The number one thing I want to take from this film is the privileges we get in all circumstances to represent the Lord well.
This story follows the lives of two Christian individuals, married with a beautiful child that they are raising on the Judeo-Christian worldview, while at the same time struggling to apply these ethical teachings into their marriage.
The story was written this way to highlight the importance of marriage and the impacts it has on the child Athalia (which in Hebrew means God Is Exalted). It became normal for them to argue, act without communicating intent, match fire with fire without considering that being right and being understood are not the same arguments to have at the same time. Phil (the father) knew he was right, hence relegating grace needed to listen to his wife. While Racheal (Wife) felt misunderstood and didn't see the need to formulate her perspective to her husband before committing to an act.
I think more work should be done to honor the Lord in this way, where becoming one requires the bridging of the heart and the mind. In order to get there, Truth should be our goal, not a relativistic opinion but truth, truth is a person and that person is Jesus Christ.
Now Athalia has heard these arguments before and normally she would hide in her room until its safe to come out but this time, he decided to respectfully confront her parents in love by holding them accountable to the bible scripture that they were studying. Ephesians 6:10-20. At first, she was really timed but she placed it all on the line and said, "if this is true, Surely the Lord wants me to have this Armor". What makes this so amazing is, truth requires a response and this is how I correlate this story with the bible verse.
- Ephesians 6:10-14 Athalia identified that her parent's constant arguments where a demonic scheme that has to be addressed and will only happen if someone within put the armor and though faith address the schemes of the devil.
-Ephesians 6:15-17 was amazing in that, her normal routine is to stay in her room when her parents argue but understood the verse that said: "Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." she understood she could no longer wait idly by while the devil reeked Havok within their home.
- Ephesians 6:18-20 showed how she believed so deeply that she went with her bible, saw her parents arguing and came back around the corner and prayed like in verses 20 Of Ephesians, asking for boldness as she declares the word fearlessly.
Through the shared values within the home, they were now being addressed by their child, with the help of the word and the power of God. God is now Exalted through the coming together of this family.
I think this story runs deep to me, in that, in all things, there is always a better way to represent Christ. It may not come from who you thought but if we don't use that as an excuse, we can always reach those the devil has crafted schemes to deceive, to change, and come back to the Lord.
A little back Story about the process, This is my first Short film, my friend ( Alicia Thompson) told me about the contest on March 30th 2020, I wrote the story on April 08th, 2020. Storyboard provided to actors on May 1st, 2020. Shooting the Film was from May 8th - May 29th ( Shot on Saturdays ). The film was edited on June 1st 2020 - June 8th 2020. This was the process.
Thank you for your time and have a blessed day.
This is how I correlate this story with the bible verse:
- Ephesians 6:10-14 Athalia identified that her parent's constant arguments where a demonic scheme that has to be addressed and will only happen if someone within put the armor and though faith address the schemes of the devil.
-Ephesians 6:15-17 was amazing in that, her normal routine is to stay in her room when her parents argue but understood the verse that said: "Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." she understood she could no longer wait idly by while the devil reeked Havok within their home.
- Ephesians 6:18-20 showed how she believed so deeply that she went with her bible, saw her parents arguing and came back around the corner and prayed like in verses 20 Of Ephesians, asking for boldness as she declares the word fearlessly.
Through the shared values within the home, they were now being addressed by their child, with the help of the word and the power of God. God is now Exalted through the coming together of this family.
I think this story runs deep to me, in that, In all things, there is always a better way to represent Christ and it may not come from who you thought but if we don't use that as an excuse, we can always reach those the Devil is crafted schemes to deceive.
Actors:
- Athalia - Malonia Jackson
- Father - Patrick Burke
- Mother - Alicia Burke
Narrator:
- Narrator - Danielle Ervin
Lighting Assistance:
- Shawneil Thompson
- Romaine Blair
Piano:
- Alicia Thompson
Audio Assistance:
- Romaine Blair
- Sarah Blair
Director/ Editor and Cinematographer:
- Romaine Blair
Script Analysis Directors:
- Peta-Gaye McNamee
- Berris McNamee
Sound Tracks & Sound Effects Licenced by:
- Envato Elements: https://elements.envato.com/
digital copies can be purchased. I am not set on the price currently. I will get back to you with a price at a later time.
