SEX+MONEY the film is available for purchase

• You can now buy SEX+MONEY A National Search for Human Worth online from the website!
• Filming for CHOSEN and Dearly Loved is coming along great...
• Oh, and Also I am stuck in Amsterdam


I am currently Skyping with one of the producers of Sex+Money and she just let me know the DVDs just went on sale! It is an insightful, holistic view of domestic minor sex trafficking in the US. It asks, what is the problem, how did we get her, what is at risk if we stay here and where do we go from here? If the fact I helped shoot the film was not enough reason to buy it, the writer, Kevin Miller and editor, Simon Tondeur  both worked on Expelled: No Inteligence Allowed.

Just a reminder, the production crew that worked on this film did so pro-bono and the goal with selling the merchandise from the film is to raise money to help fund a rescue home for girls that is about to opens its doors in Phoenix, AZ.

I do have to warn you, the film is not yet rated. There is some intense talk about sexual abuse and some racy images, but nothing you would not hear on primetime TV or see while watching Super Bowl commercials, but unlike the those, this is served with a healthy amount of truth. If you have not seen the official trailer I edited, check it out and then buy the film.

I think this is the most demanding I have ever been in post.

On the topic of demanding things, please pray for the Gallagher family. They are in the process of adopting two twins from Uganda and are in the LAST stage of the process and need their visas tomorrow to be able to catch the flight later that night. The process has taken weeks longer than it should and that is why I have been delayed in Africa and a 12 day trip has now become a month. More on this later beacuse I am not sure what I can and cannot say, but please pray the visas get processed by tomorrow.

Oh yeah, and I am stuck in Amsterdam because some airplane's wings won't flap like they are supposed to and the bird never showed up. So I am chilling here until I fly home with the twins, their dad and the visa on Wednesday. Okay, this is all very complex but the important thing is pray the visas happen. Oh, and buy SEX+MONEY.

Josiah Thiesen

July Update

- Sex and Money is complete. Fresno showing in August

- Directing a new project about international special needs adoption called "Chosen and Dearly Loved"

Right now I sit on a plane and share an animated ebook with my executive producer's son en route to Uganda. This ebook is and example of the type of project we are working on for "Chosen and Dearly Loved". Chosen is a project being commissioned by Mandy and Mike Gallagher from Nashville Tennasee to raise awareness and inspire people to adopt special needs orphans from around the world.

They approached David Cunningham about what they could do to help tell the stories of these orphans in such great need and he proposed a transmedia project that guides people through the world of international special needs adoption. Transmedia is the idea of telling a story or many stories through the use of a variety of media like video, web, photography, ebooks and other forms of art. At the heart of this project is an ebook that will be based upon the art of these orphans. They will be asked to draw what they dream or something they long for and then a story will be created to bring their dreams to life. As families read these books, they will have the opportunity to learn more about the children inspiring these stories through videos of the children and what life is like for them in their country. 

It is rough being handicap even in the US, but imagine being in a country where nothing is accessible by wheelchair, there is no Braille on signs, you cannot get work, you are considered "half-man" and even your family believe your disability is due to some curse. Even well meaning families find it impossible to deal with the practical and emotional complications that come along with caring for these children, so they end up in orphanages where their care takers lack the resources to provide them with the proper therapy they need.

Since I started working with Mandy and Mike Gallagher last October during my first trip to Uganda, we have seen a special needs orphanage open in Jinga, Uganda. During my second trip I got to see the children that had been at an orphanage of 60, now in an environment where they were getting the individual and special care they needed. All I can tell you is that these children are coming alive! But that is just he first step, the end goal for Chosen is for these kids to find forever families, and that is what the ebook, videos, and the rest of the art is setting out to do.

Sex + Money has just been completed and now is being sent to the MPAA to be rated. Morgan Perry, along with many other from the film crew and prayer team will now be traveling on a nationwide tour, showing the film and raising activists at a school and church in each of our 50 states. A few years ago, the US graded ever other country in the world on their success or failure in the area of sex trafficking, yet failed to report on our own home. This was a major catalyst for the film as well as for Linda Smith to grade our nation on a state by state level. These grades will be presented at the end of each film, along with action points to help improve the states grade. The film has already had some select screenings, packing out an auditorium of 600 at Washington University. The film goes on sale in August and you can find out more about the tour dates and locations at www.sexandmoneyfilm.com.

