Entertainment is big
business filled with violence,
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materialism and promiscuity...
stay tuned to find out
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how two guys are reclaiming
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the Film Industry for Christ...
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My name is Yvonne
Lewis and you're watching
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Urban Report...
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Hello and welcome
to Urban Report...
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today my guests are
David Massey and Andre Blake
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partners in Urban
Christian Entertainment...
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Welcome David and Andre...
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Welcome... Hey
Yvonne, how are you?
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Oh great... it's so
good to have you guys here
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I finally get to meet you...
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we e-mailed back and forth
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and I've never seen you...
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and I finally get
to see you today...
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it's great to match
your face to the voice
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Likewise... same
here... same here...
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Yeah, we're just happy to
be a guest on Urban Report...
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Yes, yes, yeah... because we've
talked but we've never met...
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Tell me, first of all, what
is Urban Christian Entertainment
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tell us what that is...
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Urban Christian
Entertainment is a professional
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Production Company and we...
kind of came up with the idea...
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David is in the Film Industry
on a day-to-day basis...
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and I'm kind of on the periphery
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and we met some years
ago and came up with the idea
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that we wanted to put a
product out there that...
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really we can be proud of...
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when you look at
many of the films that are
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being made today and
over the last several years
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some of the ways that
they were portraying the youth
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and many of the
different situations...
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the various decisions
that they were making...
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we weren't necessarily
all that happy with...
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while some of it
may be realistic...
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there are other
choices that they can make...
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and there are other consequences
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good and bad
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that can come about
as a result of that...
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so that's how it
kind of came about...
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And we really wanted,
Yvonne, to supply the youth
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our audience with
alternative movie choices...
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that would bring
them closer to God...
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and at the same time
achieve personal growth...
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so our movies
offer... spiritual solutions
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through the following
methods of empowerment...
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we want to engage
our youth to develop
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Christian behavior and conduct,
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we want to inspire the youth
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to reach their
fullest potential...
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by
demonstrating responsibilities
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and duties to
themselves their family...
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and the Community...
and we also wanted to offer
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unsaved youth...
moral choices that would
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bring them closer to God...
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This is so good...
and it's so important...
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I've seen your films and I see
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that you are doing just
that... all the goals that you
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are talking about...
you're doing just that...
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and it's so... it's
so great because like
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you were saying Andre...
while these scenes that we see
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might be realistic...
we want to offer them
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better alternatives as
you were saying David...
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we want to give
them something better...
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something different
and yet use the medium
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of the movies... I
mean, why not use films...
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people are looking for
Christian entertainment...
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and so... and movies
that... films that inspire...
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not just entertain
but inspire as well...
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so that is really, really good,
let me switch gears a little bit
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and find out a little
bit more about you guys
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Andre just said that
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David is in the Film Industry...
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tell us David... what do
you do in the Film Industry...
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Well, for the
past 15 to 20 years,
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I have produced
documentaries and short films
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and worked on commercials...
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I have shot 2
documentaries in Africa...
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one... I shot in Ghana on
the Women's Movement in Africa
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and I'm a
product of Film School...
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The America Film
Institute years ago...
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and I have a short film entitled
"The Last Breeze of Summer"
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that was nominated
for an Academy Award...
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in the Live
Action Shot Category...
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Wow! congratulations...
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Andre has been a little...
when he says peripheral...
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Andre has some
credits to his name also...
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Andre has worked at Disney...
in Marketing for what...
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about 15 years?
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Ten years in the Finance
Accounting Department doing...
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supporting some of
the marketing ventures
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and what have you...
so, I've always kind of
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had my hands close to Film...
but David is the real expert so
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See, when we call them "Suits"
because he has the "Suit"
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He has the suits... yeah...
I like it... I like it...
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and so you guys...
how did you hook up...
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how did you join ventures?
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We'll give you the short version
but we have family ties...
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but we ended up
going to the same Church...
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and found out...
about our family ties...
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and then we started talking...
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and as our interests
kind of became known...
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we just drew closer together
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not only in terms of our
interests but as friends also...
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so, it's been about
12 years since we met...
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And, you know, we
are parents also...
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and so... as we were
having these discussions
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after Church about the
lack of material out there,
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for our Youth to
watch... we just said,
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"You know what... we
have the skill set...
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why keep complaining about it,
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let's do something about it...
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and so... we tried our
first hand at a short film
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called, "Keeping the
Sabbath" and it was about a
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High School
Basketball player, whose game
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happens to end
up on the Sabbath...
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and it's a Championship Game...
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he plays on the summer league
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so most of the games
were on Sunday and Monday...
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but the Championship
Game had to be moved to
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the Sabbath... and
that was our first venture
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and after that... we
decided... and we came up
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with some other topics
always trying to address
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what Youth are going through...
