After we released the audiobook in January of 2024, it became an Audie finalist for Young Adult Book Of The Year. The Audies are like the Oscars for audiobooks, so it was a huge honor to receive, and an objective testament to the quality of both the book Craig wrote and the performance James brought to the story.

Sir Patrick Stewart even showed his personal support for One Night, or maybe he was acknowledging a standing ovation for narrating his memoir. We’ll never know.

The book became an Amazon bestseller in the coming-of-age category and also was featured by Spotify as an “unforgettable young adult audiobook".

There was a moment where I even thought some offers from the studio system would come our way, but alas, nothing happened there.

It was a fun run, but once the dust settled, it became clear the plan to make the feature film, which was the reason for hiring James and producing the audiobook, would need to move to the next phase.

I didn’t know it would come from my friend and former collaborator on the indie film BETWEEN NOTES and the short film UNDERNEATH*, Chris Grissom, pitching his vision for directing the film. Chris listened to the book and loved it, as it reminded him of growing up in a small Texas town, his own senior year of high school, and the power of a mentor who sees who you are and calls it out.

I wasn’t sure at that point whether Chris was the right person to direct the film, but I was very intrigued by his passion for the story, and I knew I fully trusted his character and competency.

The next step was to explore this potential with Craig, which also gave us a chance to brainstorm ways to leverage the audiobook's momentum to make the film. I invited my long-time friend Steven Cooper to join Chris and me on a trip to Waco to meet with Craig and talk through all of this. Steven is a trusted voice for me in all things creative, and also loved the story. He has a unique blend of creative, project management, music industry, and financial expertise, so when he offered to join us, it was an easy yes.

Finding unity for something so subjective and ethereal like a film is tough. There are lots of ways to do it, but we used the following to test where each of us was:

If you had to choose two or three films as the north star for your vision of One Night, which films would you pick?

If you could make a playlist of 8-10 songs for the soundtrack, which songs would you include?

This wasn’t the final filter for assessing fit for all of us, but it was a great starting point for everyone to compare notes.

We went in without knowing what the others would say, and all of us aligned pretty closely to this:

Films:

DEAD POETS SOCIETY

STAND BY ME

GARDEN STATE

THE SPECTACULAR NOW

THE BREAKFAST CLUB

Songs:

The Big and Rich song sticks out for sure but it’s for a comedic part of the story. (Colt and Wayne arriving at the prom if you know the story.)

We knocked out a strategic exercise to review where we stood and where we wanted to go next, created and assigned action items, and wrapped up the day.

One takeaway for me when reflecting back on this part of the story is a recurring theme: writing a book is something you can do on your own. Making a film requires a team and finding the right team for the project at the right time is hard. It takes trust, alignment, and God’s timing.

Leaving Waco that afternoon felt like all those things were coming together. Onwards and upwards.

Up next in the journal…an old friend leads to connecting with The Wonder Project and their review of One Night.

*Our UNDERNEATH short film is not available to watch online right now. We plan to release that soon, but I do know there is a short film called UNDERNEATH that is NOT ours. No further comments there.

Listen To One Night In A Thousand Years

I recommend reading Part 1 of this story if you are new here. This post relies on that foundation.

It’s also similar to that one because it is LONG. I imagine this will be my longest post due to the nature of this story and what it means to me.

The news is this: The audiobook for One Night In A Thousand Years launches tomorrow, 01/09/2024. I wanted to give readers of Story Script an early reveal of James as our narrator and a behind-the-scenes look at how it came to be.

If that sounds interesting to you, read the rest. If not, skip to listening to the book wherever you enjoy audiobooks now! And tell your friends! Again, the official launch will be tomorrow.

Last warning from a friend before you dive into this post:

I wasn’t sure what to do next. I’m not sure what will happen next.

The Ferris Wheel has endless possibilities at the top, but the drop can be disorienting. The wheel of life doesn’t move in steady time like the wheel of wonder.

The disorientation for me came from the loneliness of running a company of one and the massive financial challenges that come with year two of a small, service-based business. Although I am thankful for these guys hanging with me in the office while I work…

In that in-between space, an idea for the next step in turning One Night into a film hit me: What if you produce an audiobook with an established actor who will get this type of story and has the ideal voice for it?

Yes! This is a great idea!

Wait. Is it?

As usual with me, this great idea has high stakes and low odds of working. I find myself meeting these types of ideas often. The good news is that asking the actor’s agent only requires time and effort. Might as well go for it.

