Case study
GPTS
Inspiring the next generation of Churchmen
We worked for over 6 months with an amazing team of people to put together this project. Filmed in beautiful Greenville, SC, this film had many locations, extras, and around 30 "story days" to fit into a week of shooting. We also had original music for this project - so from start to finish we are incredibly grateful for every single person who played a part on the team!
Director:
Andrew Bartlett
Executive Producer/BTS:
Hannah Bartlett
Producer/AD:
Micah Versemann
DP:
Jayden Peterman
1st AC:
William Willer
Key Grip:
Calder Tozier
Production Designer:
Mary Wise
Colorist:
John-Clay Burnett
CompoSer:
Ryan Moore
Sound Designer:
Oscar Corral
Narrator:
Robert Ricotta
CASE STUDY
01 Introduction
A look behind the scenes
Every time that our friends at GPTS call us about a new project, we get really excited. Not only are we personally invested in their mission and vision - but their commitment to excellence aligns perfectly with the type of work we love to create. We’ve created a lot of videos with GPTS over the years, but for this one - they wanted to do something different. This film would be a narrative-style video to inspire those called to ministry while showcasing the journey to becoming a pastor.
Fig. 01: Behind-the-scenes
02 the problem
The Problem
The story itself is simple—follow a seminarian through his time at GPTS to being ordained at his own church. The challenge? Condensing five years of someone’s life into a compelling three-and-a-half-minute video. And beyond that—how do you visually capture something as abstract as this journey?
03 the goals
The Goals
With all of this in mind, we set out to create something memorable and unique, reflecting the new story-driven focus of the GPTS rebrand.
Allow potential students of GPTS to get a glimpse into what the path of a seminarian looks like - both the good and the hard.
Inspire and encourage them to follow their calling
Subtly show how GPTS comes alongside their students, supporting them throughout their journey.
Show that becoming a pastor is just the first step in the journey they are starting.
With such a big story, the key was identifying the most important moments to focus on. Collaborating closely with GPTS, we crafted a narrative that communicated the process without overwhelming viewers with details.
We also found creative ways to visually portray the internal, more abstract journey of the main character—bringing his thoughts to life on screen.
Fig. 01: laying out the story on the whiteboard
01 The Story
To tell a story spanning five years in just a few minutes, we centered the narrative on one lead character—a composite of many real-life journeys. The story follows his internal struggle to answer the call to ministry, leaning on the counsel of his wife and community before fully committing. They sell their home, relocate to Greenville, SC, and embrace the challenges and triumphs of seminary life, supported by family, friends, and the seminary faculty.
This approach gave viewers a single character to connect with emotionally, while visual and narrative touchpoints marked the passage of time, illustrating his growth. The seminary and its faculty were depicted as the steady guides who helped him navigate this transformative journey.
With over 30 story days represented on screen, we storyboarded every shot, created animatics, and mapped scenes to their seasons and place in the overall narrative.
Fig. 02: The storyboards
Fig. 03: The video animatic
02 The Continuity
Continuity was key: the lead character’s family needed to age naturally as the story progressed. Every element—from wardrobe and set design to the smallest visual details—was planned to reflect the progression of time. We secured locations, coordinated actors and extras, and managed everything down to catering schedules, balancing meticulous preparation with the inevitable last-minute problem-solving that comes with any production adventure.
Fig. 04: story details spreadsheet
03 Visuals & Equipment
The Visuals & Tools
To make this film stand out, we leaned into a more cinematic approach. We used the RED Komodo X, shooting in 6K raw for better color and flexibility in post-production. For lenses, we selected DZO Film Vespid primes—sharp yet full of character, adding a classic cinematic feel with rich bokeh and beautiful edge detail. Camera support tools like the Dana Dolly and jib, combined with a robust lighting package, allowed us to craft carefully lit, dynamic scenes that brought the story to life with a filmic, “movie-like” quality.
Fig. 05: The camera & Camera support
04 Talant
The Actors
Finding the right couple to play the seminary student and his wife was crucial. We needed someone who looked authentic—down-to-earth and relatable—not too “Hollywood.”
When we met Joshua, we knew immediately he was the perfect fit. With his background in both acting and ministry, he brought a deep understanding of the role. Plus, he and his wife were living a similar story—they already had two children and one on the way, allowing their whole family to be part of the film.
Fig. 06: The Rexford Family
Fig. 07: Tabitha Rexford & Kids
Fig. 08: Joshua Rexford
Joshua fully embodied the role of a seminary student, bringing authenticity and emotional depth to every scene. His natural connection with the baby used in the early scenes also added a sense of realism that elevated the story.
02. Production
Producing a film like this isn’t an easy task, but with the right people - it’s amazing what you can accomplish in a short amount of time. We had a crew of 8-10 people, all of which had their own important jobs.
Fig. 01: Mary Wise organizing wardrobe
Every project begins with a full prep day. This allows us to scout key locations, plan scenes, angles, and lighting setups, and build a solid game plan for production.
We started shooting with two days of filming at GPTS, a location we know well from our previous projects with them. Capturing seminary life was key, but we wanted to elevate classroom scenes—making them feel authentic yet visually compelling to move the story forward.
Fig. 02: GALLERY - On set at GPTS
One of the most challenging locations was the “apartment” where the family settles after moving to Greenville. Its small size created lighting and camera challenges, especially since it needed to represent multiple seasons and times of day. With limited time, we blacked out the windows to simulate nighttime and strategically placed lights outside to create a streetlight and moonlight effect, bringing life into the space. Despite a demanding schedule, the team’s hard work ensured we captured everything we needed.
