Hard Faith Podcast

S2 - Ep9: "A King's Calling" with Twin Bolt Media

In this episode of the Hard Faith Podcast, host Spencer Folmar dives into an inspiring conversation with Kaleb and Kyler Cook of Twin Bowl Media, filmmakers from central Pennsylvania. The Cook brothers discuss their journey of blending faith and filmmaking, highlighting their award-winning short film, David: A King’s Calling. The film, set in Pennsylvania but doubling as ancient Israel, has captured audiences with its innovative storytelling and resourceful production.
The episode explores:
•The Inspiration Behind the Film: Kaleb and Kyler share how their love for biblical stories and a passion for filmmaking led them to create a fresh depiction of King David’s calling.
•Challenges and Creativity: From torrential rain during production to creating stunning visual effects on a micro-budget, the brothers emphasize the power of perseverance and community.
•Faith in Filmmaking: The duo reflects on how their Christian values shaped the film’s narrative, showcasing biblical figures like Samuel as relatable, multifaceted characters.
•Future Projects: Twin Bowl Media hints at upcoming feature films, including a sci-fi thriller and a potential expansion of David: A King’s Calling into a series.
This episode is a testament to the impact of faith-driven storytelling and the importance of community in bringing creative visions to life. Whether you’re a filmmaker, a person of faith, or someone who loves compelling stories, this episode offers a unique perspective on blending artistry with a mission.
Don’t forget to subscribe and share! Visit HardFaith.com to stay updated on future episodes and projects.

S2 - Ep8: "Out of the Flames" with Screenwriter Stephanie Hutchinson

In this episode, we explore the journey behind Out of the Flames, a gripping 14th-century historical drama by screenwriter Stephanie Hutchinson. This award-winning screenplay, which took the Grand Prize at the Kairos Prize for Spiritually Uplifting Screenplays and Hard Faith Fest, transports us into a world of medieval challenges and profound faith. Stephanie shares the inspiration behind the script and the research that shaped this dramatic portrayal of survival and redemption.
Stephanie transitioned from being a published playwright to a screenwriter during the pandemic, encouraged by a Broadway mentor. Her background in music, with three degrees in piano performance from USC, adds a unique depth to her screenplays, which are often infused with a musical sensibility. Her works have garnered numerous accolades, including First Runner Up at the Beverly Hills Film Fest for her Great Depression drama, GRAHAM.
Mentored by industry leaders like Tyler Thompson of The Chosen and Cartel Literary Manager Audrey Knox, Stephanie continues to evolve in her craft. Whether hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains or teaching piano and voice internationally, Stephanie’s creativity knows no bounds. Tune in to learn more about her journey and her exciting projects. You can follow her work at stephaniehutchinson.com. 

S2 - Ep7: "The Threshing Floor" Hard Faith Fest Documentary Film Winner

In this episode of the Hard Faith Podcast, host Spencer Folmar sits down with award-winning director Brad Alexander to discuss his documentary The Threshing Floor. The film, which received both the top award and the audience award at the Hard Faith Film Festival, is described as an evangelism story disguised as an addiction film. Brad shares how he was inspired to tell the story of his friend, who overcame heroin addiction, and how the film evolved from a short project into a full-length feature. The documentary is not only a testimony of personal transformation but also a tool to reach those struggling with addiction, showing them that redemption and recovery are possible through faith.
Brad also delves into the challenges of making gritty, faith-based films and the tension between the church’s response to addiction and the real struggles people face. He emphasizes the need for the church to move beyond shame and offer compassion and understanding. The conversation explores the difficult yet rewarding journey of independent filmmaking, particularly within the faith-based genre, and highlights the impact The Threshing Floor is having by opening up meaningful conversations about addiction, faith, and redemption. The episode offers deep insights into Brad’s passion for storytelling that is both raw and redemptive, and it encourages filmmakers to tell stories that resonate with real-life struggles, no matter how messy they may seem.

