"A Day To Remember" short film

Stephen Ridley made this short film based on my dramatic skit script of the same title. Read the original here. Great work, Stephen!



View it larger here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbIkLv3wlg8

Here is what Stephen posted on his website about the film... it does contain spoilers, so please watch the film first then read the details.

“A Day to Remember” is a story about a man named Mike who falls into a position where many people would feel anger toward God, but he doesn’t. Mike assures Jeff that he has complete faith in God, and that he trusts Him to use Mike to do His will. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Does that mean that if we follow God, only good things will happen to us on earth? Absolutely not. But our time on earth is NOTHING compared to our time in Heaven. We are here to glorify the Lord and do His will, and our reward is eternal life with Him in Heaven. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Fulfilling God’s plan for us is the greatest thing we can do, and whatever sufferings we may endure should have no effect on our faith in Him. 1 Peter 4:16 says, “However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.” God has chosen us to serve Him, what higher honor can there be? Doing God’s will is our ultimate goal. Paul wrote to the church of Philippi about remaining in his faith through sufferings. Philippians 1:18-21 says, “(18) But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, (19) for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. (20) I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. (21) For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

God chose to save Mike from the tragedy of the twin towers, because he had a different purpose for him. Many lives were lost in the collapse of the buildings, but just like Mike had faith in God’s sovereignty in the face of trial, we too can trust that God has a reason for even tragedies like this. This video shows the importance of having faith in God. Everything He does has a purpose, whether it may seem like it or not. My mother once used the analogy that we are driving in a car and God is in a helicopter. We only see what is right in front of us, but God sees the entire road. So whenever you encounter hard times, maintain your faith in the Lord and know that all things have a purpose.

UPDATE: Stephen has sent me some details on the making of the movie, below:

Behind the Scenes of “A Day to Remember”

I’ve had a love for filmmaking ever since I was seven years old. I have made several videos in the past, but this was my first dramatic video, and I learned a lot while filming it. I asked a couple of my friends to come film the video at my old school. When one of them was unable to show up, we were forced to reschedule. We decided to film at my friend’s church. Unfortunately, I had no idea what I was doing. I asked my other friend to film it all the way through several times, and I planned to just fit everything together with all the different angles. The problem was, we never did anything the same way. In one take, I was saying a line while taking my jacket off, and in the other, I was saying my line was adjusting my tie. Everything was all mixed up and it looked terrible. As much as it pained me to say it, we needed to do it again. We weren’t able to use the church again, because it was being used. So we went back to my old school, and used a room upstairs. Everything was working perfectly, the scenes were looking good and we had just two scenes left. All of the sudden, my camera cut off. It wouldn’t turn on, even with new batteries. So we had to reschedule yet again. Being in college and all of my friends having different schedules, this was no easy task. But I was determined that this would be the last day of filming. I drew out every scene and how I wanted it to be shot, I got a new camera, we had the room ready, everything seemed to be going as planned. However, when it comes to my videos, I am a bit of a perfectionist, especially with this one. I realized I would never be happy with how the video looked unless I could get behind the camera myself. So I decided to cast someone else to play my part, and we rescheduled once again.
It was hard not to be discouraged after so many failed attempts. I had never had so much trouble with a video before, but I trusted that God had a purpose for what was going on, just like the video says! I got in touch with Anthony Dimaria, who is just as passionate about acting as I am with filmmaking. He has been in many videos, including ones that have won contests! So finally, on December 13, we set out to film once more. It took a few hours, but we finally completed it! Anthony’s mom even made barbecue for our lunch break! I immediately made my way home and finished editing that night. Taylor Clyde, who played Mike, wrote the music for the credits and the video was finally finished. I was so eager to upload the video that I was a tad late for work (probably not the best decision). I have learned a lot while making the video, especially that I need to use microphones next time! But I’m pleased with how it turned out and I hope everyone enjoys it! Hopefully it is a good reminder of the sovereignty of God and His love for us all!

Thanks again to Mr. Passmore for providing outstanding scripts for young filmmakers like me!

-Stephen Ridley

Others have sent me video of their performance of this script. Here is one from a past entry.

"The Soul Hunt" film

Steven Knight made this film, adapted from my skit script "Assignment: Witness!" for his church hunting fellowship. Excellent work! I love seeing films people make of my material, and this is the most ambitious so far.

Click the link below to view it on Godtube!

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=KY6PWLNX

Steven had this to say about the making of the film:

Our church made a movie for our annual Wild Game Supper, so we took the
"Assignment: Witness" skit and adapted it to a turkey hunt, to fit our
outdoors theme. All of the "actors" are active members of our Brotherhood
ministry, and includes Sunday School teachers, as well as Sunday School
Director, Brotherhood Director, and Chairman of Deacons.

