Thoughts on subject matter

This documentary is originally my own brain child. I have spent over two years with Dr. Bill Bennett and his Mentoring School. So yes I have a bias on the matter, but believe this was a story that needed to be shared with all walks of life. I am an filmmaker filmmaker (I call it), meaning I like all types of film making not just Narrative or Documentary genres. But when it does come to documentaries I have recently found myself appealed to subjects of my faith. Yes, my identity pie reveals that this is what determines a lot of my choices and so on. But this particular story has never been told and yet here is this man who has influenced so many and above all is simply doing what he believes he was called to do. In a time I was exploring my questions in life concerning my faith especially, I was lead to this man and he showed me where to find the answers. I had no plans or thoughts on coming to this area after I got out of the Navy. I just wanted to get out of there and start on my own journey and take my G.I. Bill and get a film degree. That I knew I wanted, just to travel and make movies. Instead I fell in love and traded my travel money in for a diamond ring. So going to church I was asked to help out with the youth. I figured I could help them make better decisions than I did, since I was once where they where at. One thing lead to another and the Youth Pastor found out I was considering staying in N.C. and going to UNCW for film after I got married. So he told me about this guy (Dr. Bennett or Dr. B as we call him), and I promised I would try him out. So this newly wed guy (me) keep to my promise when we arrived in town somewhere in 2004. I couldn't believe the knowledge and presence of this man, I had to keep coming back. After seeing how other men where changed and his own personal pursuit and involvement with me I was hooked. I considered him my "Yoda", with his vast knowledge and answers. Now I know this was a brief and not to detailed history or explanation of this guy, but hopefully this blog and this film will do more justice. I do have a Bias because I am so involved with him, but I hope with my team we can do a good documentary on Dr. B and with every one's different views.

So the other guys are down with doing this Doc., and they each will bring there own bias and view on the matter. And my own is one that is close and personal with the subject and believes the same. But I had to make a decision during my search for answers that something has to be out there with the answers, and it could only be one thing. I could either believe in a textbook, other people, another Bible like source or the Christian Bible to name a few I have searched. During my seeking I decided to put my faith in the Christian Bible and use it to compare to others answers or responses and then made a choice to believe it first. Now I have also questioned is this because of my up-bringing or other reasons. Trust me I searched it all and did my research and played my devils advocate, but I keep finding my self coming back to it and was fulfilled by its answers. I do not believe that my meeting Dr. B or doing this Doc. was by accident and I hope I can give you a glimpse of this man and his ministry and mentoring as a whole. I still have research to do and decision to make, but we will give you a documentary worth seeing.

I also understand as stated above what my bias' are and also I understand that my team has different views and up-bringings. So I will do my best to stay objective, but make sure my own heart remains or otherwise this the film will be without emotion or art. So playing "devil's advocate", I know there are people who may oppose this subject or the way we go about it. I will try to keep that in mind through the process. I will also will try to search and explore for such an objective view and attend to the whole audience, not just a particular group. If I did not believe as I do I would wonder a few things such as: Why is Dr. B's school focused on men or Christian men even?, How can one man really mentor so many people in so many places?, or How is this so different than "regular" mentoring?

I know there are many questions and oppositions to the subject matter. If I believed in another religion or anything other than what this man does, I would have a problem with understanding his "true" purpose. He would seem to me just another evangelist or teacher. Maybe just another ministry trying to get money or cheat the tax system. I could see how others would see this is a secret club or men just getting together without their wives. This group is a hurdle in the fight of equality of the sexes. There are so many possible oppositions and questions, that I will try to keep in mind and apply to our research and filming. This will only help me and the film, and also make for a better documentary that will appeal to all. And as I try to do I hope others will also explore and watch this film even if opposed. For if we truly believe in what we believe and are knowledgeable, we should have no fear of challenges or opposites of those beliefs.

I hope this helps and please feel free to comment and share your own questions, ideas and so forth.