I made a list of five actors that would be ideal for the story. All of them were brilliant performers with unique styles that fit the ethos of One Night. Each was a massive long shot for an unknown indie book and a brand-new studio. The one asterisk to this was the SAG/AFTRA strike. It did provide a window for actors to try something they might not take in normal times. 

My next move was to pray about which one to approach first. It’s important to give an exclusive option to each one, so I wanted to go with the best person for the role first. Thank you to John Eldredge for being such a guide for this type of prayer. I have a good Father who delights in giving good gifts to his children. Why not ask him and then actually stop to listen?

I walked around the house in circles with my headphones in, listening to movie scores and praying. I stopped asking and took the time to listen in silence. I heard…absolutely nothing. 

I took out my headphones. That’s when it happened.

I opened up Instagram, and the first thing I saw was this post from one of the five actors on my list:

I’m stunned. Once again, it seems providential.

Take the leap.

He was one of the five actors on the list. The post was about taking a leap into the unknown. The cliff-jumping into the water scene is a key moment for the characters in the book. 

I knew who to approach first.

James Van Der Beek.

I shared the story with Craig and Jonathan. If you don’t recall, Craig is the author of the book. Jonathan is the inspiration for the sage-like figure, Lucas, in the story. He was the Mr. Keating for the original Warrior Poets.

Jonathan shared this with Craig and I:

For what it’s worth…

DAWSON’S CREEK debuted the very same week I discovered the Bridge and signed my name in the first rafter in January 1998. It was also the very same week I read Emerson’s “Nature” for the first time in class. I vividly remember the pilot episode airing on January 20, 1998 and it greatly impacting me, even inspiring me to start collecting movie posters (the opening scene of Dawson’s Creek was him and Joey watching the end of E.T., and he had the poster on his bedroom wall). That episode, along with reading “Nature” for the first time and seeing TITANIC a month before were the three events I think back on that changed my life right before I turned 17. Those three events are what I’ve always thought back on when reflecting on first discovering the Bridge as a teenager.

I called my friend and producing colleague Matt Brown for some advice. It had been several years since I approached talent, so I wanted some fresh perspective. Matt had just produced a unique serialized audio podcast called The Timekeeper. I knew his recent experiences would help me do this the right way. 

With his advice, I wrote the initial email to James’ agent, then headed to Galveston with my family for our annual trip to one of my favorite places on earth. It’s a place that feels like a window into another realm for me. It’s an intersection of memories and dreams, friendship and family.

I know many of you are completely stunned by this, especially if you’ve been to Galveston without the eyes of someone who knows its hidden beauty and charm. I may write a post one day telling more of that story, but for now, it’s only important to know it’s a deeply meaningful space for me.

I received a reply from James’ agent while I was in Galveston.

Now, this in and of itself is no small thing. I was honored and thankful he was willing to take the next step. Many times, the process doesn’t even get this far. I was also slightly scared because if, for some reason, this moves forward, the numbers in the proposal I sent become real. 

Forty-eight hours later, I saw a new email from his agent. 

I’ve been seriously writing and producing since I was 19. I’ve been rejected by over 1,000 companies, producers, and actors over the last 25 years. These emails and (letters in the mail back in the day) usually read something like this:

“Thanks for sending over your script, project, manuscript, etc. We’re not interested at this time, but we wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.”

I clicked the email, expecting to see something similar, not because of the quality of the project but the reality of the business. 

The email read:

I sat back in my chair and reread the email. 

I got up and walked around a bit, then sat down with tears in my eyes. A chance to tell this beautiful story with such a gifted, powerful actor and one that is pitch-perfect for the work. Unreal. And also the investment. Oh boy. This might happen. 

Kristen came in about that time and was worried something bad had gone down. I told her the news. This post can’t do justice to her support through starting a small business with three young kids. It’s even harder to comprehend her support of something like this. She is with me and for me no matter what. 

Now, we needed to get the deal done.

The next few weeks were spent negotiating. I am so thankful for the way James’ agent conducted it. It was respectful, straightforward, and reasonable for all involved.

Craig also needed to feel good about everything, so getting everyone on the same page took time. There were a few times I thought it might break down, but eventually, we all agreed, and everyone signed. The numbers were fair, but my final investment would be massive. The bottom line climbed fast by adding studio time, editing, engineering, etc.

Here we go. Take a leap, indeed.

