A curtain-raiser CCA Video Production—Five Years of Memories, edited by Edgar Torres—set to a live musical performance of “We Will Rise,” by Taylor Hecocks preceded the first short films from the Digital Video Production 1 class: “There’s Gnome Place Like Home,” by Dawson Allen, Aaron Richter, and Phil Kalicharan, and “Countdown,” by Andrew Davis.
These were followed by Digital Video Production 2 offerings, “Pizza Day,” by Chris Crilly; “On the Inside,” by Trevor Viner; “Trapped,” by Jose Ordonez; “The One Who Redeems,” by Ryan Arnst. Digital Video Production 3 brought “Masterpiece,” by Kyle Lackore, who won best film. Finally, from Digital Video Production 4, student films, “The Perfect Self-Deception,” and “.COMmunication” by CCA alumnus, David Vendrell, finished out the pre-intermission lineup.

Winners presented by Doug Scott, CEO of United States Media Television, and followed by a September 11 Tribute performance of “God of the City” (Chris Tomlin) by Johnny Jones. The show closed with feature presentations of “The Sound of Midnight,” by alumnus Jacob Kaufman, from Digital Video Production 4, and “Operation 15:13,” by the Media Endorsement class.
Mr. Rick Negron, high school video production teacher, helps students with their projects, and guides all four production classes. He encourages not only his students, but kids who are not in the Digital Video Production classes, to be involved.

“Whether you act or help on crew, you can contribute to the process. It’s a team effort, and takes a lot of people and resources,” he said. He sees the Film Festival as an event no student should miss—full of laughs, perhaps a few tears, and some great fun, as well as an opportunity to support their peers.
“God does unique things with kids at CCA, and other students, families, and the community should come to view the talent that their peers have,” he said.

The Mirror is an adaption of the famous prodigal son parable told by Jesus Christ in the book of Luke, revamped to a modern scenario. The story begins with a mixed family and a young teenager (Rebecca Quinn), who feels isolated because of it. Her feeling of acceptance drives a wedge between her family (Christian Sjogren, Kristen Jones and Keely Mason) and her.

The plot thickens when she receives an acceptance letter from a pristine dance studio in New York City, and her parents don’t let her go. In a daze of rage due to the evil tricks of the devil (Bailee Cudmore), the young dancer leaves her family to follow her dreams.

The tumult begins with this runaway being late to her first dance class and amplifies into a broken life of parties and drinking. At her lowest point, she is passed out on the street, finding that the things she strived to attain left her with nothing. She resolves to return home, but not without a final battle with the devil. She slays Satan and is accepted into her home once again.

In an interview before the show, dancers Bailee Cudmore and Rebecca Quinn were asked how people will react towards the dance concert, Rebecca Quinn said, “I believe people will have a positive reaction toward the show and my character personally (the prodigal daughter/ young dancer). I believe that the spirit of God will defiantly move the audience.” Bailee Cudmore responded, “We have been rehearsing since the very beginning of August to ensure that the dance concert is all it can possibly be, and I believe we all have done our best and I feel the audience will love every second of the show!”

After the show, many CCA students were moved deeply.  Senior Cristina Pimenta said, “I thought it was very powerful, and sad. I think people will be able to relate to it well.” Also Sophomore, Chris Vendrell said, “I think the dance concert is a very good performance that really enlightened us and let us have hope that anyone can come to Christ no matter what you’ve done!”

In closing, the dance concert was a wonderful performance with a wonderful message. Congratulations to the cast and the crew on a job well done.

“Tribe of Shrews” is an emerging band started by Taylor Hecocks, A.J. Lowe, Micaiah Lowe, Jake Martinez, Hunter Martinez, and Alexa Romagnolo. It could best be placed in the “Indie” music genre. The band emerged over the summer as the members would casually meet and play tunes on their instruments in the Bahamas. Once their first song, Damascus, was recorded they decided to write songs on a more frequent basis and thus, “Tribe of Shrews” was formed.

The band’s name was inspired by A.J. Lowe, who read about the “Tribe of Shrews,” a powerful story about field mice. The band wanted their name to be unique, and so this was a good fit. Most of the songwriting is credited to A.J. and Taylor, who work together to write lyrics that often have deep meanings. “We have a lot of hidden Christian messages in our lyrics,” said Taylor. “It’s not worship music, but we definitely have Christian themes.” Taylor also writes a lot of the guitar music, and everyone else works on their instruments.

“Tribe of Shrews” has realeased an EP that anyone can listen to for free on the Internet.  The band is also heavily working on an upcoming album that will be sold at the “Tribe of Shrews” concert in January at Rocketown, a music venue in Pompano Beach that helps showcase young Christian musicians. The band will also be participating in a Fight Club benefit for “Battle of the Bands.” So, stay tuned, because these are two events you do not want to miss.

