Nashville Premiere of BILLY

After being filmed only this past Spring, the movie BILLY: THE EARLY YEARS premiered in Nashville last night. Shot entirely in and around Nashville, BILLY tells the story of the first part of Dr. Billy Graham's life up until his national emergence at the Los Angeles crusade in 1949.

If you've been following this blog, you know that it was my privilege to be on the set for a week back in April doing radio interviews-- something which I enjoyed immensely. Last night we attended the premiere in order to get all the pieces for a one-hour radio special which will be released when the movie comes out next week. By the way, BILLY is opening primarily in the South, but it is hopeful that it will migrate North as people support the movie.

I've put together a very rough cut video and posted it here that you may see just a little of what happened last night. You'll see Armie Hammer "Billy Graham", Stefanie Butler "Ruth Bell Graham", and Krisoffer Polaha "Young Charles Templeton" in the video clips. Of course you'll also see my close friend and producer, Joe Carlson. Special thanks to Joe Battaglia for his video camera work-- what a media pro, he can do it ALL.

When the radio program is complete, I'll post the audio so you can hear more of the interviews including Gigi Graham, Scott Brasher who composed the score, Executive Producer Anatasia Brown who did a fantastic job putting together the soundtrack, Producer Larry Mortorff and others. Any radio station who wants to carry the broadcast can contact Rennaisance Communications.

Catching Up

Well, the end of summer means lots of projects. August ended with the Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency which continues to make headlines even after the political conventions. It seems that it still resonates with people as a better example of how to have political dialogue. If you have not heard it (or want to listen again) you can go to USAvoter.com to hear our broadcast. Our followup interview with Rick Warren the following Monday can be heard at www.aproundtable.org.

Also in August, we recorded a radio special for Far East Broadcasting Company with Gregg Harris (more about this later when it is released). What a great experience to meet and spend some time with Gregg, an excellent, young leader of a 60 year old organization that has a bright ministry future.

Okay, now it's September. After recording with the team at THE PUBLIC SQUARE last Tuesday, I headed to Nashville in order to attend the TOKENS SHOW-- a creative and unique live stage presentation at Lipscomb University. Jeff Taylor is the band leader and has been after me to come down for one of their shows. I loved taking it in and hearing Buddy Greene, Derek Webb (a young, old friend from Second Baptist in Houston) and Odessa Settles all sing that night. We're inviting Odessa to join us in our next session IN THE STUDIO with Michael Card.

Next week, I will be hosting and interviewing a pastor from Ethiopia who has experienced first-hand the hunger crisis as well as extreme persecution. David Hunt and Envoy Ministries is bringing this Ethiopian pastor and friend the States for us to have the chance to record some interviews.

The rest of September includes recording sessions for HEARTLIGHT RADIO and WALK IN THE WORD as well as a live broadcast movie premier in Los Angeles of FIREPROOF, which we are very excited about. On the last Friday of September, it's the annual MAKING A DIFFERENCE Banquet in Cleveland which goes hand in hand with THE PUBLIC SQUARE.

Then, a deep breath and October-- starting with the premier of BILLY: THE EARLY YEARS! I've posted a 4-part interview about the movie which ran on Moody Radio's PRIME TIME AMERICA this week-- it's on the front page of my website, www.wayneshepherd.net.

Thanks for your prayers.

TV News and BILLY Movie

While I was on the production set of the Billy Graham movie last month in Watertown, TN, a Charlotte TV station sent one of their anchors, Jeff Campbell, and his cameraman to do a story on the making of the film. Dr. Graham, of course, is big news in Charlotte. Jeff's report aired last night and can be viewed online at WCNC's website.

There is also a slideshow of still photos, courtesy of Katherine Bomboy, the film's official photographer.

Will the BILLY Movie Be Authentic?

Filming is nearing the end in Tennessee for the movie about the early life of Dr. Billy Graham. The scene is being shot today when Dr. Graham, at a time when spiritual doubts were beginning to creep into his mind, decided to fully trust God and accept His Word as infallible.

One of the producers and the man who wrote the script for this movie, Bill McKay, was in Wheaton doing additional research at the Billy Graham Center this week. Bill came over to my studio and we sat down for a long conversation which I recorded for radio. You can hear the hour-long interview at wayneshepherd.net. It will be posted in the news window later today.