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and some of the issues
that they are confronting...
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and that's when we came
up with four other titles...
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Higher Note... Taking A Stand...
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The Spiritual Divide...
and Thing for the Bling...
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You know what's so
great is that you guys
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have taken your gifts
at what you do for a living
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and you are really
taking those same gifts
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and using them for the
Lord, and that's is just...
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that's so wonderful
because there's such a need
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for what you're doing...
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there's such a need
for really good quality
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entertainment... and
films that inspire...
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tell us a little bit about the
themes of each of these movies
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you just talked a little
bit about keeping the Sabbath...
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what is "The
Spiritual Divide" about?
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Well, our
protagonist is Jenny Harris
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she lost her husband
due to a sudden heart attack
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and she becomes
financially disadvantaged...
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and so... consequently...
she's forced to relocate
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to Los Angeles...
with her sister...
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and she's a single mother
now... she has a young daughter
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and a young son...
and her sister also is
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married to a doctor or a lawyer
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and she also has two children
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and so the kids are
around the same age...
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but the family... when
they move in with the sister
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you find out that
the one sister has...
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what's the best word to use...
backslidden a little bit...
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and so we really
set up a situation where
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Jenny who raised her children
in a Christian environment,
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she wasn't really prepared
for the head-on collision
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when the secular world and
the Christian world collide...
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Hmmm... Hmmm... and
so, we kind of take the
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two families...
and we mirror through
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some of the scenarios...
how the Christian families
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handle some of the dilemmas
and issues that they run into...
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and how the
family... let's just say...
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that's not going to
Church on a regular basis
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or does not have that
relationship with God...
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how they handle the
situations, that is so good...
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again it's a situation
that... where people can
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kind of see themselves... and
that's really, really important
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and that's what I
noticed... in your films...
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you set up... kind of a
conflict-resolution-type deal
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and that's so
good... because you show...
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just how people can
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find a way out as well...
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and another thing
that you have that's great
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you have the Study Guides
that accompany your films...
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so that... if Churches
and Youth groups want to
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use these films...
as jumping-off places
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for dialogue...
they can do that...
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tell us about the Study Guides
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and how that came to be...
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Andre... tell us about that...
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So, one of the first
things that we noticed
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as we were doing
our films... was that...
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a lot of our Youth
don't necessarily have
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a lot of engaging
dialogue with adults...
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they have with other youth...
and then when they do talk
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to many of the adults...
it's not necessarily a very
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comfortable or very
sharing-type situation...
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so, we felt that we needed
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some type of a
catalyst and so the Study Guide
00:09:49.89\00:09:52.24
can be broken into
four different parts...
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four different
lessons if you will...
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and so... the
first lesson is really
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an attempt like a Film 101
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where you go
through and identify
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some of the main characters...
who's the protagonist,
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who's the antagonist,
what's the theme of the film...
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so it kind of gets the
audience... the youth grounded
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in terms of the key
elements of the film...
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and then the second...
the next two lessons...
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two and three...
really what we do is...
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we highlight various
scenes that bring about
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certain themes...
within the film...
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and then we have
discussion points...
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questions as well as
Biblical references...
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for those scenes... and then...
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the last section...
which we call "e-skills"
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and "e" stands for
Evangelism, what we do is
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we go out and we
put other youth on film
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after they've watched the film
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or they've discussed the film...
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and we get
questions from them...
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because we want
realistic questions
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from other youth...
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because when many of
our Church-attending youth
00:10:56.97\00:11:01.30
they're in School or
various situations...
00:11:01.33\00:11:04.22
they're getting asked
questions every day...
00:11:04.26\00:11:07.11
especially if
they're comfortable
00:11:07.15\00:11:08.73
showing their faith...
and so... when those questions
00:11:08.77\00:11:11.61
are posed... we
leave it up to the student
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to answer those questions
in a very realistic way...
00:11:14.80\00:11:19.21
and that gives them
the opportunity to really
00:11:19.24\00:11:21.43
try to hone their skills...
and build their confidence
00:11:21.46\00:11:24.57
in terms of what
they really believe...
00:11:24.60\00:11:26.09
and so... those are the four
sections of the Study Guide...
00:11:26.12\00:11:30.22
Wow! this is
so... I'm loving this
00:11:30.25\00:11:33.47
because this is so
important that our youth can
00:11:33.50\00:11:37.02
not only learn more about...
00:11:37.06\00:11:38.93
about the Lord and about just...
00:11:38.97\00:11:42.35
living the
Christian life... it's like
00:11:42.38\00:11:44.31
"Practical Christianity"
00:11:44.34\00:11:45.81
so they can
actually apply these things
00:11:45.84\00:11:48.77
but not only that...
they can then share it...
00:11:48.81\00:11:51.33
so then they get
involved in evangelism...
