Episode 178 - The Making and Mission of ‘Light of the World’ with John Schafer

In this episode of the Faith and Family Filmmakers podcast, Matt welcomes back director John Schafer for a deep dive into the making of "Light of the World." John shares the extraordinary journey behind this ambitious animated feature, from the unique challenges of faith-based filmmaking and the miracle of funding, to the intentional design choices and collaborative spirit that brought the story to life. Together, Matt and John discuss the business realities of Christian filmmaking, the importance of ministry goals, and the lessons learned along the way.

Highlights Include:

• Welcome and Introduction
• The Fairy Tale Funding Story
• Intentional Design: Colors, Shapes, and Cultural Connection
• Directing Animation vs. Live Action
• The Power of Collaboration in Animation
• Working With Non-Believing Crew Members
• The Business Reality of Christian Filmmaking
• Ministry Goals and Self-Distribution
• Balancing Money and Ministry
• The Challenges of Theatrical Release Timing
• Defining a Christian Filmmaker
• Where to Watch Light of the World

Bio:

John Schafer is a seasoned television producer, VFX artist, and animator with over 33 years of experience in the entertainment industry. A recipient of multiple ADDY and TELLY Awards, he is best known for his three-time EMMY-nominated work on the Christian Broadcasting Network's acclaimed CG series ‘Superbook,’ where he produced 65 episodes that reached audiences in over 123 countries and were translated into more than 60 languages.

Website: https://lightoftheworld.com/

Facebook: @LightoftheWorldMovie

Instagram: @LightoftheWorldMovie

X (formerly Twitter): @lotwmovie

TikTok: @LightoftheWorldMovie

Facebook: www.facebook.com/john.schafer

Instagram: instagram.com/jj_schafer

IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4094635/?ref_=fn_all_nme_1

LinkedIN: www.linkedin.com/in/grafxboy68

Editing by Geoffrey Whitt

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The Faith & Family Filmmakers podcast helps filmmakers who share a Christian worldview stay in touch, informed, and inspired. Releasing new episodes every week, we interview experts from varying fields of filmmaking; from screenwriters, actors, directors, and producers, to film scorers, talent agents, and distributors.

It is produced and hosted by Geoffrey Whitt and Jaclyn Whitt , and is brought to you by the Faith & Family Filmmakers Association

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