Production Company: Bradley Lanphear Films
Associate Producer: Corbin Schweitzer
2nd Camera Operator: Andrew Thomas
Sound Recordist: Landon Lipinsky
Editors: Bradley Lanphear, Janna Lanphear
Pre-Production
The owners of Elijah’s Retreat reached out to us after seeing a recent video we had produced for another East Texas nonprofit. They were deeply moved by the storytelling in that video and wanted us to tell their own story. Typically, we inform our clients that the pre-production phase of a project can take several weeks or even months, depending on its complexity. However, for this project, we expedited the pre-production process down to just a few days to address some unique challenges.
First, it was already late in the fall of 2024, and we wanted to film while the property still looked vibrant—before the tree leaves had fallen and before the busy holiday season began. Additionally, their deadline for the finished film was January, as it was to be showcased at their annual fundraiser gala. Timing was crucial.
Another factor was the presence of a few guests at the ranch whom they wanted included in the film. Rescheduling for a later date would have been extremely difficult for these families.
After a couple of phone calls and an afternoon visit to the ranch—where I brought my family and previewed their activities—we determined that a two-day production would be necessary. This would allow us to capture the interviews they wanted, time to catch the morning and evening golden hour exteriors that every cinematographer wants, as well as provide an extended time window to capture observational, unscripted footage that was essential to the story. Working with children often extends a project’s timeline, and in this case, we were filming families with children on the autism spectrum.
The right place at the right time
Directing or scripting these kids wasn’t a viable option; we had to adopt a flexible, observational approach. With two cameras and our sound recordist rolling, we focused on capturing genuine, spontaneous moments. It was a matter of patience and timing—being in the right place at the right time—and we were fortunate to capture some truly special moments that couldn’t have been planned.
The beginning at the end
Several weeks after filming the primary footage at the ranch, we moved on to create the film’s intro sequence. For this, we chose to use actors to maintain control and create a more immersive visual and audio experience. The goal was to give viewers a glimpse into the realities of living with autism. For this sequence, we cast my wife and one of our children as the actors. My wife’s background in early education and cognitive behavioral therapy proved invaluable. With her expertise and guidance from the owners of Elijah’s Retreat, she coached our son to authentically portray a child on the autism spectrum.
The result was a powerful and heartfelt film that not only highlighted the incredible work being done at Elijah’s Retreat but also gave a voice to the families they serve. This project is a perfect example of the importance of storytelling and its ability to connect people to meaningful causes.
Behind The Scenes