We know for sure of one teenage girl who was saved after the movie
premier, and we have heard several other reports of people who have been
touched by the message. Thanks, Fred, for an awesome skit, and allowing
us to use this to share the Gospel.

Steve Knight
Director, "The Soul Hunt"
Rentz Baptist Church
2011

Read the original skit script here.

Competition Testimonial Emails

I have had many reports of drama teams winning competitions using our skits, and even competing against other teams also using material from our site. I imagine the judges at these events must be getting very familiar with my stuff! Here is another great email from a young lady testifying to this kind if thing...

Fred,

My name is Rebekah Dunbar and I am 17 years old, and live in Arkansas. I attend First Freewill Baptist Church and every year my drama team competes in a National Youth Conference that our denomination puts on.

Two years ago I came across your site when looking for a drama for us to compete with, and found so many skits that related to that year's theme and made it easy to work with and memorize for performing. That summer we used the Bubble Wrap skit which was a huge hit, we won district and made it all the way to Nationals where we competed and won! Following the performance we had multiple churches ask where we came up with the idea and if we could come and perform it for their home church. Of course we directed them all to your website where we ended up competing against some of the churches that we gave your reference to that summer.

This past year, we used "The Crate Escape." We did edit multiple parts to fit the conference theme and time regulations but in the end, we won Nationals for the second year! Again, we had multiple people come and ask us where we came up with the great skit idea and if we would perform it for their chuch. We were even asked to visit some church camps where we had the opportunity to perform and work with students our own age, that we talked to and had the chance to share our testimonies and tell them about our personal walk with Christ.

I don't want to take up too much of your time but I wanted to thank you for doing what you do. I think all of the skits on the site are interesting and modernized which is sometimes hard to find for a church competition. This upcoming year we will most likely be using another one of your scripts to compete with. Our drama team could not have performed as well without the basis of the skits put on your site. Again, thank you and I pray that God blesses you and your site.

In Christ, Rebekah Dunbar

Here are links to the skits she referred to: "The Wrap Group" and "The Crate Escape."

Here is another recent email along these lines:

Dear Fred,

The Grace Baptist Christian School will be using your script "The Sheep"s Clothing Store" on March 30th in a Student Convention competition.

We are a small Christian school in South Ga. and compete in Student Convention with Schools from North Georgia, Florida and Alabama. Our students have been performing your skits for the past 6 years. In performing these skits they placed 1st in everyone of them! We appreciate the gospel that is provided in these skits. We appreciate all that has been written.

-Wanda Vice
Tifton, GA

I found this bit of conversation below on a message board at this home school debate site: http://homeschooldebate.com/ The particular page with the following post no longer exists, but here is part of the message I saw about scripts they have used in competitions from ChristianSkitScripts.com. Interesting stuff! I don't know what all the abbreviations are for, except "HI" stands for "Humorous Interpretation."

...an author that I've heard four/five pieces from that are really incredibly cute is Fred Passmore. He wrote the winning duo piece (Carillo/Carillo), the winning and third place OI piece (Gabby Elliot and Sam Nasser), and the second-place HI piece (Marshall Sherman) at the Regional tournament this last weekend.

If you can find one of his pieces that isn't being done... then it's a great idea... make sure you follow the directions before taking the script though. The pieces that are taken are: "The Great Church Robbery," "Battle of the Sexes: Round One," "The Man with the Shellfish Heart," "Mama's Close Call," "Testimony Show." Every one of the above pieces has placed at one or more tourneys. "The Battle of the Sexes: Round One," is done by Carrillo/Carrillo, and they have gotten first place at every Texas tourney this year, except for the ASAP, (Weatherford) practice tourney in November of last year. And that was because they didn't have the duo's at that tournemant.

"Testimony Show," which is done by Carrillo/Elliott, has placed third in Houston for the practice tourney, and third in Dallas, at the Pre-Regional Q. "Mama's Close Call," done by Michelle Carrillo of Carrillo/Elliott, has been the first place HI ever since it came on the scene, in Corpus Christi, and again here in Dallas at the Pre-Q. My piece, "The Man with the Shellfish Heart," has placed second in Houston for the practice tourney, and again here in Dallas it placed second. And "the Great Church Robbery," done by Samantha Nasser (my debate partner) has only been on the scene for the Dallas Pre-Regional Q, and placed fourth in OI.

So Fred Passmore's stuff is good. He has winning pieces in almost every IE, except DI. He has two pieces in HI, first and second place, I might add; the consistently winning and almost-as-consistent third place duo, and a fourth place OI.

