithful, courageous, young man came to be our Heroic Father,” he added.
Wayne Matychuk, who played George Washington’s father, Augustine in the project, conveyed the hand of God provided special protection for young Washington in times of danger.
“He is unscathed, basically, when directly targeted in battle, and it's amazing how God protects him, and the effect this has on his enemies,” Matychuk told CM. “Washington's Armor shows the link between George Washington's faith and God's providential care of our nation's founding president in his younger years. The attention to detail in every aspect of this production is just amazing and the result is a series that will captivate the whole family.”
Matychuk shared that he is thankful to be involved with such a great production and that he “totally loved” the role of Augustine Washington, who is “similarly tall at 6'5.”
“I have always been a fan of George Washington, but it has been really interesting to study his father,” Matychuk explained. “Every man takes something from his father, whether good or bad. Their influence is powerful. It is an honor to play a role in which very meaningful moments are spent with young George. The actor playing George as a young boy, Colton Vaughn, is just a superb, and the time together is one of the treasured moments in my acting career.”
The first entry in the proposed series was filmed over winter, spring and summer, 2019, with locations including New York, Texas, and Virginia. Thomas Bonifield, writer for Christian Film Blog, wrote, “In a word, they know the ropes and it's clear to us that they went all out on this first episode.”
For more information:
Visit the Washington’s Armor website.
LIKE the Washington’s Armor Facebook page.
Watch clips on the Washington’s Armor YouTube channel.
It has been announced that Washington’s Armor will make its public premiere on November 19 at the Hippodrome Theater in Waco, Texas. The pilot of the proposed 6-part series was screened at the Content 19 Christian film festival in Texas, the end of September, garnering praise from reviewers.
Based on David Barton’s book, The Bulletproof George Washington, the project is about the first United States president’s formative years and putting on the full armor of Christ. Set in the early 1750’s, with the impending French and Indian War looming overhead, a young British subject named George Washington is faced with challenges that test both his faith and character.
The project is directed by Tammy Lane, President at Capernaum Studios.
Washington’s Armor features, among others: Stephen A. Elkins, Ashley Bratcher, Wayne Matychuk as Augustine Washington, Todd Terry as Colonel Fairfax, Kimberly Gail Williams as Mary Washington, the president’s mother, and Willie Mellina as George Washington.
Andrew Librizzi, writer of the series, who is co-owner of Pathlight Entertainment with Benjamin Dane and James Burgess, conveyed the series message is a reminder that our nation was founded on faith.
“Looking at the formative years of George Washington has been fascinating, and seeing the Lord's INVISIBLE HAND on his young life has made evident God's Providential Hand on both the ‘man’ and the ‘nation’ soon born,” Librizzi told CM.
Actor Willie Mellina, who plays the young George Washington in the project, recognizes that this project has little to do with politics.
“This is a story about testimony and relationship,” Mellina told CM. “How God protected and directed this man, because he had an eternal plan for his life. Just how he has a plan for all of us. We get to have a glimpse of George Washington's testimony, and the relationships that were woven into that testimony.”
Mellina sees that the series is important for many reasons.
“Many people today can't tell you anything about George Washington, aside from the cherry tree (many say untrue), the general, and the president,” he said. “We want to show what he was like, through his experience and his relationships, and how he eventually became the ‘Father of our Country.’”
Mellina also has a hunch that Washington might cringe at the “Father” moniker history attached to him.
“If he were here today, I guarantee you he wouldn't accept that title,” Mellina conveyed. “He would point to his ‘FATHER,’ our ‘FATHER.’ His faith, and his spiritual walk, defined him. He always went to the Father, and in turn, ended up seeking the counsel of many (from the Good Book), in all major decisions.”
Mellina admits he is not a historian, but sees Washington’s Armor as a crucial piece of work in an age that seeks to rewrite history for petty, politically-correct purposes.
“At a time when politics, government, and the entire country seems to be reading from different books, Washington's Armor seeks to show how a faithful, courageous, young man came to be our Heroic Father,” he added.
Wayne Matychuk, who played George Washington’s father, Augustine in the project, conveyed the hand of God provided special protection for young Washington in times of danger.
“He is unscathed, basically, when directly targeted in battle, and it's amazing how God protects him, and the effect this has on his enemies,” Matychuk told CM. “Washington's Armor shows the link between George Washington's faith and God's providential care of our nation's founding president in his younger years. The attention to detail in every aspect of this production is just amazing and the result is a series that will captivate the whole family.”
Matychuk shared that he is thankful to be involved with such a great production and that he “totally loved” the role of Augustine Washington, who is “similarly tall at 6'5.”
“I have always been a fan of George Washington, but it has been really interesting to study his father,” Matychuk explained. “Every man takes something from his father, whether good or bad. Their influence is powerful. It is an honor to play a role in which very meaningful moments are spent with young George. The actor playing George as a young boy, Colton Vaughn, is just a superb, and the time together is one of the treasured moments in my acting career.”
The first entry in the proposed series was filmed over winter, spring and summer, 2019, with locations including New York, Texas, and Virginia. Thomas Bonifield, writer for Christian Film Blog, wrote, “In a word, they know the ropes and it's clear to us that they went all out on this first episode.”
For more information:
Visit the Washington’s Armor website.
LIKE the Washington’s Armor Facebook page.
Watch clips on the Washington’s Armor YouTube channel.
ALSO WATCH 'WASHINGTON'S ARMOR' GUEST INTERVIEWs
Creative Motion editor Kristen Collier interviewed actress Kimberly Gail Williams, who was cast in the role of Mary Washington, mother of George, in Washington's Armor. Watch this video on the Creative Motion TV channel via YouTube. Kristen also interviewed actor Todd Terry on Keeping Up with the Christians, where he speaks about Washington's Armor, as well.
