OVERVIEW: This resource is designed to help you create your own unique Easter or Good Friday experience. You can take advantage of this product in a variety of ways to meet your individual church's needs. The tools provided will allow you to do a live production using actors and the narrative script, or simply use the media elements for an adapted production. However you choose to take advantage of it, it's our hope that this resource is a blessing to your church.

TOOLS INCLUDED IN THIS RESOURCE:

• 14 page narrative script adapted directly from Scripture. Click here to see an excerpt.
  
  
• Full length MP3 audio recording of the narration (voices only- no music bed due to copyright restrictions.)
  
  
• 35 total images of the Willow Creek actors on stage representing each scene or "Portrait" (including close-ups and various angles). Images are in JPEG format at a resolution of 300dpi to meet nearly all printing or projection needs.
  
  
• 4 total graphics (based on an original painting) provided in jpeg format to meet your graphic design needs. Add your own church name and information on posters, in bulletins, brochures, on the web, or in any other printed materials you create.
  
  
• Production documents including:
  • List of costume requirements per character (Word Document)
  • List of prop requirements (Word Document)
  • List of costume changes and props per scene (Excel Document)
  • List of Volunteer Assignments per scene (Excel Document)
  • Power Point presentation of text elements from the script (each slide also available as a JPEG)
  • 8 basic stage design sketches (JPEG format)
  • A sample cue sheet of the service order (Word Document)

Note: There are no video elements or music elements included in this resource. The video preview clip shown is meant to provide an example of the look and feel of this service.

LIVE PRODUCTION: This is a very unique and powerful service. It is designed to walk the audience through the final days and hours of the life of Jesus; and to give them space to remember. By using a combination of several artistic components you can create a moving encounter that will engage your audience on visual, intellectual, artistic, and spiritual levels. If you choose this option, here are the primary elements you will need.

• Narrators
• Actors
• Costumes and props
• Lighting
• Music
• Volunteers

Narrators: The script calls for 4 narrators, 1 female and 3 male. They can either be set off to the side of the stage with microphones, or can be out of sight. It is recommended that the narrators be dressed in all black, with very soft lighting, as to not distract from the "portraits". The use of music stands to hold the scripts is also recommended as it is very difficult to memorize and master the timing without following the script exactly. There is a sample recording of the narration included in this product as an example of how the script can be read.

Actors: In order to portray each portrait, 13 male actors are required. Fewer actors can be used if you wish to show an "abbreviated" version of the scene. (For example the Last Supper would normally include all 12 disciples plus Jesus, but it can be staged with less if necessary). The actors are all male, playing the part of Jesus, his disciples, Pilate, and others. They have no spoken lines whatsoever. The actors' job is to pose and hold as still as possible for the length of time the portrait is lit. The actors' positions are carefully determined and practiced so the transitions can be smooth and there is no scrambling to remember where to stand or how to pose. Images are provided for each scene (including close-ups and various angles) to serve as examples of how to place your actors.

Costumes/props: The costumes and props are critical to the authenticity of the portrait. The audience should be able to immediately recognize Jesus, Pilate, Judas, etc. In the Willow Creek service, the actors were all situated behind a scrim and given special lighting to make them appear as if in a photo or painting. (If you need vendor references for a scrim, here are suggestions: Dazian Fabrics and Rose Brand.) Here are some additional websites that might be helpful regarding use of a scrim: Studio Productions, Inc., eHow, Live Design Online, and Church Media. We used many volunteers including seamstresses, woodworkers, artists, and others to gather the props, build the set, and make the costumes. For further information and ideas, or to hire a seamstress (for churches in the Willow Creek area) you can contact Kathy Skoby at katsby1@yahoo.com. For a visual reference and for costume ideas, see the images of each scene included in this product. Another suggestion (one that Willow used in helping with costume ideas) is the Mel Gibson movie, "The Passion of the Christ".