00:11:51.37\00:11:54.39
on a larger scale...
and that is just so...
00:11:54.43\00:11:57.12
that is so
important for our young people
00:11:57.15\00:11:59.78
to be able to...
not just to know Jesus
00:11:59.82\00:12:01.75
for themselves... but
then to share Jesus...
00:12:01.79\00:12:04.09
that is such a great
thing... what are some of the
00:12:04.13\00:12:06.80
challenges that you guys
face with what you're doing?
00:12:06.83\00:12:10.62
Well, I would say, right
now, our biggest challenge is
00:12:10.66\00:12:14.41
really getting
the word out there
00:12:14.45\00:12:16.88
and getting our brand out there,
00:12:16.92\00:12:19.28
not having the public view
us as just a film company...
00:12:19.32\00:12:24.44
we really feel that
we're offering tools...
00:12:24.47\00:12:27.16
Hmmm... we feel
that we're offering
00:12:27.20\00:12:29.17
opportunity for... if
you just take the family
00:12:29.21\00:12:32.79
setting... for parents and their
00:12:32.83\00:12:35.18
children to have
dialogue... to discuss
00:12:35.21\00:12:38.83
many of the things...
hopefully in a comfortable way
00:12:38.86\00:12:41.89
that many are facing...
00:12:41.93\00:12:43.88
and then, possibly
come up with answers...
00:12:43.92\00:12:46.43
or at least be more comfortable
00:12:46.46\00:12:47.97
in looking for
answers... and so, that's really
00:12:48.01\00:12:51.39
it's an experience
that hopefully will
00:12:51.42\00:12:53.99
will kind of fold into the
naturally flow of family life
00:12:54.02\00:12:57.45
and that's really what
we want to get out there...
00:12:57.48\00:13:01.71
Yeah, we're trying to...
we're trying to get it to
00:13:01.75\00:13:04.98
Youth Leaders...
anybody who deals with the Youth
00:13:05.01\00:13:08.21
because we feel
that these movies
00:13:08.24\00:13:11.57
with the Study Guides
work on a number of...
00:13:11.61\00:13:15.07
in a number of
venues... AY... Adventist Youth
00:13:15.11\00:13:18.57
we have one Church
that's using it to actually
00:13:18.60\00:13:22.03
bring in... some
of the Community Youth
00:13:22.06\00:13:26.13
who are not maybe going
to Church on a regular basis
00:13:26.17\00:13:29.06
or have a
relationship with the Lord,
00:13:29.10\00:13:30.70
and so they're
actually having Movie Nights...
00:13:30.74\00:13:33.81
and then...
using the Study Guide
00:13:33.84\00:13:36.32
to introduce
Christ... to these Youth who are
00:13:36.36\00:13:41.51
who are in the Community and
00:13:41.54\00:13:43.50
or maybe be live
around the Church
00:13:43.53\00:13:45.50
but maybe don't
attend the Church...
00:13:45.54\00:13:47.91
Oh, that is
great... that is great...
00:13:47.94\00:13:50.29
Thank you so much
for being with us...
00:13:50.33\00:13:52.61
tell us quickly how
can our people contact you
00:13:52.64\00:13:56.40
if they want your films
to be shown in their Churches
00:13:56.44\00:14:00.21
how can they contact you...
00:14:00.25\00:14:01.36
Well, our website is
UCEmoviesthatmatter. com
00:14:01.39\00:14:09.99
Great... So, that's
00:14:10.02\00:14:11.22
UCEmoviesthatmatter. com
Great... thank you so much
00:14:11.26\00:14:15.28
may God bless you...
we're going to be showing
00:14:15.31\00:14:17.64
your movies... your
films on Dare to Dream...
00:14:17.67\00:14:19.96
so, we want our
viewers to stay tuned...
00:14:20.00\00:14:23.26
know that we're going
to be showing their movies
00:14:23.29\00:14:27.13
UCE movies on Dare to
Dream, so watch the website
00:14:27.16\00:14:31.14
to find out when and
where... Thank you again...
00:14:31.17\00:14:35.99
We are really blessed today
00:14:36.02\00:14:39.42
to also have with us
00:14:39.46\00:14:41.73
Cordell Thomas... the
Host of "Take it to the Bank"
00:14:41.77\00:14:45.59
Come on up
Cordell... come and join us...
00:14:45.63\00:14:48.66
So nice to have you...
00:14:48.70\00:14:50.92
It's good to be
here... good to be here...
00:14:50.96\00:14:52.29
Cordell, you are taping...
you just came from your taping
00:14:52.32\00:14:56.81
you're a busy man... I'd
like to think so, yes, yes.
00:14:56.85\00:15:00.70
You just came from
taping Take it to the Bank
00:15:00.73\00:15:02.84
your second season
here... with Dare to Dream...
