1615.tv is in pre-production on its first feature film called I AM. “We have an all-star cast and crew.” says Executive Producer Jess Stainbrook about the team that is being assembled to work on this project over the next year or so. “We knew we wanted to be in the entertainment business as part of our ministry by producing inspiring and positive films. We just didn’t know it would happen so fast.” The story of how the project came to 1615.tv is inspirational in itself.
Back in 2002, a student just out of film school came to Jess while he was still the General Manager of DC8. The student, Matthew Dean Russell, spoke of his passion for telling stories and his dream to go into Hollywood and create films that would change the way people saw Hollywood. And Matt wanted to learn all he could. So Jess took him under his wing in an internship and gave him free reign in the production elements. Within the year, Matt had been involved of lots of programs for television and produced/directed and shot a wide variety of creative projects. Matt was even nominated for an Emmy Award for his documentary called “Veterans Among Us.” Matt came to Jess and declared that he was “ready” and he headed off to Hollywood.
Fast forward. Jess receives a call from Matt, now a Visual FX specialist and tells Jess about a screenplay he has written and how he was offered $400,000 for it. “All I could think of” says Stainbrook, “is why are you calling me?!!!!” Matt went on to say that he felt really strongly that if it was worth that much in Hollywood, it must be a pretty good story and rather than take the money, he wanted to see it through to the big screen. Another long pause, and then Matt said straight out, I want you to produce it for me.” And so here we are, a few short months after that conversation, in the midst of making our first feature film.
Click here to meet the cast and crew
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