S2 - Ep6: "unDEFILED" Hard Faith Fest Feature Film Winner

In this episode of the Hard Faith Podcast, host Spencer Folmar, founder of Hard Faith, interviews filmmaker Matthew McCaulley about his award-winning feature film unDEFILED. They discuss the film’s origins, inspired by shocking statistics on pornography use among churchgoers and pastors, and the journey from script development to final production. Matthew shares insights into the ministry-first approach that guided the making of the film, aiming to spark conversations and support viewers struggling with addiction. The episode also highlights the importance of community and encouragement within faith-based filmmaking, with Matthew reflecting on his positive experience at the Hard Faith Film Festival. The conversation offers hope and resources for those battling pornography addiction, emphasizing that change is possible with the right support.

S2 - Ep5: "Hard Faith is Experimental" Conversation with John Kestner of "The Foxhole"

In this episode of the Hard Faith Podcast, host Spencer Folmar speaks with award-winning filmmaker John Kestner, who recently won Best Experimental Short Film at the Hard Faith 2024 Film Festival for “The Foxhole.” They discuss the unique environment of the festival, which embraces challenging and faith-adjacent narratives. John shares his experiences creating thought-provoking films, the inspiration behind “The Foxhole,” and the importance of addressing tough topics through cinema. He also talks about his upcoming projects, including another short film and a faith-based Western. Tune in for a deep dive into the intersection of faith, film, and storytelling.

S2 - Ep4: "All Things Hard Faith Fest 2024!"

Today Spencer & Co-Host McKenna Folmar talk about all the details and events taking place at the Hard Faith Film Festival. The event takes place in one week at the Garland Hotel in North Hollywood CA. July 19 + 20 from 10AM - 6PM. We hope you can join us for the 2nd Annual Film Festival Event! Learn more at www.HardFaith.org/festival 

S2 - Ep3: "HFF23 Winner & New Streaming of Hard Faith"

Today we talk with filmmaker David Pozdyrka about his Hard Faith Fest 2023 winning short film "Cohabitation" as well as announcing our new streaming channel to find Hard Faith Films! You can now rent films on the HardFaith.org website. David lives in the country of Moldova and we talk about Christians depicted in art, the use of art to portray ourselves and moral themes, as well as David's process for creating his film. 
Also please be sure to check out and attend the upcoming Hard Faith Film Festival on July 19 + 20 2024 at the Garland Hotel in Hollywood CA. We have a great lineup for films and submissions. Filmmakers will be attending from all over the world and we will have talks from distributors, producers, and a pitch fest competition. 
Thanks for listening and please be sure to subscribe and share!

S2 - Ep2: "Pastor's Kid" Movie Release

Today we interview filmmaker Benjamin Ironside Koppin and lead actress Courtney Bandeko of the upcoming theatrical release of "Pastor's Kid" (2024). 
The film comes out March 15 
Pastor's Kid in theaters nationwide March 15, 16, 17.
https://pastorskidthemovie.com/
https://www.fandango.com/pastors-kid-2024-235233/movie-overview
Benjamin Ironside Koppin Bio:
Benjamin Ironside Koppin is an award winning Director and Cinematographer who intermixes humor with honesty in each of his films. As an Emmy Winning Cinematographer he shoots his own films allowing his passion for collaborating with actors to push each other to find what is authentic within each moment. As a student of improvisation himself, he loves to allow actors the freedom to explore pursuing beautiful mistakes instead of manufactured moments.
 
Courtney Bandeko Bio:
Courtney Bandeko is an accomplished actress, gaining a cult fan following after playing the character Finch on the hit CW show Legacies. She brings both honesty and depth to each role, pulling the audience deeper into her character's journeys. Courtney is unafraid to take her performances to raw and vulnerable places. 

S2 - Ep1: New Season Recap

We are excited to announce Season 2 of the Hard Faith Podcast. We kick off this new season catching up and recapping on our long break. It has been a busy few months, but we are eager to get back to regular episodes and guests. We have an exciting lineup this season featuring filmmakers, theologians, film festival news, and film updates. 

Episode 8: Hard Faith Fest ”All Faith is Hard Faith”

All faith is Hard Faith! We talk all things related to our upcoming 1st ever Hard Faith Film Festival happening 1 month from today on July 22nd 2023 at the Arena CineLounge on Sunset from 11am - 7pm. See you there and pre order your ticket before supplies run out.