Lighting: If you are planning to set up each of these portraits using a scrim, an experienced lighting technician would be very beneficial to have on your team. However, each portrait can certainly be featured using the fading in and out of spotlights. It is important however, to be able to offer darkness throughout the stage and audience to make the transitions between portraits invisible. The lighting technician also has to be well rehearsed in the transitions from portrait to portrait as this is critical to the timing and the feel of the service.

Music: There are multiple ways you can add music to this performance. The soundtrack from "The Passion of the Christ" movie offers a very powerful and moving experience when paired with the narration and portraits. If you choose to use this music, here are some suggestions in order for you to be copyright compliant.

• You can perform the music using your own musicians. In this case you just purchase the charts from somewhere like www.sheetmusicdigital.com.
• If you want to create the charts yourself, then you need permission from the music publisher. Look up the specific song in ASCAP and contact that publisher for permission to make an arrangement of the song(s).
• If you would like to play the actual CD in your service you can do that without permission; HOWEVER you cannot sync it with any video or recorded piece.
• If you would like the CD to be played during walk in or walk out of your service you would need the Performance Rights Licenses.
• If you want to use the CD in any other way (synched to video, etc.) you must contact the record label (in this case Sony Classical) and ask for permission.

Any music that offers a variety of dramatic and peaceful moments will give you the feel and transitions you are looking for. Be creative! This might also be an excellent opportunity for a composer to use his/her gifts as this is largely instrumental and doesn't require a specific structure. (Note: There are no music charts or MP3's provided in this resource due to copyright restrictions).

Volunteers: Volunteers are encouraged to be involved in every aspect of this service. All types of people are needed. Actors, musicians, set designers, prop coordinators, costume directors, those with technical, creative, organization, and helping skills are all required. The more hands the better! This is a great opportunity for your church community to get involved and experience the rewards of this project.

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ADAPTED PRODUCTION: If you choose to do a version of this service that does not include live actors, or you don't have the facility/stage for such a service, there are a variety of ways to adapt this resource to fit your needs.

Images: These are provided of each scene to use as your "portraits". By simply projecting them onto a screen, the audience can still experience a powerful service as they listen to the story and see the images.

Narration: The script requires 4 voices (1 female and 3 male) that can be performed live on a stage or platform, off stage out of site, pre-recorded, or there is an MP3 recording of the script provided.

Music: There are multiple ways you can add music to this performance. The soundtrack from "The Passion of the Christ" movie offers a very powerful and moving experience when paired with the narration and portraits. If you choose to use this music, here are some suggestions in order for you to be copyright compliant.

• You can perform the music using your own musicians. In this case you just purchase the charts from somewhere like www.sheetmusicdigital.com.
• If you want to create the charts yourself, then you need permission from the music publisher. Look up the specific song in ASCAP and contact that publisher for permission to make an arrangement of the song(s).
• If you would like to play the actual CD in your service you can do that without permission; HOWEVER you cannot sync it with any video or recorded piece.
• If you would like the CD to be played during walk in or walk out of your service you would need the Performance Rights Licenses.
• If you want to use the CD in any other way (synched to video, etc.) you must contact the record label (in this case Sony Classical) and ask for permission.

Any music that offers a variety of dramatic and peaceful moments will give you the feel and transitions you are looking for. Be creative! This might also be an excellent opportunity for a composer to use his/her gifts as this is largely instrumental and doesn't require a specific structure. (Note: There are no music charts or MP3's provided in this resource due to copyright restrictions).

Volunteers: Volunteers are encouraged to be involved in every aspect of this service. Those with musical, technical, creative, organization, and helping skills are all required. The more hands the better! This is a great opportunity for your church community to get involved and experience the rewards of this project.

Other Variations: There are multiple ways these individual tools can be utilized to create a service. You know best what works (or doesn't work) for your church. We encourage you have fun and be creative in building a service that is ideal for you!

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A SPECIAL NOTE: However you choose to use this product, our hope is that your church will be moved to remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us in a new and powerful way. His story is the most important one to tell, and we desire for this resource to touch each individual that watches or participates in it. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to share with you in telling His story.