The next hurdle was finding a studio in or near Austin to record the audiobook. We needed to record in September if it was going to happen for a few reasons. The main challenge there was the initial studios and engineers I looked at were all booked until October. Classic producing situation. Nothing is ever easy, which makes it fun and infuriating at the same time. 

I thought of an acquaintance and fellow creative, Aaron Ivey. Aaron and I met several years back when I worked at The Village Church. I enjoyed talking creativity and leadership with him when we got the chance. I remembered he recorded albums in a studio in Austin, so I decided to send him a text to see if a studio could be a possibility. 

Aaron responded within minutes with: “I’ve got you.” Incredible. He proceeded to kick into gear on the potential fit with the studio, now called The Audio Village, and introduced me to Kyle Lent, the owner and lead engineer. Unfortunately, Kyle was already booked for the week we needed to record, but Aaron and Kyle both recommended connecting with another engineer, editor, and musician named Logan Garza (more on him later). 

Logan responded. He could engineer that week and do the editing on the project. Huge sigh of relief. I locked the dates with James. Another step closer…

—

Driving down I-35 on the way to Austin that week was surreal. As long as I’ve been making and sharing creative work, I’ve wanted to tell stories of wonder, depth, meaning, beauty, and courage with excellence.

I’ve been fortunate to create work with astounding designers, writers, videographers, musicians, and more. Every time, my goal is to do work that can be recognized as worthy of being at the highest levels of our industry. Sometimes, things come together in a way that meets that standard. More often than not, it doesn’t. It’s rare for all the reasons you would imagine. It’s arguably even unhelpful to think this way when making something, and the results are subjective.

Still, I’m all about putting everything I have into making the best work possible and inspiring others to do the same. We have more in us than we know. This was an opportunity to create something excellent with an artist I respected and admired.

My approach to the recording as a producer was based on a mixture of personal leadership style and a video with the actor Colin Firth that I saw while preparing for the recording. 

The leadership style philosophy sets hard-working, talented people up for success, supports them where they need it, and lets them fly. If you see something that needs feedback, give it to them, but don’t get in the weeds. There is more power in seeing who God made them to be than dictating exactly who you think they should be. Of course, you want to give clarity, direction, and vision without making those so narrow that there is no room for the person’s interpretation of the work. 

Here is the video with Colin talking about his approach to narrating an audiobook (:49-1:20)

I knew this would be my approach to the recording as soon as I saw it.

Here are a few high-level thoughts about the story from Craig and me, but once we start recording, I want the performance to be your interpretation of the story.

I got to the studio and knew it would be ideal. It is a relaxed, creative space hidden in the hill country.

James gave me a call on his way to the studio. I shared some high-level thoughts on the story from Craig and me, and I then told him I would be here if he needed anything. I’ll keep what I shared with him private because I want any book listeners to form their own opinions and interpretations, but thankfully, he agreed with the high-level direction for the story. 

A few minutes later, he pulled up. I introduced myself in person and we made our way past the sprawling old tree that stood watch over the studio's front doors.

It’s a fitting symbol for One Night In A Thousand Years. I thought about how Jonathan had written those first words underneath the bridge rafters all those years ago, at the same time that James’ professional career was about to change forever with the launch of Dawson’s Creek. This tree grew slowly through brutal Texas heat, frozen winters, hail storms, peaceful spring mornings, and cool fall nights. Now, it was a meaningful welcome and companion to producing a story with shared roots.

You never know how things like this will be when the day comes. You’ve got strangers meeting for the first time in hopes of creating something special together. 

I followed James on Instagram, which gives you the faintest of glimpses into another person, but that is a curated glimpse by design. Still, I felt resonance with what he shared. Family, depth, hard work, creativity…an old soul that seemed to care about some similar things as me. I experienced this same person during the recording. He was a delight to work with and blew me away with his performance. More on that in a bit.

Logan Garza was also a new person for me to meet. Logan is laid-back but convictional. I didn’t know his musical work at the time, but be sure to check him out here. He writes songs that cut hard but are honest. He was excited about the opportunity and a fun partner to have in the room as we listened to James narrate the book.

Before we officially started, there was a slight issue. Logan asked for the book for James to read. I assumed he had it on an iPad or something similar. Let this be another story of not assuming anything in life, especially not a project you’ve pushed most of your chips in on. Fail on my part, for sure.

Thankfully, Aaron’s wife Jamie (a delightful author, speaker, and podcaster among other roles) came to the rescue with an Ivey family iPad. We downloaded the book on the iPad and moved to recording.