-Filmmaking
- Interviews
- Commercials
- Photography
- Story Telling films.
- Biblical Christian Weddings. (Videography)
These are the services I provide.
FADE IN:
INT. HOUSE - BEDROOM – DAY
MOTHER:
ATHALIA? ATHALIA!
(CALLING HER DAUGHTERS NAME AS SHE WALKS TOWARDS HER BEDROOM DOOR)
(MOTHER WALKS INTO THE ROOM AND CLOSES THE Curtain, covers her daughter with the sheet on the bed and walks out and closes the door.
PARENTS ARGUING
NARRATOR:
My tired eyelids took flight as the distant muffled voices of
My parents became even more pronounced, once again.
ATHALIA GOT OFF BED AND WALKED OVER TO THE DOOR.
NARRATOR:
I listened, as their differences re-armed and fired across
The bough of our Living-room floor, like glasses, breaking
Their silence.
NARRATOR:
The noise continued, it scurried the halls of our beautiful
Home, making light of my vulnerability. Hoping their emotions would dwindle away.
PARENTS CONTINUE TO ARGUE:
ABOUT THE SPENDING OF MONEY.
Father: Didi you order something on Amazon?
Mother: I did, so?
Father: why?
Mother: I needed some stuff!
Father: we really need to talk about this money thing.
Mother: I needed some stuff, I don't know what you want me to do.
(the argument continued)
NARRATOR:
It was not always like this, life was simple, grace
Abounding, we were a happy family. We used to have bible
studies together, and though I never said anything, maybe I
was too shy, or maybe my words eluded me. Nonetheless, I
learned to listen, I listened.
ATHALIA:
(ATHALIA looked across the room to the light stand see if her
bible was there, SHE walked over, didn’t see it, opened the
Drawers and found her bible. She flipped through the pages
and saw bookmark on Ephesians 6:10 that her family is
studying and began reading, while kneeling on the floor)
ATHALIA (CONT’D)
10. Finally, my brethren be strong
in the Lord, and in the power of
His might.
11. Put on the whole armor of God,
that ye may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil.
(Athalia continues to
read)
NARRATOR:
I remember reading these words and thinking, this is powerful
stuff! I mean. If this is the God I serve, surely he wants
{us} me to have this Armor, doesn’t he?.
ATHALIA’S MOTHER ANS FATHER CONTINUE TO ARGUE
FADE IN:
HOUSE - HALLWAY - DAY (CON’D)
(ATHALIA gripped the knob of the door and turned it. HER
Parents' voices less muffled. Her eyes pierced through. Bible
in left hand, she looks confident.)
(The door widens as ATHALIA
walked out towards the
Living-room)
NARRATOR:
With each step forward I Believed and trusted that God will
make this place home again. My parents love again. This was
not a fight, a fight that requires all involved to know about
it. The devil will not win and I will not be silent!
ATHALIA reaches the end of the hallway, looked around the
corner, HER parent's argument now in full flight, holding up
complaining about expenses.
(Athalia came from around the corner, stood a way off,
looked up at them, they
didn’t see her and she said:
Mom, Dad Please Stop! Don’t you remember this bible verse?
(looked into the bible.
And stated to recite
Ephesians 6:10-20)
Athalia’s Parents Sat down in the couches.
ATHALIA continued:
10. Finally, be strong in the Lord
and in his mighty power.
11. Put on the full armor of God,
so that you can take your stand
against the devil’s schemes.
As Athalia continues to read the bible out loud for the first time, her parents looked at her in shock.
Their attention fixed, watching their daughter read the bible out loud for the first time.
ATHALIA (CONT’D)
12. For our struggle is not against
flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark
world and against the spiritual
forces of evil in the heavenly
realms.
13. Therefore put on the full armor
of God, so that when the day of
evil comes, you may be able to
stand your ground and after you
have done everything, to stand.
Firm then, with the belt of truth
buckled around your waist, with the
breastplate of righteousness in
place,
As the Holy Spirit convicted their hearts with the bible verse, Athalia’s mother stood up and walked over, then her father walked over and they both hugged her and apologized to her. They looked into each other's eyes,
Motioned their lips “I love you and I’m sorry” and listed as ATHALIA continued to read.
Fade out:
THE END
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