This past April 22-25, Charlotte’s Web by Joseph Robinette, based on E.B. White’s classical children’s story, spun into the light at the Calvary Chapel Theatre with Wilbur (Jonah Carrignan) and his animal—and not so animal—friends. Directed by Sheri Hecocks, Charlotte’s Web is based on an unconditional friendship between a pig named Wilbur just trying to have a carefree life, and a spider named Charlotte (Suzi Quinn), who tries to save her new friend from becoming bacon!

Weeks after meeting and being cared by Fern Arable (Diana Poeana), Wilbur is sent to live at Zuckerman’s Farm, which is owned by Fern’s Uncle Homer (Tristan Peyton). In the Zuckermans’ barn, unbelievable things happen in very believable ways. Animals talk to each other, and it is their human qualities—the ability to create friendships and react with acts of heroism—that we find so endearing and relatable.

Shortly after he arrives at Zuckerman’s Farm, Wilbur meets the beautiful spider, Charlotte, the Goose (Haley Mason), Templeton (Blesi Tchividjian), and all the other animals on the farm. But when he finds out that Uncle Homer is only fattening him up to eat him in the winter, everyone scrambles to figure out a plan to save him. Charlotte decides to write words in her web about Wilbur, and a new word is discovered each night, which serves to draw the farmer’s attention and that of the whole neighborhood. Finally, it is decided that if Wilbur can win the blue ribbon in the County Fair, Uncle Homer “will never make a plate of bacon out of him.”

Charlotte helps him selflessly, even though she knows she only has a short time to live. In the end, Charlotte saves Wilbur, who returns the favor by saving her small, peach-colored egg sac with 514 eggs. Wilbur is sad when Charlotte dies, but finds happiness again when he strikes up a friendship with five of Charlotte’s little spiders that stay behind to live in the barn with him.

This fun-filled comedy is a warm story that touches the human heart, leaving both the audience and the cast and crew with something to talk about.  Mrs. Hehocks wanted her players to experience the story of Charlotte’s Web first hand, and so during every rehearsal a member of the cast led a devotional, which did much to create “true friendships”—the very thing that the play was about.

Indeed, it was a fun play to watch and produce. “My favorite scene was probably when I came out all fat eating popcorn,” said Blesi Tchividijian. “Eating was the best part!” For Diana Poeana, who played Fern, her favorite scene was when “we got to push Avery (Sam Cudmore) into the trough.” For Cassy Cammarano (Martha Arable), there was something really magnificent going on behind the scenes.  “The environment around here really tells you that everybody loves God, so that’s really incredible,” she said. “I couldn’t ask for anything more!”

With every play, concert, and musical CCA presents, there’s always a Christian meaning that’s sent out to its audience like a message in a bottle. Friendship is the message we got from Charlotte’s Web. Charlotte showed Wilbur what a “true friend” should be and act like. Her unconditional friendship reminds us of God’s love for us. And even though we don’t deserve Him, He is our “true friend.”

Nineteen-year-old, Chance Phelps was an eight ribbon decorated Marine who died in combat in Iraq on Good Friday in 2004.  Marines have a custom that when one of their soldiers dies another escorts him home. In this movie, the escort Lt. Col. Michael Strobl watches as people across the country morn with him and the Phelps family as he escorts the desisted Marine home.  “Chance Phelps was wearing his Saint Christopher medal when he was killed on Good Friday. Eight days later, I handed the medallion to his mother,” said Lt. Col. Strobl.

The story unfolds as we see an average day outside of Ar Ramadi, Iraq  for Chance and his convoy. They are doing their rounds when they become under unfriendly fire from the Taliban. Drawing all the attention to himself, Chance is killed in action by putting himself in the line of fire so the rest of his squadron can get to safety. It is said in John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends,” and Chance’s bravery demonstrates this verse well.

 During Strobl’s escort duty of Chance, he experiences America’s great love and respect for those who have died defending our freedoms. This moving picture shows the love and bond our troops have for one another, and the love our civilians have for our troops. This extraordinary movie also shows that our soldiers fight for a single reason; to defend our country and its citizens. “I didn’t know Chance before he died. Today, I miss him,” said Lt. Col. Strobl.

“In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth.” –Genesis 1:1

Sometimes the talent that comes to the Calvary Chapel Theatre is made of the stuff the heavens are made of—brilliant stars. Such was the case this past March 19-21, when Creation: A Dance in Concert—a blast of colors in the form of dancers portraying God’s creation—made its way center stage before a sold out crowd.