When James started reading the prologue, I got the best kind of chills. Logan raised his hands in the air and shook his head up and down with an animated, silent YES. We were headed back in time to hear Colt recount how his life changed forever. 

We were both blown away by how well his voice fit the story. I was even more thankful for his work in inhabiting each character. Seeing him move between all these different people with such skill was amazing. If you ever want to get a sense for how hard this is, listen to yourself read a fictional book to someone else.

I have no idea how the story and performance will hit audiences. It’s all so subjective, but I’m proud of what we’ve produced. 

My parting discussion with James sums it up well:

James: I hope the best for you and the project.

Me: Thank you. You never know how people will react to stories. We’ll see what happens.

James: All you can do is make things that resonate with you, stories that move you. That’s all that matters. The rest is out of your hands.

Amen.

There is more to the story after all this, but I’ll save that for another day. Making the trailer with an old friend in a place I love and yet haunts me too. Original music for the trailer. Unexpected delays in the launch. Another friend saving the day at the last minute to get us on Audible. It’s been such a profound ride. 

As you can see with a glance I need to end with gratitude.

Thank you to Jonathan for stirring up wonder, courage, and beauty in others.

Thank you to Craig for capturing this story in an entertaining, fun, accessible, wise, and moving book. Thank you for letting me partner with you in launching such a personal story.

Thank you to the Warrior Poets and all the later generations of the Sacred Circle for inspiring us with your adventures.

Thank you to Kristen for loving me and supporting a dreamer through thick and thin. That’s a tough assignment. 

Thank you to James Van Der Beek for believing in this story and taking a chance on us.

Thank you to Logan Garza for jumping into this with passion and for all the hours spent engineering and editing. 

Thank you to Matt Brundige for going with me to Waco to capture beautiful images of the setting for the true story.

Thank you to Adrian Disch for creating a score that captures the heart of the story.

Thank you to Chris Sterrett for getting us across the finish line with some final tweaks to the audio. 

Thank you to the Ivey family for the intro to The Audio Village and letting us borrow the iPad.

Thank you to Kyle Lent for being such a great host and all your investment in making The Audio Village a sanctuary for creativity.

Thank you to Kevin Page for helping with details on the final agreement.

Thank you to my mom for supporting and encouraging my creative pursuits from the very beginning.

Thank you to my family and friends for all the moments you’ve given me space to process, vent, fear, and hope. 

Thank you to my Make It. Share It. partners Lauren Chandler and Steven Cooper for being early listeners, advisors, and encouragers along the way.

On the day before, I’m on the way up the Ferris Wheel’s circle, near another opportunity to see the horizon again. 

I’m expectant and anxious. It will be breathtaking up there, but I have no idea how long it will last. Sometimes, it’s gone in a blink. Sometimes, it seems like it gives room to linger long enough to see where you’ve been and where you’re going. Sometimes, the ride down is gentle and sloping. Sometimes, it is fast and painful. 

I am grateful to be in it no matter what happens next. I am grateful to share it with you as much as this space allows.

Carpe Diem.

-Kent

This will be a unique time in the life of the Story Script Substack. I’ll be posting one new episode of Make It. Share It a day for the next few days until most of our recorded episodes are out. After that, we’ll move to the twice-a-month distribution for new episodes.

Make It. Share It. Episode 02

This episode with Craig is dear to my heart for a lot of reasons, which I tried to capture in this post if you are new to Story Script and haven’t read it.

Since we recorded, a lot has happened, including the ongoing production of an incredible audiobook version of One Night In A Thousand Years. More to come on that story soon, but here is a behind-the-scenes picture of the first few minutes of recording.

Dead Poets Society Trailer for my friends who don’t know about it:

On to the show notes…

Show Notes

In this episode, Lauren, Steven, and Kent are joined by author Craig Cunningham to talk about his coming-of-age novel, One Night In A Thousand Years.

Our discussion moves from the original true story that inspired the novel, why it sounds so much like a real-life Dead Poets Society, Craig’s journey in trying to make One Night, the problem with a “masterpiece” mentality, the challenge with sharing this story with the world, and how Kent first got involved with producing the film and upcoming audiobook.

Content referenced in today’s episode:

Craig’s Website

Dead Poets Society

Kent’s One Night Spotify Playlist

Craig’s One Night Spotify Playlist

Produced by Lauren Chandler, Steven Cooper, and Kent Rabalais

Music by Steven Cooper

Edited by Kent Rabalais

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

A few weeks ago, I was finishing a book in bed. The story culminated in a moment that brought tears and a slight shaking that I tried to contain so I didn't bother Kristen. I wasn't ready to leave the story or try to explain what was happening. I knew it was significant. 