Fig. 03: GALLERY - On set at Apartment Scene
The final “ordination” scene was another highlight. Our producer Micah found a beautiful little church near the seminary—perfect for the film’s emotional conclusion. To achieve the beams of sunlight we envisioned, we placed lights outside the windows and used haze to add depth and drama. This technique gave the scene an angelic atmosphere, symbolizing both the completion of the journey and the start of a new one. Finding enough extras to fill the congregation posed a challenge, but thanks to the combined efforts of Micah, Hannah, Mary, and our seminary contacts, we made it work. Strategic positioning ensured the scene felt full and believable.
Fig. 04: GALLERY - On set at Ordination Scene
Ultimately, capturing five years of story in a limited time came with its share of challenges and lessons. Yet, through meticulous planning, creative problem-solving, and the dedication of our incredible team and partners at GPTS, we brought this vision to life—creating something truly special.
Fig. 05: GALLERY - The awesome team
Post-production is where all the pieces of the puzzle come together, transforming raw footage into a polished, impactful film. As the saying goes in the film industry, “there’s the movie you plan, the movie you shoot, and the movie you finish.” While careful planning and execution are essential, the editing process is where new ideas and refinements take shape.
01 Editing
Putting the pieces together
Jayden led the charge with a full assembly edit of the film, laying the foundation for the story. From there, our team of editors collaborated closely, each pass further honing the pacing, emotional beats, and flow to ensure every moment felt intentional and impactful.
Throughout the process, we partnered with GPTS for feedback, refining the edit to align with their vision and ensuring the message remained clear, powerful, and true to their mission.
The narrative nature of this project made precision essential—every scene, shot, and performance had to count. Timing, acting, and visual storytelling all worked together to elevate the film beyond good to truly great.
Fig. 01: The editing timeline
09 Music
Custom Score
A key element in making the film truly resonate was the music. We had the privilege of collaborating with talented musicians to create a custom score that elevated the story and connected deeply with the audience.
Music is a powerful yet subjective medium, so finding the right sound required careful workshopping. We aimed for a score that felt both classic and timeless—reflecting the rich, historic nature of GPTS—while also capturing the heart of their mission and the weight of the call to ministry. At the same time, it needed to build and drive enough to keep viewers engaged throughout the entire film.
Fig. 02: The Original Score by Ryan Moore
Composer Ryan Moore brought this vision to life beautifully. His work struck the perfect balance—emotionally stirring, purposeful, and seamlessly woven into the story—creating a score that felt as vital to the film as the visuals themselves.
09 Color
Color Correction & Grading
While we work hard on set to craft the visuals we envision, the final touch comes through expert color grading. A talented colorist is essential to elevate the footage to its fullest potential.
Fig. 03: John-Clay Burnett
John-Clay brought his expertise to this project, taking what we captured and pushing it to the next level. He created a rich, cinematic look that perfectly matched the story’s tone, ensuring every frame looked polished, cohesive, and truly movie-like.
Fig. 04: the colored frames
09 Sound
Sound Design & VOICEOVER
Sound design is one of the most overlooked yet critical elements of filmmaking. Almost every sound you hear in the final film was carefully crafted by Oscar, our sound designer.
Oscar’s work not only brings the visuals to life but also expands the story, building a world beyond the edges of the frame. From subtle ambient details to key soundscapes, the sound design adds depth, realism, and emotional weight—making the audience feel fully immersed in the story.
Fig. 05: The sound design
GPTS had a specific voice in mind for this project—one that carried a sense of importance, history, and weight. We conducted extensive auditions to find the perfect fit.
We were thrilled to bring Rob Rocotta on board, and he delivered an incredible performance that perfectly captured the tone and vision of the film.
10 VFX
Visual Effects
A key part of the post-production process was the visual effects—subtle enhancements designed to be invisible. If we did our job right, you probably never noticed them!
Some of the VFX included replacing overexposed or flat skies to add more detail and visual impact, adjusting production design elements to better serve the story. These seamless adjustments helped elevate the film, ensuring every frame looked intentional and polished while enhancing the story without distraction.
The film received overwhelmingly positive feedback from ministry leaders and others in the ministry space, who connected deeply with its story and message. GPTS successfully used the film to launch their new website and brand refresh, as well as in their annual recruiting campaign.
Fig. 01: The GPTS Website Redesign
Credits
Director:
Andrew Bartlett
Executive Producer/BTS:
Hannah Bartlett
Producer/AD:
Micah Versemann
DP:
Jayden Peterman
1st AC:
William Willer
Key Grip:
Calder Tozier
Production Designer:
Mary Wise
Catering:
Rebecca Tozier
PA’s:
Andrew Barnes-Velez, Joseph Ely, Nathan Barnes-Velez
Sound Designer:
Oscar Corral
Aspiring Pastor:
Joshua Rexford
Wife:
Tabitha Rexford
Son:
Japheth Rexford
Daughter:
Avonlea Rexford
Baby:
Meadow Rose Holcombe
Narrator:
Robert Ricotta
Editors:
Jayden Peterman, Andrew Bartlett, Hannah Bartlett
Colorist:
John-Clay Burnett
Sound Designer:
Oscar Corral
CompoSer:
Ryan Moore
VFX:
Jayden Peterman, Andrew Bartlett
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