In the video “Yehudah,” Joelle DeVera plays Leah, mother of Judah (Noah Letoto), ancestor of Jesus. (“Yehudah” — Marana tha Ministries, Inc.)
By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
The short video “Yehudah,” a Messiah origin story created this year by a local catechist and Bible study teacher who cast former and present students as actors in the project, has been selected to open the International Christian Film Festival April 28 in Orlando, Florida.
Lawyer-catechist Bonnie Moore, creator of “Yehudah” (Photo courtesy of Bonnie Moore)
“I am so amazed and honored, said Bonnie Moore, who conceived, wrote, produced, steered and cheered the nine-month project from start to finish.
“There are so many films [in the festival] and there we are heading all the rest,” she wrote in an email to those who worked on the project. “God is so good and so kind. Let us live to exult Jesus and He will draw all men to Himself. The LORD God has done great things for us and we are glad indeed. Holy is His Name.”
This is how Moore speaks both in person and online. Streams of Scripture and words of praise flow through her conversations.
The international festival nominated “Yehudah” in five out of six award categories for short films, the most of any entry. It is in the running for “best short film,” “most inspirational short film,” “best screenplay” for a short film, “best actress” for a short film and “best director” for a short film.
Not bad for a first try.
The winners will be announced at the closing ceremony on the last day of the festival April 30. Moore plans to attend.
The film tells the story of how Judah, the fourth son of Leah, the unloved first wife of the Jewish patriarch Jacob who was tricked into marrying her, became the forefather of Jesus Christ the Messiah.
“Yehudah” is Hebrew for Judah and means “in praise.” Leah gave birth to Judah praising the Lord.
The video opens with a dizzying computer-animated flight through the universe, into our solar system and onto earth and the Promised Land of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
God — voiced in the deep baritone of Gospel singer and U.S. Dream Academy founder Wintley Phipps — narrates.
Jesus, portrayed by Alex Held in the video “Yehudah.” The 11-minute video is nominated for five awards at the International Christian Film Festival. (“Yehudah” — Marana tha Ministries, Inc.)
The video shows how Jacob, intent on marrying Rachel, is deceived by her father Laban into consummating his wedding night with her older sister Leah. Jacob is eventually allowed to also marry Rachel, but she for a long time is unable to conceive. Meanwhile, the unloved Leah is given the consolation of a fertile womb.
“This is a story very dear to God’s heart,” Moore said, a story of how his own son, humanity’s savior, is a descendant of Leah, the unloved one.
The video ends with Jesus’ saving death and resurrection and the glorious welcoming of Leah and her Old Testament family into the Kingdom of Heaven.
The video was initially conceived as a five-minute music video for a song Moore wrote about Leah and Judah. It ended up being an 11-minute scripted short film, the song reworked as its musical score.
Moore wrote the script herself in one sitting during a sudden burst of inspiration.
“I sat down on the floor, and it just flowed,” she said.
“The script is from God,” Moore explained.
Professional crew, amateur cast
Petite and bespectacled, the Sunday school teacher looks the part. There is nothing “Hollywood” about Moore. But beneath her headful of brown curls is a mind swirling with words, images, ideas and melodies looking for a way out. She credits much of it to her divine muse.
Her last creative outburst, in 2012, was 79 Scripture-based songs which she wrote and had professionally arranged, performed, recorded and packaged in a six-CD box set, annotated with full-color glossy booklets.
She titled her collection “Wonderful Songs.”
Moore assembled the “Yehudah” cast from parishioner friends and acquaintances from the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace. Leah is played by Joelle DeVera. Deacon Modesto Cordero portrays Leah’s father Laban. Alex Held is Jesus. Nearly all have been in her Sunday religious education classes or her Bible study.
Her technical crew was professional and included award-winning TV and film director Tim Savage of Accelerator Films, whose last feature movie was “Under the Blood-Red Sun,” and Mainland computer animator Matthew Finley.
Savage is also the director of media for New Hope Oahu.
The video was filmed at various places, including St. Stephen Diocesan Center and Gunstock Ranch in Kahuku.
Moore said the filming was blessed by providence at every turn. Everything cooperated, from the weather to the small support cast of animals, to the amazement of many.
Days of rain paused just long enough to allow scheduled outdoor shooting. A lamb was born inexplicably out of season in time to be included in a scene. A stubborn mule and difficult horse became docile and friendly. The locations helpfully provided just what was needed, from a grassy slope to a perfectly lit cave.
“The Lord watched over our video,” Moore said.
According to Moore, the whole project cost $90,000. It is officially produced by her non-profit ministry Marana tha Ministries, Inc., a 501(c)(3) charity that allowed the project to be funded by tax deductible donations.
The International Christian Film Festival claims to be the biggest event of its kind. Hundreds of films from all over the world are submitted to be viewed and judged. Besides watching the films, participants listen to guest speakers, attend seminars and enjoy networking with each other.
Awards are given for feature films, short films, documentaries, animation, music videos and student films.
Moore entered Yehudah in four other film festivals but is “most interested” in the ICFF.
One entry in another festival has already paid off. “Yehudah” won an “Award of Recognition” in the Christian category of the Best Shorts Competition, a non-religious video contest.
Moore does not expect or want to make money from the video.
“I want it to be watched,” she said. It will soon be available for viewing on the Internet and in other venues.
“I want to make people see the Lord living close to them … as a helper, as a personal savior, who is trying to flood the world with his love,” Moore said.
Moore, who has studied Hebrew, has also made a Hebrew version of the video which she hopes will win it an audience in Israel.
“I feel the Lord has plans for it,” she said. “It’s a story he loves.”
