I first heard about the animated film “Forevergreen” when a good friend posted that his son contributed to the making of a film nominated for an Academy Award. “Forevergreen” was a nominee in for “Best Animated Short Film” in this year’s Academy Awards. Later, I learned more about the film on my ‘go to’ news podcast, “The World and Everything In It,” through a news item (February 27 wng.org), followed by a full-length special feature with interviews.
“Forevergreen” is the creation of Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears. These two friends, both directors and guys who tell stories, teamed up on a concept of a story that pointed to the real redemptive story of the Bible, through Jesus Christ. Set in a forest, featuring an orphaned bear, the story exposes our spiritual need, and frequently our rejection of the Answer.
From the outset, the project was a labor of love, inspiration, ministry and sweat. The directors recruited a crew of over two hundred highly skilled volunteers, who had the passion and commitment to produce the film. Among the production crew was our friend’s son; a kid who grew up around our kids. He excelled in his teens in computer design. He majored in Film Studies in college, landed in California with a well-known studio, and has worked on several well-known animated movies. At one point, the studio assigned him to a film promoting ideas contrary to Biblical truth. He asked to be reassigned but instead he was furloughed. His career in animation continues successfully and he is listed as “Animation Lead” in the “Forevergreen” credits.
“Forevergreen” did not win the Oscar last night but what an honor, an achievement of the highest degree, to be a nominee, for excellence “in craft” as Engelhardt and Spears say, in concept, production and PR, music and … animation! Well done, Brendan and all the production crew! All of you demonstrated what it means to invest your talents for the Gospel.
Closing in Scripture is never the hard part in my writing. At church yesterday, we looked at 2 Timothy 2 v 21. Returning to the passage this morning, I realized how aptly it described the “Forevergreen” creative team: “… (those) will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”