See, this is what happens when it has been so long since I have written, there is so much more to say, but I really want to keep this from becoming a novel. I do want to say, while working on this project, it looks like I will be based out of Fresno with my executive producers in Nashville and Kona, the producer in Los Angeles, writer in Canada and animators in Mexico. Aside from the hopefully life long effects of this project on orphans, I could not be happier working with people that I have admired for years! Please pray for divine inspiration and creativity for the whole team as we enter unchartered territory with the goal of seeing God's father-heart lived out in the realest of ways!

Your brother in Christ,

Josiah Thiesen

October update... In December

This is an update I wrote in October, and am just sending now. Whoops.

• Done filming with Sex+Money
• Started a Wedding Filming business with Kyle Gentz
• Just returned from Uganda filming a stories about special needs orphans

“You’re back in Fresno?” - many people ask. At first this question seems silly because usually it is asked by people in Fresno while I am standing right in front of them. Yet I can’t be too hard on them considering last time I wrote, it was May and I reported that I was in Virginia. Yep, I sure have been slacking when it comes to updates.

Myself and Josh Martin filming a demonstration in New York.

Whether holding a camera or umbrella, we got the shot!

First off, the documentary Sex+Money wrapped up with shooting in May-June. We flew around the country getting more interviews and building upon what we had learned from the first trek in September-December of 2009. We interviewed more politician, leaders, non-profits, former pimps, victims and even a convicted sex offender. Most importantly, we saw hope in Phoenix, AZ when we got to shadow vice officers on sting opperations as they arrested Johns, pimps and had compassion on the girls that have been so horribly abused. Right now, the editor, director, writer and producer are working hard on getting all 250 hours of footage edited. I had the pleasure of meeting with our producer (the Morgan Perry) last night and heard just a bit of their plan for the ending of the film. It is going to be epic!

Kaity & Luke Harmon

After Sex+Money, I returned to Fresno in June and have had the pleasure of partnering with Kyle Gentz in starting a wedding filming business, Motion Picture Weddings. Yet as we have stepped out into the world of weddings, we have seen an increase in requests to do more and more freelance video projects which we really have enjoyed. But I don’t want to go too into that here because that is business stuff.

The greatest Production Assistant in the world!

And finally, yeah... Uganda. Monday I got the call while I was filming for Conklin Company Inc. in Kansas City saying the trip was a possibility. Tuesday connected with the leaders and Sunday (October 3rd) was on flight to Uganda. The trip was coordinated by a couple that is starting a ministry to connect American families with special needs orphans around the world and God has laid it on their heart to capture individual stories of adoption. We followed a couple that was adopting two children from an orphanage in Jinja, Uganda. Yet there was so much more going on there; two young girls starting an orphanage for special needs children, two nurses taking care of 4 month old twins that lost their mother to AIDs, the Ugandan people opening their own hearts to care for the little ones cast aside and providing homes for them, and a 22 year old single girl that has adopted 14 girls and developed programs to feed and educate hundreds of children that can’t afford proper care otherwise. Seeing God’s heart for adoption personified in those serving there is something I will never forget.

I could not be more excited about what God has been doing and the opportunities that have arisen to do what I love (sharing stories about what God is doing around the world) and somehow, He is totally providing! I hope to share more, but kind of want to keep this from becoming a novel.

Josiah

Sex+Money Prep at the Perry Farm

To see the whole crew again has been incredible! Lots of hugs, some intense times of worship, incredible reminicing and plenty of production prep has consumed our time at the Perry farm. Yet, despite all the work to be done, we have not neglected getting out into the beautiful Virginia countryside to stop, and listen.

Nearly everyone is back again for this round round of pick-up shoots and this time at the Farm has been a much needed respite for those of us coming from hectic lives and realigning with the goals of the project to end slavery in the US. Once all the prep was done, we headed to Washington DC to film an interview of a flight attendant who uses her position in the airport to help fight sex trafficking. Today we are back in DC to interview Lou De Baca, President Obama's ambassador dealing with human trafficking. We have twenty minutes for the interview but this is a man that will will provide some incredible insight on the issue.

