Matthew McCaulley is the director of The Substitute, a short film about a school shooting. After a career in engineering, the passion for film he developed as a youth was re-ignited after working on a small promotional video project for a local homeless shelter. The Substitute screens at The Churches Making Movies Christian Film Festival, October 12-14, 2018 in Northern New Jersey.
1. What is your film background?
I started making films in 2015 with an outreach ministry promo video for a local homeless shelter. The shelter founder watched it and said, "not bad, but I think you can do better." God used this to spark a passion for filmmaking, specifically for Him. Myself and a friend spent the next year learning filmmaking as fast and as thoroughly as possible, making tons of contacts along the way. Since that time we have started a production company, Light of Life Films (www.lightoflifefilms.com), made a major short film, have two feature films in various stages of development, and will soon release Christ-centric filmmaker training called film4God. 2. As a Christian, how do you see yourself impacting the film industry?
Obviously film is an amazing way to convey the Gospel. However, I see Christian filmmaking beginning a transition to make the Message more story-centric. I aim to bring the Good News to the movie-goer wrapped tightly in an excellent story that is full of the Truth and compelling enough for a non-believer to leave the film thinking about what they saw and not disgusted that they just saw a "Christian film". The first thing I do before screenwriting even begins is to categorize a film's idea as evangelistic or discipleship oriented. Although I currently have a discipleship-geared feature in development my main motivation for filmmaking is evangelism. 3. What was the biggest challenge you overcame to make your film?
With The Substitute short film we decided to use professional talent from a nationwide casting call. We ended up flying talent from both coasts to Missouri to film. The logistics of being a producer AND the director simultaneously on a film this size were almost too much. My passion is for directing and the creative side although I can produce and dig into the details. Thankfully on subsequent projects I found several producers and co-producers to give me more time to direct.
4. Who are your biggest influences in film and why?
Steven Spielberg's master use of camera movement and blocking to tell a story visually excites me to no end. I will never be a Spielberg(!) but his filmmaking genius inspires me to develop the same instincts to tell stories that will bring people to Christ. 5. What is the funniest or weirdest thing that has ever happened to you on set?
While preparing the mobile home set for The Substitute we inadvertently almost pulled down a low power line onto someone's home, snagging it with a truck/trailer. It was a very tense few hours while we tried to explain to the power company how this happened. Praise God they fixed it and didn't charge us! 6. What is your favorite Bible verse? And how does this influence your filmmaking?
Matthew 6:33 New International Version (NIV) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
This is the verse that brought me to salvation in Christ, a verse I hold extremely dear. What would our country or our world be like today if more people, even Christians, were as the verse says seeking His righteousness first? I am motivated to make films that inspire others to seek Him first.