Facebook DJ Deb goes Behind
the Scenes with Christopher Shawn Shaw – And his new film short; One Nightstand...
One Nightstand is a Christian comedy short essentially
handling the topic of adultery…in a comedic way…Let’s show you the descriptions
of the film available on Youtube and Twitter.
Youtube Logline -- A
Businessman invites a Call Girl to his hotel room, but before she arrives, two
hilarious Hotel Employees introduce him to the Bible inside his Nightstand. By
the time she arrives, he's changed his mind...but she hasn't. Based on Titus 2:11-12
And
Twitter Logline -- A
ministry short starring @thorramsey as an adulterous businessman whose plans
are thwarted by the sobering contents of a hotel nightstand. @directorCSS
About Christopher Shawn Shaw
First off – Kudos on that title, man! What a brilliant
play on words to get across a Christian message behind an old secular phrase.
And the use of something that is in most all hotels across America (a Bible) melded
with something else that can be found in most all hotels across America (people
committing adultery) …I’ve got to say…I wish I had come up with this
interesting turn on events to use it for God’s glory. That’s cool. Okay…so
let’s get down to the questions…
Q –So, one of the most recent movie productions you
worked on was One Nightstand, correct?
A –
Well, let me address the title first. I cannot take credit for that one. Lead
Producer and Writer Gary Emrick titled the script. As a matter of fact, there
was a lot of concern from at least one of our cast members and at least one of
our crew that the title would be perceived automatically as the extreme
negative connotation, thus hindering our chances of screening the film in
multiple churches and also communicating a risqué project for one of our crew
members who solely works on faith-based film projects now. After a number of
discussions and debate, weighing the pros and cons, and prayer, Gary decided he
is not changing the title. Some people love it; some don’t.
To answer
your question, as far as the most recent project I directed and helped produce
that is closest to being released on Blu-Ray and DVD, yes, ONE NIGHTSTAND is
the most recent at this writing. I do, however, have a number of projects in
various stages of Development, including a faith-based supernatural drama short
entitled FAMILIAR SPIRITS (@FSMovie) and an over-the-top comedy short called YA
BIG BABY (@YaBigBaby), both of which have scripts and are close to fundraising
stage for production. The star of ONE NIGHTSTAND, Thor Ramsey, and I also have
a feature-length Romantic Comedy we hope to shoot soon entitled YOUTH GROUP
(@YOUTHGROUPMovie).
Q – I see that the trailer can be found at Youtube here. And the movie has
a Twitter page here. It’s inspired by
Titus 2:11-12. How long is the Short?
A- Including credits (and a surprise, short scene
after the credits), I think the Running Time is around 19 minutes. I’m very
pleased that the short moves along very smoothly and does not drag. Feels like
a 10-minute short, plus end credits. Brilliant cast, including a scene with former
child actor (and good friend), Rick Segall, who played “Little Ricky” for a
season on THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY television show.
Titus 2:11-12 in New American Standard translation says:
 |
| Susan Silvestri, Christopher Shawn Shaw (CSS), Rick Segal |
Q – Other than this direct scripture,
What inspired this film to be handled with comedy?
A – Writer/Producer Gary Emrick was about to embark on his
very first 168 Film Project (www.168Project.com), which is a faith-based, worldwide, speed-filmmaking competition
where teams have a theme and a Scripture verse, about ten days to write and
pre-produce, and then – immediately following that - 168 hours (7 days) to
shoot, edit, and turn in a finished short film. Gary wanted a practice-run at
the writing part of it, which turned out to be ONE NIGHTSTAND. We first met at
a producer workshop, also in preparation for that year’s 168 Film Project, and not
too long after our respective short films were in the can, Gary told me about
his ONE NIGHTSTAND practice story. He sent me the script and we decided to work
on getting it produced together, with me directing.
Q - A cool tidbit is that this film has
already won an award. Tell us about that.
A-
It won THIRD PLACE in the short film category of the International Christian
Film Festival (ICFF) online competition out of Orlando, FL! Very exciting!
Q – Do you direct only comedies? Or, do
you do other Christian genres?
A – I tend to gravitate toward comedies, however I direct
and produce other genres as well. For example, I also met Producer/Actress
Susan Shearer through the 168 Film Project, and she and I wrote and are
producing the faith-based supernatural drama FAMILIAR SPIRITS (@FSMovie), which
I’m planning to direct as well.
Q- Do you direct only shorts? Or, have
you done full-length productions?
A – I’m hoping to direct my first feature film, YOUTH GROUP
(@YOUTHGROUPMovie), this year, producing alongside Thor Ramsey, who also wrote
the script and plans to star. Earlier this year, we met with a “name” actor and
his producing partner/manager who are both very excited about the project and
want to help us produce YOUTH GROUP, including finding the funding even.