For more information about the project and to watch  the latest webisodes, check out the website www.sexandmoneyfilm.com. I will try and update you each city we travel to, but if you would like the short and frequent updates, follow me on Twitter (@josiahthiesen) or the Sex+Money crew (@sex_money). The links to the left underneath my pictures link to this blog, RSS, and my Twitter.

Peace.

Heading out on the train

In Case you missed what I posted on my blog May 5th, here it is:

Sitting on the train and enjoying plenty of leg room, the view, the overly nice conductor, dinning car and restrooms down bellow, I think to myself, why do I ever drive?

My brother Josh and I at the train station. Yes, I only have two small bags, including camera gear, for 6 weeks of travel. That's enough clothes for 10 day (a few shirts, two pairs of underwear and 5 socks)

So begins my trip to meet up with the rest of the SEX+MONEY crew in LA, then on to Virginia. The next 6 weeks will be packed with pick-up shoot (extra stuff we need to film for the documentary) and plenty of good times back with my newly forged family.

Oh, now loading onto the Grey hound bus... this should be exciting.

And so continues my little adventure in the California mass transit system.

Josiah

Heading out on the train

Sitting on the train and enjoying plenty of leg room, the view, the overly nice conductor, dinning car and restrooms down bellow, I think to myself, why do I ever drive?

My brother Josh and I at the train station. Yes, I only have two small bags, including camera gear, for 6 weeks of travel. That's enough clothes for 10 day (a few shirts, two pairs of underwear and 5 socks)

So begins my trip to meet up with the rest of the SEX+MONEY crew in LA, then on to Virginia. The next 6 weeks will be packed with pick-up shoot (extra stuff we need to film for the documentary) and plenty of good times back with my newly forged family.

Oh, now loading onto the Grey hound bus... this should be exciting.

And so continues my little adventure in the California mass transit system.

Josiah

January Update

SEX+MONEY part I is finished being filmed
Part II begins in the spring
Going to be in Fresno for until Part II

Favor. Huge, huge amounts of favor has covered the SEX+MONEY crew. We have filmed about fifty politicians, lawmakers, former victims, vice agents, pimps and non-profit organizations. After 3 months, 25 states, 10,746 miles, 198 hours of footage, we have learned a lot. What was intended to be the main filming portion of the film has been birthed into so much more, and what was supposed to be simple pick-up shots in the spring has become a full-fledged Part II.

Part II came out of the research the 5 narrators have done from September til December. They realized they have to show in the documentary how ordinary people can go from just learning about being sex traffficking, to making a practical difference. Some of the narrators willl be working on a website to unite each organization with other like minded people across the nation, others will be doing benefit concerts and art shows to get the word out. That, along with some more intense undercover work will all be part of the spring shoot, Part II.

If any of you were on YouTube the day after Christmas, you would have seen that the little teaser trailer (Sex+Money Teaser) we did after the first 10 days of shooting in New York, won a contest hosted by Morgan Freeman (an actor you may have heard of) and was on the home page for a whole day. This is a huge amount of favor because now half a million people have seen what we are about and we pray will open doors both in contacts as well as financial backing for Part II.

Thank you so much for all your prayers! I have never seen the power of prayer come alive like it has on this project. It was only at the end of the project when we all started talking about how we have physically felt covered by God that I noticed this. I was reminded of Shadrack, Mishack and Abendigo, and how they came out of the fire, not even smelling of smoke. That is us; because God called us into the fire, He has been our guard, protecting our hearts and minds, allowing us to have compassion but protecting us from the muck of the world destroying us.

My plans for the next few months, until I rejoin the SEX+MONEY Crew in May, is to work, work and work some more. I am pursing an opportunity at Apple Retail again as well as picking up all the freelance video jobs I can get my hands on. My goal is to get rid of most of the debt that still lingers over my head from previous gear purchases, so I am free to pursue projects, even if there is no guarantee of income.

I now have some new ways to keep in touch. Facebook (Josiah Thiesen) Twitter (josiahthiesen) Blog (witness.bluewingstudios.com) and by text updates. Text updates are really for immediate prayer request, like when we need prayer at 4:00am because we are in the middle of the Red Light disctict in Mexico. If you would like to be added for that immediate prayer chain, send me an email with your phone number and I would love to add you.

