Guests on The Steve & Kathy Show add a new zing to our zany half hour of Emmy® award winning fun! These Hollywood producers, directors, actors and authors inspire viewers with the great things they’re doing in the TV and film industry.
Brad Wilson comes to us as an award winning producer with years of experience working with Hollywood greats, including Robert Duvall. If you’re interested in the TV and film industry, Brad’s got good insight that will help you rise to excellence as an actor, screenwriter or producer.
S&K: It was great having you on The Steve & Kathy Show. Why did you say “yes” to us?
Brad: I LOVED it and it was a life changing experience for me because of meeting so many people… and becoming friends with Steve & Kathy. Just the concept alone (which I call a faith based "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE") interested me enough to do the show!
When I worked with Robert Duvall we did all of the big late night shows...DAVID LETTERMAN...JAY LENO...all of them. The feeling and professionalism I experienced with The Steve & Kathy Show, both creatively and behind the scenes was every bit as professional as those big network shows with a much better feeling!
The show is GREAT and will reach those that would normally not hear the message because it's done in such a funny and entertaining way. Imagine Christians laughing!!!! We all need to laugh a lot more and I think it's great!
S&K: What is your vision for your film career? Where do you want to go and why?
Brad: What a very interesting and timely question. I'm going in my 25th year in films and all of this time I feel that God has allowed me to go through the proper training to now do work for Him. My commitment now is to focus on quality faith based, positive films and media that will have an impact on people around the world not only now, but through eternity.
S&K: What has been your favorite project to be a part of? Why?
Brad: Like I've heard songwriters say many times...the songs they write are their babies. They can't have a favorite. I feel a bit the same about the films I have been involved with. Two really stick out however.
One is "Left Luggage." Jerome Krabbe, the wonderfully talented actor made his directing debut in this film. I had worked with Jerome in Moscow back at the fall of the Soviet Union when we were there working on "Stalin" for HBO. "Left Luggage" has a European feel to it and is a powerful story about how love can overcome all obstacles and prejudice.
One of the best experiences I have ever had on a film is the one I had on "Angels Love Doughnuts." It is being released by BMG in February 2010. As the tag lines says "It's a comedy about DYING that will change the way you LIVE."
The CrossWise Players from Dallas were cast in the film and many great and wonderful volunteers helped us move the machine forward. We filmed in the same neighborhood in Dallas where I grew up so it was pretty moving from a personal standpoint to go back there after all of these years and do a film. This story is great and I believe will touch many lives in a very positive way.
S&K: You’re doing a lot these days in the “faith-based” realm. If you could speak to the faith-based TV and film production teams and actors, what would you say to them or to anyone with a dream to produce?
Brad: I know film budget constraints as well or better than anyone. Please, if you are a filmmaker now or in the future reach as high as you can and then some. It's sad how so many of our faith based films over the years have suffered in quality.
Even if you don't have large budgets you can still do a great job and make your work stand up beside anyone. God willing a lot of people around the world will see your film(s). Make them in a way that people won't be distracted by what you DON'T have.
Work hard to get out of the stigma of low quality faith based films have come to be known for so many years. I have done a number of films for very low budget and if someone finds out what the budgets really are they are shocked that a film could be done in that budget range and look so good.
Also one of the biggest things that separates low budget from high budget films is the sound. One can tell a low budget film right away by the sound quality. Pay close attention to getting the sound recorded right in the first place. That's VERY important.
S&K: What do you think the future holds for faith-based TV and films?
Brad: There have been some great breakthroughs in recent years, but if faith-based films and TV don't start improving in quality and excellence then they will never break outside of the Christian subculture niche market... and they will continue to have very minimal impact in the world.
Whether the film is presenting a heavy Gospel message or whether the film is subtle in every way, all of these films should strive to be excellent, otherwise there is no point in getting involved in this form of entertainment. There are other industries that are a lot less expensive where you can afford to be mediocre in your handling of the medium... Film is not one of them.
See Brad’s latest production at www.setapartthemovie.com.
Interested in an acting career? Check out Brad’s training at www.higherpurposemedia.com.