Days before Creation was performed, it was all that CCA students talked about, as both performers and their peers anticipated the return of this magnificent show, which was produced six years ago at the Broward Theatre. This time, it was coming to our very own, Calvary Chapel Theatre, and no one was more elated about that than its directors, Jennifer Dolan and Judi Boudreaux, and assistant Heather Armstrong.

“This making of Creation was even better than the first one,” said Fine Arts Director, Tim Flay, who looked on from the sidelines, marveling at the show’s scenery, dancers, and even choice of songs. The dancers, many of whom had performed in the original show, now had mastered their craft, and it showed!  Theatergoers, who came to be immersed in the best of CCA Fine Arts culture, hailed the show’s performers and their “superb talent,” liken them to that of a troupe on Broadway. And those like myself, who were fortunate to have seen the show twice in the span of six years, could only stare in a state of wonder at God’s handiwork—and it was good!

Creation consisted of two acts, showcasing the six days of the earth’s creation, which started with day and night, followed by the land and oceans, animals, and ultimately—mankind. An intense scene in which Adam and Eve are seduced by Satan in the Garden of Eve gave us a clear picture of that fatal day in history so long ago, when man failed his first test and fell from grace, and in so doing, distanced himself from his Creator—the God of the universe—but not forever. The timeline took us from the book of Genesis in the Old Testament, including the drama of “Noah’s Ark” to the New Testament, and the birth of Jesus Christ.

The two-hour concert both made me marvel at the simple beauty of the colorful scenery and very talented dancers, but made me cry at some of the messages woven so carefully within the lyrics of some of the selected songs. During the performance of the fourth day of creation, the seasons: Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Spring, reminded me, as well as others, that with every season there’s something amazing that happens. Each season is unique, and yet, each complements and depends on one another—very much like us, the body of Christ.

“Winter and spring always reminds me that even if you go through any number of trials (winter), God will always renew you again in the spring,” said eighth grade History Teacher, Berverly Larson, giving us another perspective. “It reminds me He never truly leaves you.”

No, God never leaves us or forsakes us. Even when we fail Him, He always provides a way back to Him. As I watched the scene of Eve being seduced by Satan, I was reminded of that. Everything should have ended for mankind on that fatal day, but God made sure it wouldn’t come to that. From the beginning Creation tells us that God had a plan all along. He had a purpose for everything He created, and everything was good in His sight.

This was the greatest message God sent through not only this dance concert, but through His Son, Jesus Christ. He sent His Son to die on the cross for us, because even though we were cast out of the Garden of Eden for our sins, He wanted us to find our way back to Him. I hope this concert helped the audience see what I saw. God is good. His Creation is a good testament of that.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16

Very much in the forefront in these current times, God’s name seems poised on everyone’s lips— whether agnostic, Jewish, Muslim, or Catholic — and one author has taken notice.  In his book Reason, Faith and Revolution: Reflections on the God Debate, Terry Eagleton, a professor of English literature at the University of Lancaster and the Naitonal University of Ireland, explores the answer to why this is happening.

Eagleton breaks down the cliché-thinking of what atheists and agnostics believe about God and replaces it by making God into a real being, giving an account of the gospel. Going against the arrogance of his fellow colleagues on the issue of religion, he even reasons that without God, men like Richard Dawkins would be out of a job.

Despite this, you would not want to have this author as a spiritual guide by any means, but it is refreshing that he at least understands that Dawkins, Hitchens and other atheists are not playing fair in the “God debate.”

Eagleton points out that these atheists and others tend to argue with many of the least persuasive views of Christianity, rather than grappling with the richest thought of the Christian tradition. In doing so, they comfortably place themselves in arguments in which they easily appear as the victors.

Though Eagleton criticizes religion, he respects those who believe in it. However, don’t let his “sweet talk,” fool you. Although he writes against the atheists, his own views on God and Christianity are actually not in line with the truth of the Word.

Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story

Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story premiered on TNT last Saturday, February 7, at 8:00pm. The movie stars Cuba Gooding Jr. as Dr. Ben Carson, a man who was able to rise from the slums of Detroit to become one of the world’s top pediatric neurosurgeons, despite the adversity he faced.

Raised in a single parent home by his mother (played by Kimberly Elise), Ben Carson faced bullies, a bad temper, and a learning disadvantage. But with constant encouragement from his mother to do better and have faith in God’s plans for his life, he persevered and overcame his obstacles. He graduated from Yale University and did his residency at John Hopkins University where he continued to work thereafter.

Ben Carson’s story is a true life example of how always keeping your faith in Christ can lead to immeasurable blessings and a lasting impact. Although there is some mild violence during the early parts of the movie and a few surgery scenes that could be too much for those who are squeamish, this movie is definitely one to see.