Last May I graduated from Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, and came home to the exciting project of producing our newest live drama, VIANNEY. Little did I know how God would use my interest in and aptitude for technology to move Saint Luke Productions into the 21st century, poised to produce and distribute new dramas that utilize the media in ground-breaking ways. Let me share with you some of the amazing technological innovations that I have been a part of during my year with Saint Luke.
June 2009
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My dad came up with the brilliant idea of using projected images in his new VIANNEY drama. I was able to find a projector which sits one foot behind the set, and projects a 6’X 8’ image. Then we designed a set that accommodated the machine and the screen.
July 2009
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July was spent filming, building the set, and rehearsing the production which incorporated video. I had a crash course in film, sound recording and editing in our on-site recording studio. What an exciting accomplishment to see it all coming together!
August 2009
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VIANNEY opened in Houston and all my technological experiments were put to the test. By the grace of God, the multimedia effect was a complete success! The audience loved the interaction between the actor on the stage and the cast of actors on the screen.
September - October 2009
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I finally began work on producing the VIANNEY complete audio performance. For this I not only had to record the CD, but to design the packaging as well!
November 2009
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Big changes in the office – Now that the show was on the road, I launched into building the office infrastructure. We wanted to centralize all information for greater efficiency, organization and productivity. The first step was to purchase a massive new server, or central computer, where all the information in the office would be consolidated into a simple filing system.
December 2009
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We then began an overhaul of our accounting department, switching to a new program, and creating a more reliable system of checks and balances to ensure financial accountability to our donors.
January 2010
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We sell DVDs, books, CDs and icons at our performances and on our webstore. The tracking of this inventory has been a nightmare, and so we instituted a new point of sale system, using barcodes and a mobile scanner, which makes sales at performance so much easier and accurate. This has been a godsend!
February - March 2010
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I began building a database system which would make the tour scheduling and publicity a lot easier, so that contact with our sponsors would run smoothly and their publicity materials could be produced quickly. This has been a big project!
April 2010
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Our website went live with a new content management system, which allows anyone in the office, not just a computer programmer, to make changes and add content to the site. Take a look at
www.stlukeproductions.com – I think you’ll enjoy all the new features!
I am very proud of what we have accomplished this year. While my dad was out on the road doing 145 performances for 80,000 people, the rest of us here in the office have been doing hidden work that might not seem exciting to audiences, but is the backbone of the ministry. I thank God for this opportunity to serve with my talents. I have learned so much, and I pray that I have paved the way for other young, innovative artists and thinkers to join us in this important work.