00:15:02.87\00:15:06.13
and one of the things I
wanted to ask you about...
00:15:06.16\00:15:09.38
and you just
talked about it today...
00:15:09.41\00:15:11.67
is that whole idea of
the poverty industry...
00:15:11.71\00:15:15.50
and how... these
larger institutions
00:15:15.53\00:15:19.17
take advantage of...
00:15:19.20\00:15:21.50
of the poor...
00:15:21.53\00:15:22.76
could you tell
us a bit about that
00:15:22.80\00:15:24.99
and then I'll talk
to you some more...
00:15:25.03\00:15:27.19
but just... tell us a bit about
00:15:27.22\00:15:28.71
how the poor are
taken advantage of
00:15:28.75\00:15:31.90
by these larger industries...
00:15:31.93\00:15:33.26
It's interesting... the
variety of different ways
00:15:33.30\00:15:35.61
you would consider
that our institutions
00:15:35.64\00:15:37.95
would look out for the
poor in a more dramatic way
00:15:37.98\00:15:40.52
but they don't...
we look at banks that
00:15:40.55\00:15:42.11
are looking more so
at profitable customers
00:15:42.15\00:15:45.33
they are looking now...
there's a recent article
00:15:45.37\00:15:48.17
that came out that said
that... Banks are now targeting
00:15:48.21\00:15:50.81
individuals that
have a 100,000 dollars
00:15:50.84\00:15:53.10
worth of investments and
or assets with that Bank...
00:15:53.13\00:15:55.14
they think that
they're more profitable
00:15:55.18\00:15:56.98
and they're
looking at finding new ways
00:15:57.02\00:15:58.76
to charge customers that
have lower Bank-account levels
00:15:58.79\00:16:05.51
in their accounts...
so, you find that they're
00:16:05.55\00:16:07.55
trying to...
they're businesses...
00:16:07.58\00:16:08.62
they are there to make
money and they're looking
00:16:08.65\00:16:10.74
at different ways of
finding ways to make money
00:16:10.77\00:16:12.84
and it doesn't seem
fair... that they're looking at
00:16:12.87\00:16:15.73
those that are in poverty
to make the money off of...
00:16:15.76\00:16:18.27
it's a large industry...
00:16:18.31\00:16:19.49
It is... one of the
things that I noticed is like...
00:16:19.52\00:16:22.41
when I go to certain areas
00:16:22.45\00:16:24.42
of the Country...
the Urban areas...
00:16:24.45\00:16:26.86
you can find a liquor store
00:16:26.89\00:16:28.72
on almost every corner,
you know... pawn shops...
00:16:28.76\00:16:32.23
all of these
different... Rent-a-Centers...
00:16:32.26\00:16:34.91
for furniture...
and I just think that
00:16:34.95\00:16:37.82
the poor are taken advantage
of, because they're poor...
00:16:37.86\00:16:41.96
what are some of
the ideas that you have
00:16:41.99\00:16:46.38
about just changing
your current circumstances...
00:16:46.41\00:16:50.74
how can you... you
look at where you are...
00:16:50.78\00:16:52.97
how can you move
from where you are...
00:16:53.01\00:16:55.77
to another level?
How can you do it?
00:16:55.80\00:16:58.52
There are two ways...
one... I ask people to do is...
00:16:58.56\00:17:00.89
change the way
they think... Hmmm...
00:17:00.93\00:17:01.97
don't look at yourself
00:17:02.00\00:17:03.20
as a part of the
Poverty Industry...
00:17:03.23\00:17:04.41
look at yourself as
a "work in progress"
00:17:04.44\00:17:06.51
Okay... and then
once you begin to think
00:17:06.55\00:17:08.68
of how God thinks of
you as an individual...
00:17:08.72\00:17:11.37
then you begin to
understand that if I look at
00:17:11.40\00:17:14.01
where I am currently...
then I can develop a roadmap
00:17:14.05\00:17:16.79
to where I want to
be... there was an article
00:17:16.82\00:17:18.70
that I shared a couple of
times now... that talks about,
00:17:18.74\00:17:21.80
"Poverty is an
Industry that lasts
00:17:21.83\00:17:23.66
over the span of generations"
so if we don't stop that
00:17:23.70\00:17:26.89
right now... then it will last
for several other generations...
00:17:26.93\00:17:31.63
Like a cycle of poverty...
It's a cycle... yes it is...
00:17:31.66\00:17:33.55
Okay... so you
change the way you think...
00:17:33.58\00:17:36.18
Hmmm... hmmm... and
what does that mean exactly
00:17:36.21\00:17:38.61
to change the way I
think... like... I mean...
00:17:38.64\00:17:41.01
how can I change
the way I think...
00:17:41.04\00:17:42.64
I'm just... you know
figuring it out myself...