Some gifts in life return to us multiple times, but we see them differently each time we meet again. It reminds me of a Ferris Wheel one rides as a kid, as a teen, as a newlywed, as a parent, as a widow, as a last ride. Each time is familiar and unique, peaceful and painful. This book brought me back to the Ferris Wheel. I looked up into the night and saw something magical. 

That experience eventually led to this exciting announcement: my company, Kent Studio, has optioned the film rights to the book, "One Night In A Thousand Years," by Craig Cunningham. As the one-liner on Amazon says, this is a
”A classic coming-of-age story about being invited into the adventure of life.”

The plan is to produce this as an independent film*, but there is a long way to go. When Craig asked me the odds of this working, I quoted a wise man who said, "Never tell me the odds." It's the only way I can still try this after 20+ years of filmmaking. 

*October 2023 Update - An amazing audiobook is coming first! More on that soon.

*January 2024 Update - The audiobook along with Part 2 of this story is available.

For some of my friends and followers, that will be enough. I love you, and I'm thankful for you. I hope you join us at the premiere or catch this on Netflix one day if we beat the odds. I know the rest of this is a bit over the top and includes too much detail for most people.

(My 12-year old son took one look at this post and laughed at the length of it. I chuckled with him)

Still, I needed to get it down. If you want to know more about how this came to be, have an interest in the creative process, filmmaking, or need to pass some time while waiting at the doctor's office, the rest of the story takes us back 20 years…

-----

I walked up the steps of our apartment in Waco, knowing that something awful was waiting for me. I had picked her up from the airport last night after her semester of study abroad in Italy, and I knew the end was near. I gave into an immense amount of fear and anxiety and chose not to get onto a plane to visit her during Thanksgiving break. That was the final little punch to the gut that killed our marriage, but it was only one of many sins I committed against her over six and a half years. The note she left saying she was done was thoughtful and to the point. We eventually talked about it over the phone and in person. The divorce was finalized a few months later. 

That same year I met Jonathan in a professional writing course at Baylor. I let him read a screenplay I cowrote called GALVESTON. It's set at the turn of the twentieth century and follows a young man named Christopher, who discovers he is an orphan after his adopted dad dies. He leaves New Orleans to find his biological parents in Galveston, a beautiful island city about to be destroyed by the most devastating natural disaster in American history. It's a screenplay that received great reviews in the film industry but, as one academy-award-winning producer put it: "You're going to need one of the Tom's to make this movie. Find a role for Tom Cruise or Tom Hanks and pray." In other words too expensive of a movie to make. 

Jonathan loved the screenplay and even offered to share it with his uncle, an established director in the industry. His uncle didn't need to read the script to have the same reaction as the producer. I didn't care about that because I already knew the greater gift of sharing that screenplay was my friendship with Jonathan. 

We got to know each other over the next year and enjoyed sharing suggestions for books, reading each other's work, and daring to dream. He introduced me to Rilke, Coelho and, more importantly, gave me the light of wonder during a dark time. 

He also invited me into a special ceremony of a somewhat clandestine group—The Warrior Poets Society. I didn't know much about what this celebratory night would be other than as someone recently divorced and with just a couple of friends, I was grateful to be included. 

The Warrior Poets turned out to be a group of high school seniors Jonathan had been taking on a quest for the past year. This group had been challenged to ask questions about many things in life during their time with Jonathan. These conversations happened in parking lots, around fires, in a cemetery, on the edges of cliffs, under a bridge, and in a green field surrounded by oak trees. This particular night was in the field with the oak trees in shadow and was lit by that ancient flame of fire and stars. 

My memory continues to fade with age, and the details are best left to those that were part of the society. What I remember the most is what I felt: belonging. I both belonged in this tribe and longed to be this kind of man—full of wonder and adventure, boldness and depth. Jonathan shared a few words about each man around the fire then he gave each of us a symbol that would memorialize our convictions to live as warrior poets wherever our disparate roads took us next. The symbol was a sword, a reminder to fight for the true, good, and beautiful and to have the courage to follow our convictions.

He also shared a collection of writings each man had written during their time together. He had them bound and delivered the book to each person. I didn't expect anything here but as usual, Jonathan found a way to include the newest, strangest member of the group. He inscribed a personal exhortation to me on the first page of the book and ended it with this note:

Never stop believing…Live Free. Dream Far. 

