 Had to stop at one of my fav "ragamuffin selfie" locations on my way to the Orpheum. |
 The Orpheum Theatre, Wichita. See the album info panel for a link to more info about this historic building. |
 My friend Randy Brown helped me get the lights set for the photo background. Of course we had to test it! :-) |
 One more shot of the marquee. I would have waited for the sign lights, but was too busy with the action inside. |
 My friend Betty Horn (right) and her mom were first up for the official premiere photo. |
 Quick shout out to Barney Byard, Orpheum Theatre Director, who helped us with several things incuding setting up the sign and lights. |
 Once the doors were opened, Jason Ropp entertained the gathering crowd with some tunes. One of Jason's songs appears in the movie. |
 While it appears empty here, it filled up REAL quick! |
 I was pleasantly surprised to run into my old friend Eric Hauck! |
 Amy and David Schultz in the center, Nanette and Rick Wise to thier left and right. In front are their kids, Naomi and Andrew Wise. Naomi has a small part in the movie, but.without providing spoilers, I will just say it's a very pivotal part. |
 (l. to r.) Amy Schultz (actress and mom), David Schultz (writer/director), J.B. Waggoner (editor/producer) |
 Amy and David |
 David Mullins and David Schultz |
 James Bryan Smith, David Schultz, and David Mullns |
 Amy and David Schultz, David and Robin Mullins |
 David and Amy Schultz, J.B.'s parents Sheri and Bryan Waggoner |
 J.B. Waggoner, Danl Blackwood, David Schultz |
 the house is beginning to get full and it's just about showtime... |
 several folks took advantage of the chance to get their pic taken with David |
 as always, David was very accessible. |
 J.B. with his mom and dad, Sheri and Bryan Waggoner |
 (l. to r.) David Schultz, Aurora Myers, Laurie Reese (Aurora's daughter), and Amy Schultz - I had the pleasure to meet Aurora in early December on a road trip to Illinois to see my friend Michael Aukofer and the Appalachian Christmas Quartet. Both Aurora and her daughter had small parts in the movie. |
 ...and it's showtime. First to start off the show is Adam Rozanas of The House FM. |
 Then David and J.B. spoke briefly and thanked everyone for coming to support the movie, and what will most assuredly become a "ministry" as the movie "Ragamuffin" has become. |
 J.B. setting up his phone for a mass selfie. :-) |
 after the movie, there was a Q&A session and discussion about the movie with (l. to r.) James Bryan Smith (author of "An Arrow Pointing to heaven, The Good & Beautiful Series), David Mullins (minister and brother of Rich Mullins), Alex Early (minister and author), and David Schultz (filmmaker). |
 Raw video of the Q&A session after the movie (I missed the very beginning remarks). **** Warning!! **** There are moderate spoilers in this discussion. |
About the movie--
Powerfully emotional and brutally honest ... Brennan is a dramatized story about American author, priest, and public speaker Brennan Manning. He is best known for his bestselling book The Ragamuffin Gospel, which was the namesake for Rich Mullins' band A Ragamuffin Band. The story revolves around Brennan's chance meeting and subsequent journey from California to New Orleans with Jim, a "ragamuffin" struggling with a very difficult time in his life. Brennan is portrayed by Hal Alpert, who has similar physical characteristics, but is built much larger than Brennan. Jim is portrayed by David Leo Schultz, who is also the film's writer and director.
Having had the privilege to hear Brennan Manning speak on multiple occasions in the mid 90's, I am very familiar with his sometimes raspy and often boisterous speaking style. Alpert's vocal portrayal of Brennan, especially at the end, was so accurate that if I closed my eyes, it seemed I was actually listening to Brennan.
Because I was acquainted with some of the actors, it was a slight distraction from the story trying to separate the character from the actor. This has clinched the need for a second viewing. I did enjoy the periodic oneliners that demonstrate Schultz' wacky sense of humor. This did not at all distract from the story, but rather provided well-timed breaks in the often heavy mood.
After being led through dispair, anger, defeat, compassion, and ultimately victory and redemption, there are actually two endings - one for Jim and one for Brennan. You'll just have to watch to find out, but it's well worth the journey.
About David Schultz--
I have been drawn closer to Jesus by "all things ragamuffin" since the first time I heard Rich Mullins. As admin for the Rich Mullins Mailing List (active from 1995 to 2000), I had the unique opportunity to become acquainted with hundreds of like-minded ragamuffins. It wasn't so much a "fan club" as it was a large internet-based Bible study group.
I experienced that same ragamuffin fellowship the first I met David Schultz during the filming of his first film based on the life of Rich Mullins, appropriately called Ragamuffin. Now after viewing his second film "Brennan," it is clear he "gets it." I eagerly await his next film, Room of Marvels, based on the book by James Bryon Smith. Smith is an author, theology professor and chaplain at Friends University in Wichita KS, and is well known to most ragamuffins. He came to know Mullins as his professor at Friends, but probably more so while Mullins was living in an apartment in Smith's attic.
Related Links
Color Green Films
Brennan Manning Movie Web Page
Brennan Manning Movie Facebook Page
Brennan - Official Teaser Trailer
The Wichita Orpheum Theatre Web Page
Blackwood Music History Scrapbook