Content creator Alex Schwindt is a Capture regular. He’s been a keynote speaker, a presenter of numerous session topics, a discussion panelist, and a consultant for each yearly event.
Church Production Magazine wrangled some time with Schwindt, who also contributes to the magazine, to learn his approach to the art of filmmaking—both inside and outside the church.
Capture: Where are you currently putting in your filmmaking time--both in ministry and secularly?
AS: Right now I’m leading my own creative media company, which focuses mostly on documentary, commercial and non-profit filmmaking. I’m still involved with helping out a number of churches, but from a production and consulting perspective I’ve also started working with organizations like the Duke Divinity School to help resource churches from a broader perspective.
Capture: When you and your crew head out to a shoot, what specific objectives do you carry with you?
AS: I believe video and film projects succeed and fail before the cast and crew ever arrives on set. So once we’re actually in the field, my primary concerns are whether we’re executing well on our plan, whether we’re telling the best story possible with each shot and each take, and whether the collaborative relationships are running at 100%. If those things are happening, and if you can stay flexible and open to new possibilities, you’re probably going to end up with the assets you need to create something great in post.
Capture: Ministry filmmaking is such an excellent outreach tool. And it has positive impacts on the individual filmmaker, too. What are the greatest lessons you’ve learned as a Christian filmmaker?
AS: The single most important lesson I’ve learned in 2+ decades of creative ministry is that long-term success depends on remembering who you’re doing ministry for. If you get caught up in trying to make a pastor or an executive or a director happy, you’re going to get hurt--and hurt badly. But if you can keep your eyes on staying faithful to God’s leading in your life, you’ll be able to weather the ups and downs of day-in, day-out ministry. I’ve also learned to take breaks and stick with the discipline of taking a Sabbath. Our spirits, our minds, our bodies, our ministries and our churches can all suffer when we neglect the rest we need.
Capture: As a veteran presenter at Capture, what elements of Capture 2020 at Prestonwood are you most excited about?
AS: I’m excited to introduce even more filmmakers to the large Capture community that’s growing across the country. Film and media ministry can be an extremely lonely endeavor, and having a place where you can connect and grow with other people on the same journey can make all the difference. It’s even encouraging to discover just how much the big filmmaking gear and software companies want to get engaged and help out. There’s nothing else like Capture that pulls all these elements together. And it just gets better every year.
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