Youth Creates Movies for Children's Stories

A trip to the Jelly Belly factory in Fairfield, Calif., and an interest in computer animation led Craig Church, a 17-year-old member of Hood View Church (Boring, Ore.), to create a special movie for the children's story one Sabbath.

Church, who often volunteers to tell the children's story, has spent three years working on an animation project. "In the process, I've made some short, animated films to pace myself and give myself a break from the same project every once in a while," Church explained. This children's movie became one of those side projects.

The movie, which Church created using live action video and still images, explains how everyone is special, no matter what outward flaws they possess. The inspiration came to Church when he toured the Jelly Belly factory and learned about "Belly Flops," the rejected jellybeans that are just as tasty even if they don't have the perfect Jelly Belly shape.

Church followed this live-action movie in February with an animated short, "The Hermit," in which a lonely hermit learns the value of having one Best Friend no matter what.

Churches interested in getting a copy of these movies to use for their children's story may contact Laurel Rogers at laurelrogers@yahoo.com.

Featured in: March 2005

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