Gary combines a deep passion for transforming culture through Film and Higher Education with a lifelong commitment to spiritual awakening. Gary helped pioneer the use of film as a teaching tool in Christian higher education. An award winning teacher, his use of Academy Award winning films to teach spiritual formation and theology have deeply impacted a generation.

Gary brings a broad background of experience in higher education, Christian schooling, campus ministry, missions and the local church. Gary has served as a campus minister in China and the U.S, and as a Vice President and theology professor at two Christian colleges. In addition to his duties at Act One, Dr. Stratton is also a faculty member at Bethel University, and the Institute for Campus Revival and Awakening at Yale University, as well as a featured speaker for Compassion International, and Senior Fellow for Campus Renewal and Awakening for ABHE. He holds a PhD in Jonathan Edwards’ theology of spiritual awakening leadership. Gary’s passion for spiritual formation and film are outweighed only by his love for his Savior, his wife and his four children.

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Vicki has a degree in Theatre from the University of California, San Diego. From there, she worked for several seasons at the Tony Award-winning La Jolla Playhouse. Vicki then taught Theatre and English at San Dieguito Academy, a premiere high school known for its arts education programs, winning several state-level awards for her teaching and productions. Vicki then served as Executive Producer for several Voice America new media shows while she worked on the craft of screenwriting. In Hollywood, Vicki was the Director of Development at Hero Pictures and the Managing Director of the Writer’s Table at Origin Entertainment. She was recently hired by Origin as a writer on a project she also helped to develop. Vicki consults on story and critiques scripts for several production companies around town. Vicki is an alumna of the 2003 Writing Program, 2006 Executive Program, Act Two, and is a Writing Program Mentor. She was the 2007 Alumna of the Year.

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Terence Berry spent several years in New York working for Citibank’s Media & Entertainment Group where he secured film financing for the major studios. Desiring to work more closely with filmmakers, Terence left banking and began producing short films, including Scott Teems’ award-winning A Death In The Woods. After moving to Los Angeles, Terence helped launch and run the Damah Film Festival and served as an associate producer for several shows on the Discovery Channel. That Evening Sun marks Terence’s first feature film and his continued work with writer-director Scott Teems. The film is based on a William Gay short story and stars Academy Award- nominated Hal Holbrook. The film premiered at the 2009 SXSW film festival, where it won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature as well as a Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble Cast. Terence is a graduate of the University of Virginia as well as the Act One Executive Program.

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December 27, 2009

“It’s like everyone tells a story about themselves inside their own head. Always. All the time. We build ourselves out of that story. That story makes you what you are.”

-Patrick Rothfus, The Name of the Wind

It is hard to believe that my first year at Act One is coming to an end. What a year it has been.  Despite a severe recession and a 50% drop in our Foundation giving, Act One finished the year in the black due to our greatest year ever in personal donations.  Your gift helped keep Act One on the front lines of advancing the kingdom of God in Hollywood.

I recently reread Patrick Rothfus’ marvelous book, The Name of the Wind, and was reminded again of the power of story.   Stories form the worldviews that literally chart the behavior of individuals and societies.  Act One remains founded in the belief that whoever tells the most compelling stories shapes the world.

All over the industry-on network television shows, studio lots, independent films, and web series-Act One alumni are helping shape the stories that shape our lives. There simply isn’t enough space to mention more than a handful of the remarkable accomplishments of our alumni this year, but here are a few highlights.

Television was one venue where Act One alumni shone.

• 2009 saw at least six alumni writing for current TV shows: Melissa Glenn & Jessica Reider on Leverage (TNT), Ben Lobato, The Unit (CBS) and Justified (FX), Kara Lee Burk, Romantically Challenged (ABC), Chris Easterly, Unnatural History (CN), and Kevin Chesley, The Hard Times of RJ Berger (MTV).
• Kurt Schemper won our first Emmy award for his work as a producer on Intervention (A&E). Emmy magazine did a beautiful piece on Act One due to Kurt’s success.
• Melissa d’Arabian became our first “celebrity” as host of Ten Minute Dinners on the Food Network. It was exciting to pick up the November issue of First For Women magazine and see her bright countenance on the cover.

Feature film also saw some wonderful breakthroughs as well.

• The Blind Side, produced by Alcon Entertainment, where several alumni play key roles, was the surprise hit of 2009, grossing $165M and counting.

Least of These, written and directed by Nate Scoggins was released on Starz.

• The Stoning of Soraya M, produced by Mpower Pictures under the leadership of many numerous Act One alumni and faculty, won the Audience Award at the 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival, as well as the Critics Choice Award from the Broadcast Film Critics Association.
• That Evening Sun, written and directed by Scott Teems and produced by Terence Berry won the prestigious SXSW Film Festival and has already garnered two Indy Spirit nominations.
• To Save a Life, co-produced by alum Christina Lee Storm, was picked up by Samuel Goldwyn for national theatrical release in January.
• The Ultimate Gift, written by Cheryl McKay (2007), was released in theaters in 2007, but its television premier in early December (Hallmark) produced a surge in sales (30,000 copies per week). The Ultimate Gift II is now in development.

Much more important than any visible accomplishments, the faithful witness and professional excellence demonstrated by Act One alumni across the entertainment industry shapes not only the content, but the very lives of their fellow artists.  Many must keep a low profile, especially Executive Program alumni called into network, production company or studio leadership.  These faithful saints are fighting the good fight every day as they slowly work their way forward in a challenging industry.

Your gifts and prayers make all this possible.  You are helping to write the story of Act One that is helping shape the world.  I could never thank you enough.

Have a very Happy New Year!!!!

Jack is the former Workshop Director of the industry’s most prestigious and successful television writing program, the Warner Bros. Workshop. Jack has been a freelance reader for the William Morris Agency and consulted on projects including Batman Forever and The Addams Family. He is currently an Adjunct Professor of Screenwriting at Azusa Pacific University and Columbia College of Chicago.

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Melissa brings a broad background in culinary arts, hospitality, relational management and sales to Act One.  Before moving to LA, Melissa served as Assistant Vice-President of Executive Dining at Lehman Brothers in New York City after managing several NY off-premise catering companies.  Professionally trained in French and Mediterranean cuisine, Melissa also worked in hotels, a country club, restaurants and food distribution in her home state of Georgia.  Melissa is passionate about Jesus and desires to bring God’s loving healing and transformation to people.  Her husband Brennan is screenwriter and an alumni of Act One’s 2006 Writing Program and 2009 Act Two Program.

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Please remember the Mission Field of Hollywood in your prayers. Ask God to raise up from the Church many new writers, executives, directors, and producers to present a Christian worldview in the entertainment industry.

We’d like to pray for you too. Please send prayer requests to prayer@actoneprogram.com