I don't know where my life would be without meeting Jonathan that year. At this low point in life, full of failure as a man, I received the gift of a friend full of wonder and imagination that saw me at my worst and believed in my best. It was a reminder to look up and see what was possible.

——-

Jonathan and I went our separate ways as friends do after college. I kept up with him from afar, and we traded occasional messages and shared our latest creations, sometimes even inadvertently, like when I realized that the Monster Street books my son loved reading happened to be written by my old friend. I laughed at the odds of this happening. Sometimes life sneaks up on you like that.

——-

A month ago, I noticed an Instagram post from Jonathan. It was about a former Warrior Poet who published a novel based on his experience in the Warrior Poets Society nearly twenty years ago. He described the legacy of poets from that initial group, year after year of men forming a sacred circle. Craig Cunningham, a writer and creator I would have met that night in the fire-lit sword ceremony but never saw or talked to again, was the novel's author. It was called "One Night In A Thousand Years."

I ordered the book from Amazon immediately. I knew from the opening chapter I would enjoy it. It took me a bit to get back to that age, to think and feel like a teenager, but once I let myself go back to that time, it worked. I've imagined making a film about the small southeast Texas town and the people I grew up with since I wrote my first screenplay in high school. Although the town these characters inhabit differs from the one I knew in the details, it was the same in essence. 

I was also transported back to my late college years, going along this journey into an upside-down world with Colt, navigating the wonder-filled, mysterious, and expansive adventure that Lucas invites us into. I heard the soundtrack playing, whether explicitly shared in the text or not, because I've been listening to it since I was a teenager. 

This story was a gift I received again, a return home, the same person yet different. 

——

The next morning after finishing the book and being met with unexpected tears, I knew I needed to process whatever happened the night before. 

I started journaling in my usual spot and then remembered the other book. The one I keep on my bookshelf near the desk in my office. The Warrior Poets Society book that Jonathan had given me nearly twenty years ago. 

I picked it up and re-read the inscription on the opening page. Then I decided to see what was on the other side of the clip that held the book's pages open. I don't remember when I did this, but many years ago, I used a heavy-duty black clip to hold open the book's first page so I could keep it in place as a reminder. But now I thought it would be interesting to see the words on the other side of the clip, a randomly chosen page, because it gave enough weight to hold the pages behind Jonathan's inscription in place.

The words on the page the old clip held in place were gritty and graceful. They expressed a particular fight I have been on in the past few years that a sage named Jack had opened and guided me through. When I finished reading them, I began to get tears in my eyes again. Although this story might make you think it is common to me, it is not. I have suppressed my heart, especially the creative parts of my heart, for longer than I could understand without the help of outside voices. These words expressed the longings of my heart. 

I paused, giving thanks to God for a sacred experience. These moments are fleeting on this side of the new heaven and earth. I wanted to take my time with it. Then it hit me. A thought that felt like abundance, too much for someone who was already fulfilled. 

Who wrote these words? Which Warrior Poet had I randomly clipped this page to so it could prop up the first page of the book? Which poet from all those years ago put these thoughts down that spoke so clearly to me now? 

If the author is Craig Cunningham…

I flipped backward, moving page by page through the book until I found the author's name:

II.

While I May

Craig Cunningham

I lost it. The tears came, and I could not control them. 

My first reaction was to stay in the moment. Be present. Take your time with this. Don't make it more than it is. And I did that. 

But then the idea came like the return of a good friend or a gift. 

I've got to try to make this movie. Take all the experiences, gifts, passions, and undeniable providence of this set of circumstances and create something wonderful with it all.

Carpe Diem.

—-

I reached out to Jonathan and shared the story with him. He was grateful and asked if he could connect me with Craig. Of course. 

I shared the story with Craig and asked if I could option the rights to produce the film version of his book. He said let's explore it. We both acknowledged that trust in our shared experience and our mutual friend Jonathan was a big factor in moving so quickly. 

Last week we finalized the contract. Now we get to raise the funds to tell this magical story. Never tell me the odds. 

——-

The irony of beauty and wonder is that they love to find each other despite all the barriers that want to prevent them from connecting. They are both present and available to us every day. 

From the coffee we drink in the mornings to the food we taste during the day to the sun that sets majestically, bringing on the night.

What if we could look up and see them for what they are more often? What if one night in a thousand years, we could look up and see the stars?

I believe one night we will. I hope you will join us. 

Live Free. Dream Far.

-Kent