-Marshall Sherman

That just blows my mind. Go to the site for these and more winning skit scripts!

Yet Another "Cardboard Christ" Video!

I've found another couple of YouTube videos of people doing my skit script "The Guy With The Cardboard Christ," the script for which you can get here for free. This one is very well done...

View the skit on Youtube here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeItNo-rk4w

And here's the first part of another team's performance. Don't know why they didn't post the whole thing, I would like to see it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrgIladPlX0&feature=related

Get that skit and more at http://www.christianskitscripts.com/!

Skit Spotlight: "The Audition"

Every so often I'll be highlighting a particular skit from my site ChristianSkitScripts.com, when I feel like it's the right time. Today we are looking at the skit titled "The Audition." Wanting to cross over into secular entertainment, a Christian actor tries out for the role of an action hero in a major motion picture. Torn between his standards and the desire to get the role, the aspiring "new Eastwood" finds that being a crossover artist puts him on the wrong side of the fence. Lasting about 10 minutes, and using three people (with one offstage on a mic), this skit is easy to do, and is a powerful witness about the price of compromise.

After being put through his paces in several types of situations to see how the actor can handle them, each one comically depicting typical Hollywood tropes, the hopeful actor stumbles when he is required to read profanity from the script in one dramatic scene. He protests, and draws the ire of the producer conducting the audition. Here is an excerpt from that scene:

Jake: To be honest, Mr. O'Neal, I'm... uncomfortable with some of the language in it. I thought that I could just substitute something less offensive and still get the meaning across.

Producer: The swearing has to stay, to make the scene work. Your character isn't a Boy Scout, he's a seasoned field agent. Now read it again, with the lines done right.

Jake: (Reluctantly, he starts again.) "Hold it right there, Brock. What's this... what's this..."
(He stops and lowers the script.)

Producer: What's the problem, Jake?

Jake: I'm sorry, I just can't do the lines with all the cursing in it. I don't use that kind of language in my life, and I can't bring myself to do it on camera with everyone watching. If I play a hero, the kids watching will imitate me, and I don't want to be responsible for that.

(Irwin has lowered his script in amazement as he hears this.)

Producer: (After a moment's silence.) You're... you're kidding me, right? (Laughs.) Yeah, you're kidding, showing me you can do comedy! (Chuckles.) That's funny stuff. But this scene isn't supposed to be funny. Now let's try again. Really let loose on him and show him you mean business!

Jake: I do mean business, Mr. O'Neal. I'd prefer not to do it with the swearing and blasphemy.

Producer: (Unbelieving.) This guy sounds serious. Is he serious, Irwin?

Irwin: (Turning toward the light.) I think he is, Mr. O'Neal.

Producer: I don't believe this. What are you, a Ward Cleaver or something? This audition ain't for a Superman movie, it's for Lone Wolf. He's tough, a man's man.

Jake: I have no objections against playing a tough man. One of the toughest men ever portrayed in the movies was done without saying a single dirty word. Remember Jesus in his recent record-breaking movie?

Producer: Jesus? (It dawns on him.) You're a Christian.

Jake: Yes, sir, I am.

Producer: (Under his breath.) Mohammad on a Moped! Why don't they screen these people better than this? (To Jake.) Look, kid, you got the look for a leading man in Hollywood. You carry yourself well and you could go far with the right contacts. But all the contacts in the world won't help, if you won't take a role just because you have some personal moral objection to it. You might as well forget about making it in this town with that attitude.

Jake: So you're telling me there are no movie producers with morality? You have personal morals, don't you?
(Irwin makes a sarcastic "p-h-h-t-t-t" sound through his lips as if amused.)

Producer: (Sharply.) Yes, Mr. Do-Right, I have morals, they just happen to be different from yours.

Irwin: (Snickers under his breath.) You can say that again.

Producer: (Darkly.) I heard that, Irwin.

Jake: Besides, Mr. O'Neal, it's not just the language. I was having trouble with the violence and sexual promiscuity the hero, so-called, endorses by his lifestyle. I can't go against my convictions.

Producer: Mr. Sheldon, thanks for...

Jake: Shelby.

Producer: Yeah, whatever. Thanks for coming to the audition. We'll look at your tape, and if the director thinks you have potential, you'll get a call-back. But personally, I wouldn't lose any sleep waiting for one. Thank you. Good day. Irwin, bring on the next one.

Jake: Now just a second. Let me get this straight... you're dismissing me just because I'm not a foul-mouthed, unprincipled heathen like most of the other actors around here? What about talent? Doesn't it count for anything any more?

