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Act One Podcast - Episode 48 - Interview with Directors Phil Cunningham and Brent Dawes of the new film, DAVID.

From the songs of his mother’s heart to the whispers of a faithful God, David’s story begins in quiet devotion. When the giant Goliath rises to terrorize a nation, a young shepherd armed with only a sling, a few stones, and unshakable faith steps forward. Pursued by power and driven by purpose, his journey tests the limits of loyalty, love, and courage—culminating in a battle not just for a crown, but for the soul of a kingdom. Released by Angel Studios, DAVID is in theaters everywhere beginning December 19th, 2025.

Phil Cunningham’s passion for storytelling was ignited and fueled as a young boy growing up in the wild frontier of Zimbabwe, where day-to-day life was often interspersed with larger-than-life characters and fantastic stories. Phil was struck by the incredible power of stories to impact society and in particular the power of animation to cross race, culture, age and gender barriers better than any other medium. Over the last 25 years, Phil together with Jacqui, has built Sunrise Animation Studios in Cape Town, South Africa. The studio’s mission statement is “Inspire Through Story".

Brent Dawes has spent over two decades as the Creative Lead at Sunrise Animation Studios, where (among many other projects) he created the Jungle Beat series and directed Jungle Beat: The Movie, which Netflix acquired in 2021, where it ranked in the Top 10 movies across all genres in its first 3 weeks. Dawes is the writer and co director of the Young David Shorts and the David animated feature film.

Sunrise Animation Studios is a full-service animation studio based in Cape Town, South Africa. Founded by Phil and Jacqui Cunningham, Sunrise has a passion for quality storytelling, and a belief that film and TV are the most powerful mediums for story in the modern era. The company’s mission is to inspire, entertain and enchant audiences worldwide, providing the finest in family entertainment. Sunrise is the production partner for Jungle Beat, a series of high-quality animated short episodes that have become immensely popular worldwide, having been broadcast in over 180 countries and across a range of media platforms including TV, cinema and in-flight entertainment. The brand’s YouTube channel has over 11 Million subscribers and 5 Billion views. Sunrise were also the production provider for the hit animated feature Jungle Beat: The Movie, and the Jungle Beat 2 The Past sequel, released in 2024. Sunrise is also a world leader in sports mascot creation and branding, and partners here include The Welsh Rugby Union, Juventus Football Club, The English Rugby Football Union, and current world champions, South African Rugby. "Story" and "people" remain at the heart of everything the studio does.

The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective.

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Act One Podcast - Episode 47 - Interview with Director and Screenwriter, Spencer Folmar.

Spencer Folmar is the co-writer and co-director of the new film, SAINT NICK OF BETHLEHEM, starring Daniel Roebuck. Based on a true story about Allen Smith's life, this inspiring story follows a man who, after the heartbreaking loss of his son, transforms his grief into a beacon of hope for others by embodying the spirit of Santa Claus. The film is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Angel Studios.

Spencer Folmar is a passionate filmmaker, producer, and storyteller known for creating bold, authentic films that inspire and challenge audiences. As the founder of Hard Faith Films, Spencer has committed his career to crafting stories that delve into real-world struggles while offering hope and redemption. His work stands out in the faith-based film space for its raw honesty, tackling themes often avoided in traditional Christian cinema.

Spencer’s filmography includes Generational Sins in 2017, a powerful drama exploring forgiveness and generational brokenness, and Shooting Heroin in 2020, a film about a small town taking justice into their own hands to stop the spread of drugs by whatever means possible.

Beyond directing and producing, Spencer champions independent filmmakers through the Hard Faith Film Festival, providing a platform for fresh, faith-centered voices.

Spencer’s motto, “Telling Stories That Liberate,” reflects his dedication to creating cinema that resonates deeply with viewers, sparking conversations that lead to spiritual and personal growth. His unique approach has garnered recognition as a filmmaker unafraid to explore the messiness of life while pointing to the hope found in redemption.

The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective.

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Act One Podcast - Episode 46 - Interview with Producer, John Shepherd.

John Shepherd is a 30-year veteran of indie & studio film. As a producer, John’s known for such films as Emanuel (2019), The Stoning of Soraya M. (2008), Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius (2004) and The Ultimate Gift (2006).

His latest film is Sarah’s Oil which is inspired by the remarkable true story of Sarah Rector, an African American girl born in Oklahoma Indian Territory in the early 1900s, who believes there is oil beneath the barren land she’s allotted and whose faith is proven right. The film opens in theaters everywhere on November 7th.

