Columns In The Tennessean

Make them a star.

Follow up:

Our friend Karla has helped lots of ways, lots of times, and for many years – even before our current circumstance.

A few weeks ago Karla sent an email saying producers were looking for extras for a movie being shot here in Franklin. She thought Darcy might enjoy looking into it. Darcy emailed the contact listed and got accepted to come to the set.

So Marcy, Darcy, Cricket, and I went to the first day of shooting for the faith-based film "Becoming Jesse Tate." It’s the story of a thirteen year old struggling with life. During an emotional moment with her youth group, she has accepted Christ. Now, faced with reality the next day, she's unsure how to deal with her real life. What should change now that she's saved?

There were 60 or 70 kids on set, ready to be movie stars. Darcy positioned herself on a wall, first in line, close to where they were choosing people and she was chosen right off the bat.

But the director immediately saw that Darcy was the same build as the star of the movie - and was similarly dressed - and asked Darcy to be a stand in for her. Darcy did and was in the thick of the action all day, standing next to the director and the camera, waiting on the assistant director to call her in for camera and lighting settings. Darcy loves making videos at home and I’m sure she learned lots.

But after a few scenes, Darcy realized that she wouldn't be in the movie if this kept up. She asked if she could be in some of the scenes and still do the stand in work. We were told later that the director liked Darcy so he wanted to put her on screen. Darcy was prominent in several scenes and should be easily recognizable when the movie comes out.

I've never seen Darcy so bold in asking to be part of something. She said everyone thought she was hired as the stand in. She told me and Marcy it was an accident that she was dressed like the star. We told her it was God's hand guiding her.

When we got home Marcy blinked to me "An amazing day." She told me she had prayed the night before for God's favor on Darcy at the shoot and that the director would ask for additional work from her. And she asked God for confidence for Darcy while on the set.

Darcy went back for two more days of shooting and had a great time.
Marcy and I were happy to see Darcy have so much fun in an area that could lead to a vocation – and in a wholesome side of what can be a less than wholesome industry.

We thought that was going to be the end of it until the movie comes out.

Then we received a very sweet email from Amanda Waters, the star of the movie, which read, in part “I am so glad you got to be in the movie this weekend. You did a really good job and had a great attitude. Thank you for standing in for me. I wish I could have had a chance to talk to you more, but was really glad to find your family's website. I can tell you are very special and I will start praying for your mom and your family.”

Amanda’s name may not be well known – she may not be a star on Earth – yet. But she joins Karla in being a big star in our hearts.

If you know someone in need, keep your eyes and ears open for something that could help and pass it along. Your action could help them make the cut in an area they love – and in life.