00:17:42.68\00:17:44.35
No many people...
that's a very good question
00:17:44.38\00:17:46.01
because it's not
really theoretical
00:17:46.05\00:17:48.99
it's... if you change
the way you perceive yourself
00:17:49.02\00:17:51.71
Ah... Look at
yourself more as a gift
00:17:51.74\00:17:55.01
of God... God is looking
at you as a special person
00:17:55.05\00:17:58.59
but then... it takes more than
just thinking that I'm better...
00:17:58.63\00:18:02.37
it's says, "I'm a
work in progress... "
00:18:02.41\00:18:03.58
so "work in progress" means
that there are different steps
00:18:03.62\00:18:05.71
I have to take... to
get through that roadmap
00:18:05.74\00:18:08.36
I say... if you
have a destination,
00:18:08.40\00:18:10.48
then you want to start
saving 500 dollars a year...
00:18:10.51\00:18:13.43
a 1,000 dollars a year, it
means that you have to have
00:18:13.47\00:18:17.18
your budget in place...
00:18:17.22\00:18:19.41
assess where you're at
from a debt standpoint...
00:18:19.45\00:18:21.35
and I hammer this home...
00:18:21.38\00:18:22.41
Hmmm... hmmm... if
you don't have a budget
00:18:22.45\00:18:23.79
you really don't
know where you're at...
00:18:23.82\00:18:25.09
and that means you
don't know where you're going.
00:18:25.12\00:18:26.88
That is so true...
you know... okay...
00:18:26.91\00:18:29.67
so a lot of people...
including yours truly...
00:18:29.70\00:18:33.08
just kind of resist that
whole concept of a budget
00:18:33.12\00:18:36.32
but if you don't have
a budget, how do you know
00:18:36.36\00:18:39.49
what you have left...
once you've paid your bills...
00:18:39.53\00:18:43.09
you don't even know...
you're just kind of going flying
00:18:43.13\00:18:46.65
by the seat of your
pants... so, you're saying
00:18:46.69\00:18:48.70
that one of the first
things you really need to do...
00:18:48.74\00:18:50.68
is... do a
budget... and you said...
00:18:50.72\00:18:53.65
I saw you on
Take it to the Bank...
00:18:53.69\00:18:56.59
you also said that a budget is
00:18:56.62\00:18:59.52
your income minus your
expenses equals your budget...
00:18:59.55\00:19:05.33
Correct? A budget
is basically looking at
00:19:05.37\00:19:07.50
yes... I look at... exactly
how much money I bring in
00:19:07.53\00:19:10.86
Hmmm... hmmm...
I pay check order
00:19:10.90\00:19:11.97
or what the case may
be on a monthly basis...
00:19:12.00\00:19:13.35
Hmmm... hmmm...
then I look at...
00:19:13.39\00:19:14.47
how much money I
spend on a monthly basis...
00:19:14.51\00:19:16.91
and the money that
I have thereafter...
00:19:16.94\00:19:18.87
gives you an idea
of where you're at...
00:19:18.91\00:19:20.81
and that is
basically a budget...
00:19:20.84\00:19:22.81
I know where I'm at now,
now and if I spend more...
00:19:22.85\00:19:25.73
and that's a major problem
that people don't realize
00:19:25.77\00:19:28.27
is they're overspending
and there are warning signs
00:19:28.30\00:19:30.77
it means that I'm overspending
00:19:30.81\00:19:32.99
I don't have money right
now so I'll charge gas...
00:19:33.02\00:19:35.78
or I'll charge an expenditure
to buy clothes for the kids...
00:19:35.81\00:19:39.32
Hmmm... and that
shouldn't be the case
00:19:39.35\00:19:40.96
you are putting off
payment of something now
00:19:41.00\00:19:43.50
because you don't have the
funds to pay for it in cash...
00:19:43.54\00:19:46.91
So, that's a
warning sign right there...
00:19:46.95\00:19:48.53
It's a warning sign...
that when you're using your
00:19:48.56\00:19:50.14
credit card to buy food or gas
00:19:50.17\00:19:51.87
or whatever... Hmmm... hmmm...
00:19:51.90\00:19:53.56
that's a warning sign...
00:19:53.59\00:19:54.99
It's a warning sign... it tells
you that there is a concern
00:19:55.02\00:19:58.45
and then secondarily...
many people who are doing well,
00:19:58.48\00:20:01.87
don't carry or
don't maintain budgets...
00:20:01.91\00:20:04.41
they wing it...
because I know that I'm making
00:20:04.45\00:20:06.70
more than I'm spending...
so, I don't need a budget...
00:20:06.73\00:20:10.17
Hmmm... hmmm...
and then in the end...
00:20:10.21\00:20:12.11
the Bank will tell
me how much I have...