The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective.

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Act One Podcast - Episode 45 - Interview with Screenwriters Jacob Roman and Kenny Ryan of the new film, ELEVATION.

After meeting in college, KENNY RYAN and JACOB ROMAN teamed up to sell their first script, DAVID VS GOLIATH (a 300-style take on the Biblical epic) to Sony Pictures. Since then they’ve sold multiple feature projects around town, most recently ELEVATION, which they wrote and co-produced with Brad Fuller and John Glenn. Starring Anthony Mackie & Morena Baccarin and directed by George Nolfi, the film will be released theatrically by Vertical on November 8th.

Their latest feature is SLEEPING BEAUTY, a high-concept action thriller they’re producing alongside Scott Free, with Madelaine Petsch attached in the lead role.

On the TV side, they spent three seasons as writer/producers on the CBS network primetime hit SEAL TEAM starring David Boreanaz and Max Thieriot. They’re currently Co-Executive Producers on the Lionsgate/MGM+ show ROBIN HOOD, premiering fall 2025.

Kenny and Jacob have developed a reputation as hyper-collaborative and highly generative writers, with an ability to breathe emotional life into conceptually muscular stories that appeal to a broad audience.

The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective.

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Act One Podcast - Episode 44 - Interview with Director and Screenwriter, Christine Swanson.

Christine Swanson is the writer/director of the new film, ALBANY ROAD, starring Renée Elise Goldsberry and Lynn Whitfield. The film is about a New York executive who is forced to share a rental car with her ex-fiancé's mother, only to discover that the mother is hiding a major secret. The film is being released in theaters on November 15th.

A visionary storyteller from Detroit, multiple award-winning director Christine Swanson earned her MFA in Film from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, one of the nation’s top-ranked graduate film programs. Recognized early as a talented filmmaker, Christine was selected by NYU faculty as the Willard T.C. Johnson Fellow, the most prestigious fellowship given to the student who has achieved high standards in his or her work. CNN identified Christine as one of the most promising filmmakers to emerge from NYU’s graduate film program since Martin Scorsese, Ang Lee, Oliver Stone and Spike Lee (Christine’s NYU directing teacher). Christine earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame, double majoring in Film Theory and Japanese. She was chosen by the Notre Dame Alumni Association as The Rev. Arthur S. Harvey Award recipient, acknowledging her achievements in the arts.

Christine has developed, written and/or directed entertainment projects for HBO Films, Lionsgate, Universal Television, Warner Bros. Television, CBS Television Studios, TV One, A&E Networks, BET Films, Starz and Faith Filmworks. Christine’s movie directing credits include the network and cable television records breaking The Clark Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel, starring Academy Award nominee Aunjanue Ellis. The film won “Best TV Movie” from the African American Film Critics Association and the Satellite TV Award for “Best Television Movie.” The film was nominated for five NAACP Image Awards including “Outstanding Directing in a Television Motion Picture” for Christine and a Critics’ Choice Awards Nomination for “Best Television Movie.” Christine also directed Aunjanue Ellis in their powerful short film, Fannie, about the ground-breaking testimony of human, voting and civil rights icon, Fannie Lou Hamer, in front of the Democratic National Convention’s Credentials Committee in 1964. Fannie earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for “Outstanding Short Form Film" and won two awards at the Bronzelens Film Festival (best acting and best short).

Christine has also directed All About You, All About Us, To Hell and Back, Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story (which broke network ratings as the most watched original movie in the network’s history) and For the Love of Ruth, for which Christine earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for “Outstanding Directing in a Television Motion Picture.” In addition to writing the above movies, Christine was a screenwriter for Woman Thou Art Loosed. Christine recently completed her award- winning feature film, Albany Road which stars Hamilton star Renee Elise Goldsberry and the legendary Lynn Whitfield.

Some of Christine’s television directing credits include episodes of Chicago P.D., P- Valley, FBI, All American, All American: Homecoming, Found, MacGyver, Sweet Magnolias, Bel-Air, BMF and Roswell, New Mexico. Her memorable episode of Chicago P.D., entitled “Black and Blue,” was rated “Best Episode” of Season 6 by Fansided.

The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective.

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Act One Podcast - Episode 43 - Interview with Screenwriter Andrea Nasfell and Producer Brady Nasfell of the new film, MR. MANHATTAN.