(End of the excerpt.) By the end of the skit, Jake realizes his calling lies in a different direction, but one that can still use his talents. As he leaves, confident in his decision, the stage hand follows after him, wanting to know more about a life that can be led with integrity and such joy. The producer, left alone, goes into a fit which triggers a heart palpitation. The skit ends with him calling for help, but there is no-one around to hear him.

There is a soundtrack CD to go with it to supply the many sound effects needed, and will make it much funnier and effective. Preview it on the script page, or just click here.

Your actors and audience will enjoy this skit, which can be done with the script in hand, as this is written into the scene, as part of the audition. So go here to read and print out the entire free script right now!

Here is one testimonial email from a person that used it:
Fred,

We performed "The Audition" on May 1st, at our Awana Awards Banquet at the Cornerstone Community Church in Auburn, CA.

Thank you so much for putting your site together and offering scripts with a powerful message. "The Audition" was incredible. I am no actor, yet even I was able to prepare and deliver the lines because most lines had cues from other actors. Very easy to perform!

Thanks again and God bless you.

-Bill Harben
Awana Commander
Cornerstone Community Church
Auburn, CA.

Soundtrack CD Previews

On my main site, ChristianSkitScripts.com, I have 15 soundtrack CDs for sale (so far) that supply the music and sound effects for the free scripts found there. While most are of the type where you do you own dialog from the script and use the music and sounds when the script prompts, some are of the narrated variety, for those skits that are done in my unique "Play/Act" format. For these, there are no lines to learn, as the dialog is related by the narrator on the CD.

Now, my regular and return customers don't need to be convinced as to the quality and effectiveness of these CDs... they know how professional and useful they are and come back for more (check out the Testimonials Page and see how often the soundtracks are praised). However, for those first-time visitors to the site that love the scripts, but would like to have a preview of the CDs before buying, I am now posting just that for their convenience!

I'm in the middle of the project, and have produced and posted audio previews of 10 so far, and I will keep on until every CD can be previewed. On the audio previews I go over each track, and let the prospective buyer hear a few seconds of each one, so they'll be able to be confident about what they are getting. Each script that has a soundtrack preview has a link in it to listen to it.

Here are the ones posted so far in Windows Media audio format; click the "preview" link on each to listen. Click the script title link to read the script.

Preview of Soundtrack CD #1 for: "Live From The Battlefield" and "Assignment: Witness!"

Preview of Soundtrack CD #2 for: "Attack Of The Monster Tongue" and "Testimony Show."

Preview of Soundtrack CD #4 for: "Battle of the Sexes: Round One" and "Mama's Close Call."

Preview of Soundtrack CD #5 for: "The Telltale Talent" and "The Red Tie Club."

Preview of Soundtrack CD #6 for: "Jerusalem's Most Wanted."

Preview of Soundtrack CD #7 for: "Creature In The Closet" and "The Deejay's Dilemma."

Preview of Soundtrack CD #8 for: "The Audition" and "The Pastor's Barbeque"

Preview of Soundtrack CD #10 for: "The Crate Escape" and "How To Be Spiritually Fit."

Preview of Soundtrack CD #12 for: "The Trials of Rev. Milton Blumquist" and "War Of The Wills."

Preview of Soundtrack CD #13 for: "The Jokers Of Jericho" and "A Midnight Dreary."

Preview of Soundtrack CD #14 for: "Redemption In The Wings."

Preview of the Supplemental Skit Trax CD for a dozen of the skits that don't need much more than a few tracks each (see the complete list of scripts supported here).

Mother's Day Skits

It's nearly time again for skits that focus on Mother's Day, and we have two that have been very popular in recent years... check them out! First is "Mama's Close Call." Your congregation will enjoy these humorous skits!

Written for Mother's Day, but good any time, this skit will have everyone in stitches! Mama, settling in for a nice quiet evening with her TV, gets more excitement than she bargained for -or wanted- when her writer son drops in. Getting all choked up -literally- over his tribute to mothers, Mama wonders: will she ever get to watch her movie, or will she end up in the hospital? A hysterical 8-10 minute sketch with a heart! Click here to read it!

(Click here for a version of the script for an all-female cast, with the son part changed to a daughter.)

"Mama Knows Best!" Now available, a Mother's Day version of the skit "How To Be Spiritually Fit," featuring the same characters from the incredibly popular "Mama's Close Call!" When Mama's son Little Louie buys a "do-it-yourself" spiritual fitness program for her, things don't go as he planned. Click here to read this hysterical script!

(Also available in a FEMALE-ONLY cast version!) With a few obvious slight revisions, this could make a good Father's Day script as well!

UPDATE: Read some of the great comments below to see what people are saying about these two skits!