00:20:12.14\00:20:14.01
Right... but...
Banks make mistakes
00:20:14.04\00:20:16.14
more than people
realize... Ahh...
00:20:16.18\00:20:18.21
so it is incumbent
upon you... to make sure
00:20:18.25\00:20:20.81
you're reconciling your
Bank accounts on a monthly basis
00:20:20.84\00:20:23.04
You know what...
that is so true...
00:20:23.08\00:20:24.19
because... let me
tell you a quick story...
00:20:24.23\00:20:26.66
you know... they have
this organizer thing...
00:20:26.69\00:20:29.52
I'm not going to
say... what or anything...
00:20:29.55\00:20:32.31
I won't say the brand...
but... you get a 30-day trial...
00:20:32.34\00:20:36.37
and then they start
charging you monthly...
00:20:36.41\00:20:39.81
well, I got one for me
and one for a friend...
00:20:39.84\00:20:43.17
and they hit my account
00:20:43.21\00:20:47.16
several times in one month...
00:20:47.20\00:20:49.20
and I was horrified...
because I'm always looking
00:20:49.24\00:20:51.90
on on-line
banking all the time...
00:20:51.94\00:20:53.40
just to check and see...
where I am... and all that...
00:20:53.43\00:20:56.67
they hit my account...
over and over again...
00:20:56.70\00:20:59.46
and I called them and
said, "You guys have charged me
00:20:59.49\00:21:01.62
300 or 400 dollars
so far this month...
00:21:01.65\00:21:03.94
for this one thing...
I'm supposed to get...
00:21:03.97\00:21:06.94
the payments are supposed
to come out twice a month...
00:21:06.98\00:21:09.47
one for the first one...
in the beginning of the month
00:21:09.50\00:21:11.95
and then... at
the end of the month
00:21:11.99\00:21:13.27
they were hitting my
account several times a month
00:21:13.30\00:21:15.54
and if I weren't
monitoring that I would be there
00:21:15.58\00:21:18.88
writing checks with
insufficient funds...
00:21:18.92\00:21:22.80
or using my card and
getting embarrassed...
00:21:22.83\00:21:25.75
so, one thing that you
must do is check that...
00:21:25.79\00:21:28.15
if you're online...
doing online banking...
00:21:28.19\00:21:30.89
you have to check
that account consistently
00:21:30.93\00:21:33.29
because the Banks
will make mistakes...
00:21:33.33\00:21:35.62
Yes, they will...
they will make mistakes...
00:21:35.66\00:21:38.28
What about those who
are considered "poor"
00:21:38.31\00:21:40.68
and they have credit
cards... what would you
00:21:40.72\00:21:43.05
what would you tell them to do
00:21:43.08\00:21:44.55
as far as using those
credit cards is concerned?
00:21:44.58\00:21:47.27
Well, I'd say... the
first thing I would do is
00:21:47.30\00:21:49.55
say... "You have credit
cards, I would hope that
00:21:49.58\00:21:51.86
you don't have them all
maxed out to the limits... "
00:21:51.89\00:21:53.96
that's number
one... because what we see
00:21:53.99\00:21:56.83
is a cycle that you
spend money on interest
00:21:56.86\00:21:59.04
and of course... if
you miss a payment...
00:21:59.07\00:22:01.22
the interest
rate goes up, Hmmm...
00:22:01.25\00:22:03.37
you're dealing with more on
paying back that credit card
00:22:03.41\00:22:07.30
than you can
pretty much handle...
00:22:07.33\00:22:08.60
if you have a budget
you understand how much
00:22:08.63\00:22:10.65
money is going out to
pay for credit card payments,
00:22:10.69\00:22:12.39
and then you can
see... I'm paying 40 percent
00:22:12.43\00:22:15.25
of my total income
on credit card bills
00:22:15.28\00:22:18.37
as opposed to having that money
00:22:18.40\00:22:20.60
to put towards the typical
expenses that I would need...
00:22:20.63\00:22:23.50
It's really important to
be proactive... isn't it...
00:22:23.54\00:22:26.37
and not reactive? You
know, it's a difficulty
00:22:26.41\00:22:28.65
when you talk about
under-served Communities...
00:22:28.68\00:22:30.85
and you talk to individuals
in these Communities...
00:22:30.89\00:22:32.61
I have sat in Welfare Offices
00:22:32.64\00:22:34.42
I have sat in...
doing my due diligence
00:22:34.46\00:22:36.54
to find out what's going
on in those environments...
00:22:36.58\00:22:39.17
it's pretty horrendous
how people are treated...
00:22:39.21\00:22:41.63
when they are under-served
or perceived as poor...