Brady Nasfell has produced feature films and television for Netflix, Sony, Lionsgate, Fox Sports, NBC, VH1, Discovery Networks and independent distributors. Recent films include MR. MANHATTAN (starring Alexa and Carlos PenaVega), FOURTH OF JULY (starring Joe List) and STRONG FATHERS, STRONG DAUGHTERS (starring Bart Johnson and Robyn Lively). Brady produced the Grammy Award-winning comedy special SINCERELY LOUIS C.K., as well as KEVIN JAMES: IRREGARDLESS (Spring 2024). Other specials include JOE ROGAN: STRANGE TIMES, TOM SEGURA: BALL HOG, and CHRIS D’ELIA: NO PAIN. His documentary work includes THE LAST DISPATCH, OVERCOMER WITH JUSTIN WREN, UFC ROAD TO THE OCTAGON, UFC ULTIMATE INSIDER, and the UFC EMBEDDED web series, which won the Best MMA Programming award in 2016.

Andrea Nasfell is a feature writer with over a dozen produced credits, including the television Christmas movies EVERY OTHER HOLIDAY (Lifetime) and HOLIDAY FOR HEROES (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries). She’s also the writer of theatrical comedies THE RESURRECTION OF GAVIN STONE (Blumhouse) and MOMS' NIGHT OUT (Sony Affirm), which won a Dove award for Inspirational Film of the Year. Andrea is a member of the WGA and teaches screenwriting at USC and Asbury University. She earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Spalding University.

The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective.

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Act One Podcast - Episode 42 - Interview with Director and Screenwriter, Andrew Hyatt.

Andrew Hyatt is the director and co-writer of the new film, SIGHT, starring Greg Kinnear and Terry Chen, which follows the true story of Dr. Ming Wang, a Chinese American who defies all odds to become a world-renowned eye surgeon. Drawing upon the grit and determination he gained from a turbulent uprising in his youth, Dr. Wang sets out to restore the sight of a blind orphan. The film is being released in theaters by Angels Studios on May 24th.

Andrew is the award-winning writer/director of the historical drama, Paul, Apostle of Christ, which was released by Sony Pictures and Affirm Films in 2018, starring Jim Caviezel and James Faulkner. Made for a modest budget of $5MM, the film has grossed over $26.5MM in worldwide BO. Hyatt recently co-wrote/directed The Blind, the true story of the Robertson family long before their Duck Dynasty fame, which was released in 2023 by Fathom Events, marking its strongest theatrical release and grossed 17.3MM in worldwide BO. Hyatt has been credited with paving the way towards a new genre of films termed “sacred art house.” Hyatt was awarded a 'Lifetime Achievement Award' from the National Catholic Museum of Art in Washington, DC and the film was nominated for 'Most Inspirational Film' at the 2018 GMA Dove Awards and 'Most Inspiring Film' at the 2019 MovieGuide Awards. Hyatt also received a prestigious Christopher Award in the Feature Film category at the 70th Annual Christopher Awards in 2019. Hyatt's passion is in the creation of content that is deeply personal, seeking to tell stories that delve deeper into the drama of the human condition. Exploring good and evil, truth and beauty. Hyatt's film Full of Grace is the first film in history to focus on the final days of Mary of Nazareth. Released by Cinedigm in January of 2016, the film has been screened all around the world and praised for its unique insight into the humanity of often generically portrayed historical figures. It was the winner of 'Best Screenplay' at the 2015 John Paul II International Film Festival, and the winner of 'Best Film' at the 2016 Gabriel Awards. Hyatt is an alum of Loyola Marymount University. He is represented by Heroes and Villains Entertainment.

The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective.

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Act One Podcast - Episode 41 - Interview with Director, Screenwriter and Musician, Adam Anders.

Adam is the director and co-writer of the new film, JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM, a musical adventure about the birth of Christ which is being released exclusively in theaters by Sony Pictures on November 10th.

Adam is a four-time Grammy® nominee and two-time People's Choice Award winner. For many years, he served as the executive music producer of GLEE and recently re-teamed with GLEE co-creator Ryan Murphy to produce Netflix's feature film, THE PROM. His company, Anders Media Inc., produces film and television content for global audiences. He has sold more than 100 million records and worked with artists ranging from the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus to Andy Grammar and Ceelo Green. His music has been heard in such film productions as HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, THE WEDDING PLANNER, CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS, and ROCK OF AGES. His many other credits include executive producing the television shows PERFECT HARMONY for NBC and the international hit teen musical KALLY’S MASHUP, which he created based on his own life. His credits also include executive producing the faith-based FOX live television event THE PASSION, starring Tyler Perry, which generated the #1 soundtrack on Billboard.

The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective.

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