Loving life and love Christ,
Josiah Thiesen

October Update

What is "Sex + Money - A national search for human worth"? A documentary that follows 5 photo journalist across the U.S. as they investigate human trafficking and sex slavery. Through interviews with today's most prominent abolitionists, awareness presentations and undercover research they are asking what is the problem, how did we get here, what's at steak if we stay here and where do we go from here. Watch the concept trailer to hear it in their own words. I do want to warn you, some of the footage is a bit vulgar.

My role is to help film, run sound and do a bit of editing for the project. I am working with three other incredibly talented guys from film school. Even after only a few weeks, we have had mixed emotions of feeling that sex trafficking is overwhelming as well as intense hope seeing people of all beliefs come together on this issue. The most surprising thing to me has been how the cops know where the prostitutes and brothels are and often do nothing about it. Many things have to change.

While filming undercover, we have already discovered prostitution on the streets of San Francisco, massage parlors in New York and been offered really anything you could imagine.

Morgan Perry, the producer, has been able to get some of the highest profile abolitionists to sit down for interviews. A former 14 year old prostitute, Brianna agreed to talk with us four hours after being release from prison and provided incredible insight into why the girls are so drawn to the pimps. What we have begun to realize is that the vast majority of girls begin at 12-15 years old, with the intention of completely breaking them and stripping their identity.

Financially, this would be considered more like a missions trip than a paying gig. I have been able to stash away some cash to cover the bare essentials. I am working with my church to set up an account so that if you would like to help out, that opportunity would be there and you would get a tax write off. Any funds would go toward helping pay off the gear I have already purchased, to better equip us with watch cams and such. If you would have any more questions about this, feel free to give me a call.

Thanks for your prayers. We really are going after the heart of this beast and at times feel the darkness all around us, but certainly not in us.

September Update

SEX + MONEY documentary starts in New York September 17th
JESUSFREAKS accepted to a major US film festival in October
Another JESUSFREAKS showing September 16th


JESUSFREAKS beat out 3,200 other films to be 1 of 5 chosen to be accepted into a major US film festival. Due to the festival's request, I cannot tell you which one it is until they make this year's picks public on September 17th.

Another showing in Fresno will take place on September 16th at 7:00pm at my parent's house, 14011 E Herndon. I had wanted to give more advance notice, but I just found out a few days ago, they want me to start on SEX + MONEY September 17th, so we will try and squeeze this in before I leave.

What is SEX + MONEY? For me it started about two months ago at church when Pastor Brian Cain shared about sex trafficking. I instantly wanted to do something and had been eagar to head out on another documentary project. After contacting many agencies, I got a call from my film school friend Morgan Perry letting me know she had project in the works with the Photo Gen X crew from YWAM. The three month journey is beginning September 17th in New York City. More details will be coming soon, but in the meantime, begin praying because we all know this is going to be heavy.

I gotta get some sleep for my friend's wedding tomorrow. Peace.

May Update

Jesusfreaks documentary showings:
May 7th in Oakhurst
7:00pm at Sierra Pines Church
• May 9th at Peoples Church
7:00pm at Peoples Church in Ground Zero

I know it is last minute, but John Murphy and his family drove out to California from Denver due to a tragedy at their church in Oakhurst. They are taking the opportunity to share the documentary all around California, and we were lucky enough to get a two showings right in the Fresno area. I created a Facebook event for the Peoples showing, so even if you are not going, but you happened to have seen it already, could you take a moment to toss up some comments to let people know what you thought.

As far as news concerning the documentary, I have only heard things through the grapevine, but it just keeps getting better. John Murphy and the executive producers flew out to the main YWAM base in Kona, Hawaii. They showed it to the head YWAM leaders from around the world and it ended with an altar call by John Murphy and a standing ovation. David L. Cunningham, a director from Hollywood (and a hero of mine) saw it and was so excited, he took it back to LA and it landed on the desk of Sony and made the cut of 12 films out of hundreds they were considering. But things always change in that fickle town so prayer is always needed regarding distribution.

So, as for my life outside that realm, it has been anything but idle. Freelance video and web has exploded as I continue to do new work for new clients. Also, in pursuit of a dream since high school, I got a job at Best Buy. Yep, and I love it! I am always being asked to help people shop for cameras, computers, tv and other electric toys so I figured I might as well get paid for it. I have also really enjoyed biking and Caleb and I headed to San Francisco which made for one of the most memorable days of my life.

