“It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to create quality Christian programming,” said Julie Bergh, who founded Revolution Media in 2005. The Milaca-based nonprofit organization takes talented Christian screenwriters, actors, directors and other production artists and gives them the support, training and equipment to bring their visions to life.

“We offer courses that are much less expensive than other secular [programs] out there,” Bergh said. These courses cover a broad range of topics, from camera shots to editing to pitching programs to high-profile network executives.

Entertainment industry-inclined Christians can then utilize their skills by renting the Revolution Media studio space and equipment at a lower price than many secular organizations offer. For $500 a day, producers can utilize cameras, lighting mechanisms, a host of knowledgeable staff members to assist in production, and many more resources.

“If they’re interested in doing [a] half-hour for a satellite network, it’s easy to use the studio to create those programs,” Bergh said. “[And] we teach them … everything involved in creating a program.”

Many half-hour programs currently in production focus on creating imaginative, family-friendly programming. One such show entitled “Young Mac Robinson,” currently in pre-production, follows two time-traveling kids on their journey to uncover the truth behind historical figures and events—some of which you won’t find in traditional history books. Another in post-production, “Mr. Matter,” details the adventures of two students into the often-surprising scientific world, serving to educate and entertain an elementary-aged audience.

Yet another project, currently scheduled to film on Valentine’s Day in front of a studio audience of 100 to 200, aims to bring the “good clean fun” back to improvisation. Entitled “Party Games,” this modified game show is the brainchild of Laura Berghius, a friend of Bergh’s through First Love Fellowship Christian church in Princeton. The program, which will be filmed at the church, pits two teams against each other in a battle of wits, acting skills and creativity.

“The tagline I created for it [described it as] a game show filled with laughs, pranks and games,” Berghius said. One example of these games includes using old children’s jokes, such as “Why did the chicken cross the road?” and answering them based on what a particular celebrity, such as Madonna, might say.

“The goal is to make it appropriate for the family—a night of laughter and lots of fun,” Berghius said.

To find the cast, Berghius said she and Bergh drew from the resources in their congregation at FLF, whose active drama program offered many opportunities to find talented actors.

“We’re pulling from the church body,” Berghius said. “People we’ve already been in drama productions with, or people really off the cuff about their comments—we looked at personalities to see what they would do [in a staged setting].”

After the filming, Bergh said traditional marketing and distributing will follow.

“We’re going to send it out to all networks and see who picks it up,” Bergh said.

As for the other productions, some Christian networks have already shown interest in featuring the programs once they have reached completion, she said. The programs are also slated to appear online and on DVD for purchase at Christian bookstores.

Revolution Media’s productions may also be spotted in use at local nonprofit organizations. Life Choices Center, a Christ-centered pro-life ministry in Milaca, is one place in which Bergh’s entertainment industry savvy was put to use for a Christian cause.

“[Bergh] told us about the business she was starting and said would like to put together a promotional video for us,” said Ann Morell, director at LCC. After about six months of creating a script, finding actors and filming, the DVD began its run as a key outreach tool for LCC.

“For Sanctity of Life Sunday, we always sent bulletin inserts to churches,” Morell said. “[This year] we also sent 22 copies of the DVD she made to local churches. We also use it whenever we go to any speaking engagements.”

Morell said she was very pleased with the opportunity to make a professional promotional tool—and also to work with Bergh.

“She’s very open to ideas and suggestions—she’s just a wonderful person to work with,” Morell said. “I had some information in our last newsletter promoting the video for Sanctity of Life, and another local organization called to get [Bergh’s contact] information. Hopefully by word of mouth, she can get to be [more well-known].”

With Revolution Media’s mark on Christian promotional materials and various entertainment programs, Bergh said she hopes the organization eventually harnesses the resources to host a Christian satellite network of its own. Until then, Bergh and many talented others will continue to work to return family-friendly entertainment with Christian values to viewers’ homes.

“[Hopefully people will] realize that this used to be what family entertainment was,” Bergh said. “They had some very strong moral values [and] that is what the world is missing now in entertainment.”


For more information, visit www.revolutionmediaonline.org.