00:22:41.66\00:22:44.05
Hmmm... hmmm... so
we try to change the
00:22:44.08\00:22:45.46
labels of these
individuals... you're not really
00:22:45.50\00:22:47.54
a "poor individual"
you're just an individual
00:22:47.58\00:22:49.57
that's a
work-in-progress... Hmmm...
00:22:49.60\00:22:51.16
if you will take a moment...
00:22:51.19\00:22:52.77
and assess
where you're at now...
00:22:52.80\00:22:54.53
how much money do
you have coming into your
00:22:54.57\00:22:57.68
household? And
they'll find out that it's
00:22:57.72\00:22:59.78
actually a little bit
more than they think it is...
00:22:59.82\00:23:01.44
if you talk with the
kids... if you talk to the...
00:23:01.48\00:23:03.06
everyone that's
in that household...
00:23:03.10\00:23:04.97
and then... let's take a
look at how much is going out...
00:23:05.00\00:23:06.97
people don't realize
how much is going out...
00:23:07.00\00:23:08.77
and once you understand
that you can make adjustments
00:23:08.80\00:23:12.56
and cut back in this area...
00:23:12.59\00:23:14.32
many people have cell phones,
00:23:14.35\00:23:16.21
and land lines...
00:23:16.25\00:23:17.81
do you need both...
ask yourself the question
00:23:17.85\00:23:20.06
because typically
they're going to reach you
00:23:20.09\00:23:22.27
one way or the other...
many people may not need cable
00:23:22.31\00:23:25.80
they may want to watch TV
00:23:25.83\00:23:28.07
instead of bringing that bill
00:23:28.10\00:23:29.30
they can watch it on
hulu. com because they have many
00:23:29.33\00:23:31.73
different resources
to do it... or 3abn. org
00:23:31.76\00:23:33.76
Yes... indeed...
or D2Dnetwork. tv
00:23:33.79\00:23:36.90
or Dare to Dream network
00:23:36.93\00:23:38.20
and I think you can actually
pull up those TV channels
00:23:38.23\00:23:40.19
on hulu Yes... Yes, indeed...
00:23:40.23\00:23:41.37
so, the context is...
if we assess where we're at
00:23:41.41\00:23:44.46
and understand what we
can to bring ourselves in line
00:23:44.50\00:23:47.70
with finances... and you can
start by saving a $100 a month
00:23:47.74\00:23:51.76
and then... grow that...
it's amazing what happens
00:23:51.80\00:23:55.41
when you're able to
be successful one month
00:23:55.45\00:23:57.67
Hmmm... and two
months... and I give you
00:23:57.70\00:23:59.85
the 21-day Program...
if you can assess yourself
00:23:59.89\00:24:03.96
and maintain a process
of managing a budget...
00:24:03.99\00:24:07.73
and watching every
single expense you put out
00:24:07.76\00:24:11.46
I would ask you to
do it for a week...
00:24:11.50\00:24:13.34
it's amazing
where the money goes...
00:24:13.37\00:24:15.15
You don't even know right...
I mean, sometimes you just don't
00:24:15.18\00:24:18.88
I noticed that...
especially some of my relatives
00:24:18.91\00:24:25.10
that are younger
mothers... they'll go to...
00:24:25.14\00:24:27.94
I won't say the name
of the fast-food chain...
00:24:27.97\00:24:31.69
they'll go to a
fast-food chain and buy "dinner"
00:24:31.73\00:24:35.15
for their kids...
and spend way more
00:24:35.19\00:24:37.36
than they would have spent
if they had just cooked the meal
00:24:37.39\00:24:39.75
That's correct... it
just adds up... so quickly
00:24:39.79\00:24:42.38
And then you're
dealing with a cycle though
00:24:42.41\00:24:44.93
because they would have to
then grab a bus and go about
00:24:44.96\00:24:48.63
10 to 15 miles... for a
location that has a store
00:24:48.66\00:24:55.68
or a chain that
has healthy foods...
00:24:55.72\00:24:57.66
vegetables and fruits
and those types of things...
00:24:57.70\00:24:59.85
Right... instead
what we're finding
00:24:59.89\00:25:01.03
is that... they're
walking down the streets
00:25:01.06\00:25:02.37
and sending their kids to a
liquor store down the street
00:25:02.40\00:25:04.92
or whatever... or
the "Stop-and-Go Mart"
00:25:04.95\00:25:07.71
or whatever they have...
those Marts at the gas stations
00:25:07.74\00:25:10.22
and buying the
things that are there...
00:25:10.25\00:25:11.64
and they are buying the
foods that are not as healthy
00:25:11.68\00:25:13.89
and spending a lot
more for those foods...
00:25:13.93\00:25:15.88
Yes... so they're in a difficult
00:25:15.91\00:25:17.08
situation... Yes...