How long will I be in Fresno? Not sure. The two projects that were possibly going to take me away are continually being postponed. One thing I have learned this last year is that no matter how hard or stale life gets, it is never time wasted if you are constantly seeking God and gleaning everything He has for you from each and every experience.

Your Brother in Christ,
Josiah Thiesen

February Update

What a year. What a project. What a God.
Last I wrote, I was in Israel filming a documentary, and were on our way to meet the other team in Bosnia. Since then, Drew Strobridge and I got the opportunity to add to our roles as directors and cameramen, by returning to Denver and edit "Jesusfreaks" for Circle of Belief productions. God totally hooked us up with a phenomenal design firm to do the motion graphics called Spillt, based in Denver. This was just one of the many ways we saw God's hand throughout the post-production process.

We two screeners of the film, prior to picture lock. One at the very liberal Colorado University, and one at Biola. The five agnostics and atheists film students that saw it at CU, felt it was not preachy but were extremely impressed by the school leader's passion. They gave it 7 out of 10 stars. The film students at Biola were thrilled and commented it was so real and the first Christian film to portray the the God they serve. They gave it 8.5 out of 10 stars.

The premiere was held in Denver on December 9th, and now the Executive Producers (Charles and Katherine Cobb) are running the film around to film festivals. The next step is to get distribution. Distribution is what happens when a film is completed and now a distributor will come along and buy it to get it shown in theaters, home video, TV or whatever they decide is best for the project. Last I heard, the people that distributed the Christian filmFireproof were talking with the Execs about getting a worldwide premiere on HBO set up. This would certainly be something to pray for.

As for now, I just got the clearance, from the Executive Producers, to do a Fresno showing. It will be at Valley Christian Center in the Revolution Room at 7:00pm. The film is 96 minutes long, and shows the 5-month transformation adventure these snow board YWAM students experienced. I would love to see you there and if you know anyone who may want to see it, feel free to invite them as well.

I have a few opportunities on the horizon, but one that seems to be right in line with what I feel God has placed on my heart for this time in my life. It would a one year commitment with an LA based non-profit organization being formed by a group of businessmen who are setting aside the next 7 to 11 years of their lives to end world hunger. As crazy as this sounds, from what I have heard through some research, this is not an impossible desire, and these men have the means to do so. So I would move to LA and work at the headquarters down there. My role in this project is to work with the head of the media department in filming and editing video shorts documenting the formation of this organization and the works they are involved in. But like with everything in my life, nothing seems to be for sure until I see the seatbelt light come on and feel the ground leave as I take off in a plane.

As always, I am excited for what God has next. But for now, I think that is all.

Jesusfreak Project in Israel

So now the lecture phase of the boarder Discipleship Training School has come to an end, and onto the outreach phase.

We have now been in Jerusalem for three days now. I have to tell you, it is really an amazing thing to wake-up and have a quiet time beneath the shadow of the wall of this great city! We have done a decent amount of site-seeing to get adjusted to the culture and the time. Never have I had such a hard time adjusting to the time difference.

Last night we met up with our contacts, a South African family, and hung out with the youth in a square not far from our hostel. The students hung out talking to youth and mostly listening to them about their loves, hates and jokes. I had the pleasure of talking with two totally drunk guys who asked me about fifteen times where I was from, always following it with “that's great!” and a huge hug.

Donavan, one of our contacts here, got married this morning at the garden tomb, where Jesus was raised from the dead. Drew and I got to film and take pictures of the couple as well as the wedding crowd of six.

As for other news, through a series of “random” events, I have reconnected with three other people from my film school. We are now making plans to come back here in January of next year to do a documentary on Palestine. I expect this will be far more intense than anything before considering it is focusing on such a hostile conflict, rooted in thousands of years of hatred from Muslims and Jews alike. Please be praying for everything to begin to fall into place even now.

Jesusfreak Project update

The Witness Project has been approved by iTunes as a podcast. What that mean is that whenever I finish a documentary, I can post them and you can automatically download them through itunes. It is free and if you do not know how to do it, here are the steps:

• Download itunes if you do not already have it from Apple. 

• Once you have installed it and opened it, click on the iTunes Store.

• Search in the top right corner for The Witness Project or Josiah Thiesen.

• A list of podcast may come up, so click on the Subscribe button next to The Witness Project.

