We plan to produce many more of these little productions, some like these first two samples, will come from existing StoryTel programs while others will be created specifically as a short subject films. This is a great way to cover a topic quickly for less cost and it’s in keeping with the ever shorter attention span of people everywhere.

“Confession” and “Corpus Christi Procession” are located on the Screening Room page of our StoryTel website.

Here’s the direct link to our screening room page: http://www.storytel.org/screeningroom/

We have also put these StoryTel Shorts on our YouTube channel and our Facebook page.

Keeping with the Vatican's longtime custom on today's feast of the patron of writers and journalists, St Francis de Sales, this Roman Noon brings the release of Pope Benedict's message for the church's 46th World Communications Day, this year's B16-picked focus on the need for silence in effective communications work alongside that of words.

In this relentless age of digital media, suffice it to say, making space for the former can often feel like the greatest challenge of all.

For entire article click here.

One Example is our work for Saint Peter Catholic Church which demonstrates a few ways in which StoryTel can help one client to restore the sacred via our special media aid:

• We produced the short video: “Excerpts From An Upcoming Episode Of ON ASSIGNMENT” about and for Saint Peter’s that has already helped them to raise over a million and a half dollars.
• We made it possible for them to put this video on the home page of their parish website with us as the video host.
• We produced a “StoryTel Short” on their Corpus Christi Procession which is on their website, again with us as host.
• We convinced a local news writer to write an article about Saint Peter’s which was subsequently published in a widely read Omaha newspaper.
• We worked with one of StoryTel’s favorite photographers, Bob Ervin, to capture images of Saint Peter’s that they needed for their fund raising brochure.
• In 2012 EWTN will broadcast StoryTel’s full length ON ASSIGNMENT documentary about St. Peter’s which will inspire millions of viewers to restore the sacred in their own lives, family, parish and community.

This is why we can honestly say that StoryTel Foundation is on the front lines of helping those on the front lines!

Here is an exerpt. The man speaking is St. Peter’s pastor Rev. Damien Cook:

“I just feel really blessed,” he says. “There’s always been faith here, and I inherited that from the priests who went before me. Even if the congregation was smaller the people here were really receptive to the whole evangelization process — of going out and telling their friends, ‘You should come down to St. Peter’s for Mass. Just try it once.’ And once people do they get kind of hooked.

Rev. Cook is on the left

“So the people themselves are the greatest gift to me. They really want to know more about the faith, they really do want the sacred and are excited about restoring the sacred.”

These videos can be seen on StoryTel's youtube channel or on our screening room page. 

Check out our first short on Confession.

And check out our second short on the Corpus Christi Procession in Omaha.

The Customs agents were nice to us but they were going to hold our equipment for 24 hours or more until we or Miles Christi accomplished this step properly. The priests who came to meet us were talking to the man for us and it was friendly but serious and not looking good. In the midst of their trying to explain their religious order to the man who had not heard of them, one of the priests mentioned their founder Father Yanuzzi.

The customs agent said, "Father Yanuzzi?"

The priests said, "Yes."

The man said, "Father Roberto Yannuzi?"

The priests said, "Yes."

The man said, "Father Roberto Yanuzzi was my confessor when I was 18 years old! So he has started an order of priests?" Well Good for him! I love Father Roberto! How is he doing?"

He pulled out his cell phone and called his boss who was in the parking lot just getting into his car to go home for the night. Five minutes later the boss came back in to the airport and talked with the agent and the priests for a couple of minutes and then said, "fine, whatever the agent here says is fine with me."

And so the customs waters parted for us and we were waved through without even having them look at any of our stuff or filling out any paper work at all. The priests only had to give him Father Yanuzzi's mailing address and promise to say hello for him and give him his best wishes. And so it seems God wants us here for sure.

Shooting is going very well thus far. We still have not had enough sleep and it's 11 pm now. We just finished dinner about 45 minutes ago. They eat dinner very late here.

This marks the first time StoryTel has done any International filming. However, our Dirctor of Photography from our first two On assigment Episodes, Bob Barwegen, has international expereince and he has been wonderful in helping us with all the prerparations. 

So, we're busy with production planning and equipment and travel arrangements. It should make for some amazing footage.