Director of Photography, Randy Sellars, reflects on filming these powerful moments.
When I first signed on to Heart of Mercy, I was looking forward to collaborating on a period narrative. It turned out to be so much more.
Take for example, the filming of Faustina’s death. We were shooting from a high angle, right over the hospital bed, with the camera on some tracks so that we could move. It took us a long time to rig that up.
I noticed him right away. The dark eyes of a very old man gazed at me intensely from the second row, as I performed the story of Maximilian: Saint of Auschwitz in Chicago.
After the show, he pulled me aside, rolled up his sleeve and showed me the number tattooed on his arm.
“I was in the Auschwitz concentration camp with Maximilian Kolbe. I knew him, for we were in the same block,” he told me.
This past November, I saw Tolton: From Slave to Priest at Mount Angel Abbey in Oregon.
The performance, the music, and the beautiful way in which the story was told blew me away.
When Mama Tolton sang Christ’s words, “Feed my sheep,” it was powerful and reminded me of my mission as a future priest. As a millennial, I see a spiritual hunger in our current generation. They are reaching out for anything, but only God can satisfy them.
“You are like the stone that must be chiseled and fashioned before being set in the building.…those who are in the monastery are craftsmen placed there by God to mortify you by working and chiseling at you.”
- Saint John of the Cross
Marriage, it seems to me, is like a monastery. After nearly 40 years married, Leonardo and I know every one of each other’s faults. And most of the time, I act as if it’s my responsibility to perfect him!
When I joined Saint Luke Productions in February 2020, the pandemic was turning the world upside down. There were lockdowns and riots happening all over the country.
In the past, I worked with many people who embraced our culture's biggest lies about faith, family, and morality. Here, I’m part of a community whose shared beliefs and daily morning prayer keep me grounded and connected in the midst of isolation and chaos.
Latest Newsletter
Stay connected with what's happening at Saint Luke Productions. Check out our latest newsletter and sign up for the next!