• I recommend watching Valley View – Life Realities, it's my favorite cut of the documentary. 

I have also begun a blog on my website at witness.bluewingstudios.com/blog. I will be posting documentaries and other production notes there. You may want to subscribe through you favorite mail program, and then the updates will automatically be put into you inbox as they are posted. 

As for the Jesusfreaks project, things are going very well. The producers have chosen 6 students to narrow our focus and it really in incredible all that they have been through already. 

The X-Games was an exciting time in January for the students to see the riders they admire most compete unclose. If any of you were watch the men's super-pipe, it was our students who nearly tackled Shawn White after his run, as they were trying to give him a hug. Also, the students got a chance to talk with the women's super-pipe medalist, and Olympic Gold Kelly Clark. It was a great time to hear how she gets to do what she loves for the one she loves. 

With that being said, it looks like Drew (the other camera man) and I will be not only going to Israel on outreach with John Murphy (the school director) but also will be spending a few weeks in Bosnia to follow three of the other students as well.

Drew, Sam (one of the production assistants) and I put together a preview for a potential investor one night. You can see that here. And if you are interested in seeing any of the production stills, they are available here.

 I pray all is well with you and as always, I would love to add anyone to my mailing lis that wants to know what is going on or if getting these updates annoys you, I would have no problem removing you from the list. 

The Jesusfreaks Project

I have not been able to talk much about this project until now, because I was not sure how much the producers wanted me to let out. But here it is...

You may have had heard about the shooting that killed two staff members of the Arvada based Youth with a Mission school December 9th. My heart bursts with those that have lost, but more in anticipation of what God is going to do. We all need passion and both Tiffany and Phil were screaming examples of what happens when being a Christian actually means something.

So... for three years some producers have been trying to get a reality TV show done about what God does in student's life during a five month snow boarders Discipleship Training School. Since all that has happened, God has told them now is the time. Through a 45 minute ride I had with the producers to the airport and God's definitive “Yes”, I am accepting a position on their team of about ten that will be producing a documentary with hopes of it hitting theaters once we are done.

It is summed up as a Transformation Adventure. Transformation because months of living in community and allowing Christ to speak into your life has the tendency to rock your world. Adventure because, come on... snowboarding, mountains, world travel... that kind of defines itself.

School began January 7, and I had to be here January 3 for preproduction. We will spend three months in Denver, following them as they snowboard, go to class and learn to live together, followed by a two month outreach in other countries. 

I apologize for the length of this, but a lot to say to get caught up.

Valley View - Documentary

Witness the Central Valley of California with a just a glimpse of how churches are working together, with business owners to change lives like former gang members and shifting the outlook of whole communities.

Valley View - Trailer

A brief preview of Valley View

Valley View has wrapped

It is finished. George gave me the final revision notes Wednesday morning at 12:30am and last night I started duplicating the standard DVD version. Soon the HD version will also be ready to duplicate for the three people that have either a Blu-ray or HD-DVD player. 

I will post links and podcast all the versions once the web videos are done encoding.

Valley View Trailer completed

Tonight I met with George, the producer to go over the 5th version of the video. It is the final version and we both were glad that some of the stories that could not make it in the other version have a chance to be told. 

The series is being called Valley View. Five cuts that I will be compiling on one DVD this week and get their final approval of the total hour and a half of material. The title and lengths are:

Valley View Trailer - 2:15

Valley View - Youth Edition - 3:24

Valley View - Life Realities Edition - 22:49

Valley View - Christian Community Alliance Edition - 22:05

Valley View - Valley Communities for Christ Edition - 35:15

We have been in production for over three months now, but I feel there are some incredible stories of what God has done, that people be encouraged to hear.

Valley View re-shoot

I met with George Ordway last week, and we went over some changes and to trim up two of the eventual five cuts of the documentary. 

To clarify some of the opening information, we had to do another re-shoot with some clearer opening facts about the valley. We shot that on Thursday and I expect to have revised edit of this new Christian Community Alliance focused cut by the end of the week.

The Witness Project Continues

Production is wrapping up on Valley View, a documentary focusing on what God is doing in the Central Valley of California. It really is surprising to see individuals setting aside denominational barriers and focusing on simply helping the people around them. Also, we got to see some lives changed because of people put love in action.