00:25:17.11\00:25:18.21
but there are things
that are happening right now
00:25:18.25\00:25:21.10
there's a non-profit in Chicago
00:25:21.14\00:25:22.34
that she's just developed
a process where it's bringing
00:25:22.38\00:25:26.82
the quality foods to
Communities on a bus...
00:25:26.85\00:25:29.66
Oh... so, we're
having these major
00:25:29.70\00:25:31.58
make-overs of buses...
that are carrying fresh fruits,
00:25:31.61\00:25:34.52
and vegetables
into those Communities
00:25:34.55\00:25:36.51
and look for that... now..
because you will have access to
00:25:36.54\00:25:39.87
more healthy foods and the
like very soon, I'm sure...
00:25:39.90\00:25:42.92
Oh, that's so important
because some of these stores
00:25:42.95\00:25:45.94
if you go into
the local stores...
00:25:45.97\00:25:47.77
the produce is terrible
00:25:47.80\00:25:49.21
I mean, it's not
fresh... and we have, of course,
00:25:49.25\00:25:52.84
I have to say this
about Dare to Dream...
00:25:52.88\00:25:54.70
we have "A Taste of
Paradise" which deals with
00:25:54.74\00:25:58.43
raw-food preparation...
and lots of produce
00:25:58.46\00:26:01.65
fresh fruits and
vegetables but if you live
00:26:01.68\00:26:04.83
in the urban
centers... a lot of times
00:26:04.87\00:26:07.60
you don't have access to those
fresh fruits and vegetables
00:26:07.63\00:26:10.36
so, now, you're telling us...
that there is a whole new...
00:26:10.39\00:26:13.08
a bus that's going to
be coming through different
00:26:13.12\00:26:16.45
urban centers with
fresh produce and good foods
00:26:16.48\00:26:19.78
and people will be
able to access that...
00:26:19.81\00:26:22.25
That's correct...
that is so great...
00:26:22.28\00:26:23.63
before we
close... is there anything
00:26:23.67\00:26:26.78
that you would like to
share with those that are
00:26:26.82\00:26:30.55
a work-in-progress...
to let them know
00:26:30.58\00:26:32.85
the importance of giving... and
giving in tithes and offerings
00:26:32.88\00:26:37.33
even if they
only have 20 dollars
00:26:37.36\00:26:39.26
sharing that...
giving that back to the Lord
00:26:39.30\00:26:42.14
giving... and also donating to
00:26:42.18\00:26:44.94
different Organizations
such as Dare to Dream...
00:26:44.97\00:26:47.67
but not just Dare to Dream
00:26:47.71\00:26:48.94
but the importance of giving...
00:26:48.98\00:26:51.03
The importance of giving
comes from a dramatic experience
00:26:51.06\00:26:53.90
I had with a more mature
lady over in the Midwest...
00:26:53.94\00:26:57.81
Hmmm... hmmm...
but what the story is
00:26:57.85\00:27:00.11
that she was on a fixed
income, she had retired...
00:27:00.15\00:27:02.48
Hmmm... hmmm... and
basically had figured
00:27:02.52\00:27:04.52
a way that she can
continue her giving
00:27:04.55\00:27:06.48
on a yearly basis
even on a fixed income...
00:27:06.52\00:27:08.78
and what she did was...
00:27:08.81\00:27:09.89
she chose to shut
down areas of the house
00:27:09.92\00:27:11.78
that she doesn't use...
during the winter time...
00:27:11.82\00:27:14.63
and save that money on
the gas and use that to pay...
00:27:14.67\00:27:17.45
now the importance of
tithe is not about you
00:27:17.48\00:27:20.97
or about God...
it's about that giving...
00:27:21.00\00:27:24.42
the importance is...
getting into the idea
00:27:24.45\00:27:27.79
of giving back... Hmmm...
00:27:27.83\00:27:29.08
it starts the
mentality of saving
00:27:29.12\00:27:31.15
and making sure you're
supporting those things
00:27:31.18\00:27:33.84
that God wants you to support
00:27:33.87\00:27:35.58
and those things that
help His Kingdom succeed...
00:27:35.61\00:27:38.77
Wow... you know I
can keep you here all day
00:27:38.81\00:27:41.25
but we've got to
go... thank you so much
00:27:41.29\00:27:43.66
for being with us...
I'm honored to be here...
00:27:43.70\00:27:44.87
and make sure you come
back... I will... I promise...
00:27:44.90\00:27:47.50
Well, that's it...
you've heard from our guests
00:27:47.53\00:27:51.39
from the Film
Industry and Cordell Thomas...
00:27:51.42\00:27:55.22
with our money
management, thank you so much
00:27:55.25\00:27:58.98
for being with us today...
we are so blessed to have you...
00:27:59.01\00:28:02.44
You know... that it
wouldn't be the same...
00:28:02.47\00:28:04.83
without you...
00:28:04.86\00:28:06.41