One of the first questions people ask me about the movie is whether or not it will be a true representation of the facts of Dr. Graham's life. In answering that question, Bill McKay told me of a meeting in 2000 he had in LA with Dr. Graham. Even though the movie was not being thought of at that time, Billy Graham made a statement that is guiding the producers today. He told Bill that his greatest concern towards the end of his life was that his image on film never eclipse that of Jesus. Bill took that to heart and vowed that this new movie will be authentic. Further, Bill told me that he and the other filmmakers are committed that no detail in this film about Dr. Graham's life between 1934 and 1949 would diminish him in any way or diminish the One he serves.

At this point, it is hoped that the film will be in theaters in September of '08. At that time we will see the results of this commitment to tell the story as it really happened.

We spent all day Saturday on the set of BILLY: The Early Years in Lebanon, TN. It was a long, but rewarding day talking with the cast, producers, and the director, Robby Benson. It took 12 hours of shooting to capture what amounts to perhaps 3 minutes in this film. The producer, Larry Mortoff, told me that is about on par with this entire production. So, you can see that movie-making is a very tedious process. When I asked the director, Robbie Benson, if covering everything in such detail detracted from his creativity, he looked at me slightly puzzled at the question and answered that details ARE his job as the director. And what an experience watching a director like Robby bring his passion to his work.

The scene involved a young Billy Graham preaching his first sermon in a little country church while he was a student at the Florida Bible Institute. I won't say more, you'll have to see the movie, except that when the call went out for extras for the scene, who stepped forward but 3 of our radio crew? Christian Klein, Alan Duncan, and Tony Zanotti were rushed to wardrobe and came back transformed. Alan even paid the ultimate sacrifice of shaving his beard. You can see the results :)

Tonight is the big scene in the tent revival meeting where Billy Graham walked the sawdust trail as a teenager. Filming starts around 8:00 pm tonight and should last until 5:00 am Monday. We'll see if I stay awake all night before flying home...

Movie Making

I'm in the Lebanon, TN area where filmmakers are shooting scenes for the new movie on the early life of Dr. Billy Graham. I watched behind the scenes all day yesterday. It's an amazing process-- and very time consuming. I now understand better that the men and women who make these movies work long, hard hours.
One of the interviews recorded yesterday was with the director, Robby Benson. It is a joy to watch Robby work and see the way he goes about his craft. His instructions to the cast and crew are always clear and given with great respect and care.
We'll go into high gear for radio stations starting tonight. Producers Joe Carlson, Christian Klein, and Alan Duncan all arrive tonight and we start with a round of live radio interviews in the morning. Plus, we'll be recording interviews all day and begin posting them on the site set up for radio stations. For access to those audio features, email me at wshepherd@ameritech.net.

Change Happens

For those of you following the adventure of our radio promotion of the new movie being filmed this week in Nashville on the life of Dr. Billy Graham, there's been a little change.  The on location filming that was to take place on Thursday this week, has been moved to the weekend.

We still plan to provide interviews and audio clips, but we need to adjust the days and times.  I'll keep the webpage updated as I head to Nashville today to work out the new details.  If you think of it, pray for our small team who is scrambling to keep up with the changes.

If you need more information right away, email me at wshepherd@ameritech.net.

BILLY: The Early Years

I spent most of the day today in Nashville on location with a movie production crew filming the early life story of Dr. Billy Graham.  The movie, not yet officially titled, covers his life up through the 1949 Los Angeles crusade.  The scene being shot today on location in an old office building was his departure from Bob Jones Academy when he "dared" to ask questions in class.  I was able to talk with the actor playing Dr. Bob Jones, Larry Black, as well as the young man, Armie Hammer, playing the part of Dr. Graham.

The movie is planned for release this September.

Why was I there?  I have been asked to do some radio interviews and promotion for the movie.  I'll be there again next week when they re-create the tent meeting that resulted in Billy Graham's conversion as a teenager.  Those interviews and lots of audio clips will be made available next week on my ftp site for radio stations to download and use.

Those of you in radio should be receiving an email from me soon with details.  If you like, send me an email now to make sure you are on the list.  Stay tuned!