Q - I see your demo reel can be found at
IMDB.com (here). Where can your movies be found/purchased?
 | |
| Writer/Producer Gary Emrick, Maria Casas, Lori George, CSS |
Q – Actor/comedian Thor Ramsey can
sometimes come across as irreverent in his comedy sketches. What is your
response to viewers with this opinion? And or, what is your view of him after
working with him on a few projects?
 |
| Thor Ramsey and Christopher Shawn Shaw |
A – That could depend on which sketches they are referring
to. Honestly, some people – including myself – have been way too uptight at
times and have taken things way too seriously than needed. Sometimes they (I)
may be right. Sometimes not. So, again, it could depend on the sketch and/or
the attitude or motivation behind it. I don’t agree with every Christian
Comedian and I don’t agree with every single one of my favorite Christian
Comedians’ jokes. One thing that may surprise some people, though, is that Thor
Ramsey is a full-time teaching pastor at Canyon Lake Community Church in CA,
and preaching the Gospel is his main passion. Prior to his current teaching
pastor position, he helped with a church-plant that is a sister church to the
one in which he teaches at now. And I know that his views on entertainment,
including entertainment in the Church, have shifted in recent years, per
conversations we’ve had in which he’s expressed that fact to me. Another thing
that may surprise some: Thor is a brilliant and hilarious comedy writer (books
and screenplays), and he is an
incredible dramatic screenwriter as
well. One of the reasons I love working with Thor is because I overall trust
him to write an excellent script...and “bring it” on location when shooting. A
lot of times there are on-set changes, and God has gifted him with a brilliant
mind that helps punch up the changes that need to be made. He was also
instrumental in punching up the ONE NIGHTSTAND script, making it even better
than it already was!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now… to the Facebook DJ FIVE… The Five
ultimate questions asked to everyone I interview….
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Q – In 5 words or less, who/what is your target audience?
A – Whoever God wants to reach
Q- What is the mission of your
movies?
A - High-quality productions that are pleasing to the LORD
(whether they are overtly faith-based or not) and that don’t result in the audience requesting wine with the “cheese”
they are watching.
Q- What result would you want to see
happen by the viewers of your movies? (5 yrs, 10 yrs, tomorrow?)
A- I would want them to really enjoy them for the right
reasons and be moved to respond accordingly, whether it’s just “moved” to experience the Scripture that equates
laughter to medicine for the soul, or it’s to move them to move in a certain direction/path.
Q- What’s your life Bible scripture
right now?
A - Off the top of my head, John
3:16-17
“’For God so loved the
world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should
not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into
the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.’”
Q- Who is Jesus to you?
A- Wow. What a short and yet LOADED question! Here
goes...The King of Kings and Lord of Lords; The Alpha and The Omega; The Name
above ALL names; The only One who shed His blood and died and rose again for me
(and the entire world). My Savior. My Loving, Everlasting Father. I love that
poster that starts “AND HE SHALL BE CALLED...” and is followed by all the
recorded names in Scripture that refer to Jesus Christ...ending with the name
“JESUS CHRIST.”
 |
| Director CSS, Producer/Actor Tom Costello, Thor Ramsey |
~ Also ~
Director Shaw is currently doing a Kickstarter campaign for his and Thor Ramsey’s NEXT 168 Film Project 2013. TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO support. Get your name in the credits for donating ONLY $10!
...Soo... Follow the links here or above to find him on Twitter, the One Nightstand short film on Twitter, his demo reel at imdb, and his imdb profile!
Q – Aaand… do you have any other social media or email connections??
A – (see urls below)
CSS On Linked In
CSS On Facebook
 |
| Director Christopher Shawn Shaw (CSS) |
http://www.twitter.com/YOUTHGROUPMovie
https://www.facebook.com/FamiliarSpiritsMovie
http://www.twitter.com/FSMovie
https://www.facebook.com/YaBigBaby
http://www.twitter.com/YaBigBaby
https://www.facebook.com/OneNightstandshort
http://www.twitter.com/ONSmsf
https://www.facebook.com/Team31.2013
https://www.facebook.com/skiplistening
http://www.SkipListeningShort.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yykxqz46rY
https://www.facebook.com/HTandIND
https://www.facebook.com/Team3.168FilmProject2012
~~Photos Courtesy of Christopher Shawn Shaw. Artwork by Mike Rutland, MDR Design ~~
And this has been The Scoop! with Facebook DJ Deb and Director, CSS!
Tune in next time on this same Blog Page for something else! Very awesome I’m sure!
Chatta’ Latta!
Facebook DJ Deb
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