Crew
Mark Knudsen
Executive Producer
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Combining filming with flying, Executive Producer Mark Knudsen has worked in the airline industry for more than 25 years. Captain Knudsen currently works for Delta Airlines and flies an A320 aircraft. Receiving his degree in aeronautical engineering from Western Michigan University, he focused on science and math. He was not interested in classes that involved a lot of writing. That all changed when he was looking to utilize spare time that he spent waiting at the airport or on layovers and started writing scripts. Today, he is busy as the executive producer of several Christian films with Creed of Gold, being his biggest project to date. Mark Knudsen enjoys living with his wife and six children in Michigan.
Michelle Knudsen
Executive Producer
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As a co-producer alongside her husband, Michelle Knudsen works to keep Crystal Creek in the black. Having received her Bachelors of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), she spends her time managing the logistics and business side of this film. Prior to starting a family, she worked as an Account Executive on Michigan Bell‘s business marketing team. With the arrival of her first child, she shifted careers and worked on raising a family. Now one of her greatest passions is working with her six children to impact the culture to help restore America‘s Judeo-Christian foundation. For her the best part of this filming project was doing it as a family. In her words, ―I loved the family meetings that we would have as we planned and ultimately produced CREED OF GOLD. It was exciting to have a vision and see how everyone worked together to make it happen.
Daniel Knudsen
Director
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Daniel Knudsen is an American born director, actor, film producer, and artist. With stage act-ing beginning elementary school, from a very young age Daniel knew he wanted to direct movies. During high school he actively com-peted in speech, drama, and theater. His love for performing arts led him to pursue theater and film. During film school his film acting talent was recognized by fellow students. After film school he went on to pursue an art degree with a focus in cinema production. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Humanities in 2009 from Thomas Edison State College.
No stranger to film production, Daniel has actively worked on sets around the country since 2005. His film directing debut came with the family comedy movie Late For Church, winner of a Jury Award in San Francisco at the 7th Annual WYSIWYG Film Festival, Fall 2006. In the spring of 2007 he directed the project showcase video for the Titan Sentry 5000, a disaster relief unit that was marketed to the Department of Homeland Security.
In 2009, Daniel wrapped up production on his second film Ultimatum, a dramatic multimedia presentation of the epic story of the Bible. Daniel observed, ―The Bible is literature’s greatest masterpiece. Not only has it shaped society but it has defined storytelling for us.” Ultimatum has been received well, particularly overseas. After requesting the film to be subtitled in Polish, Pastor Sulik of Bethel Baptist Church in Kraków, Poland wrote, ―You will find Ultimatum to be a soul-stirring presentation which brings its listeners to life’s most crucial decision point.”
CREED OF GOLD is Daniel‘s first major feature film. Working with his father as the producer was a special joy. In Daniel‘s own words, ―I worked closely with my father who was the writer of CREED OF GOLD. We work well together, he creates the story and I work with him on translating it to the screen. While the entirety of the project has definitely been challenging, Daniel has thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience.
Kathleen Knudsen
Producer/Director of Operations
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Early in life, Kathleen showed an innate aptitude for organizing people and projects. Before long, she was actively writing and directing stage productions, which throughout high school provided an excellent avenue for creativity and art. After completing her high school studies, she pursued a short stint in politics where she ran for local office as an 18 year old candidate. Despite losing by 5 votes, the experience was one to be fondly remembered.
In 2006, a short two years later, Kathleen completed her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Thomas Edison State College. Since then she has worked with several different businesses and organizations, gaining valuable management experience as well as providing significant assistance particularly in corporate development. Currently, she is employed by Verity Institute, an innovative college program that assists young people in gaining an accredited college degree from a biblical perspective in under two years. Joining the team in December 2009 as Producer/Director of Operations, Kathleen‘s primary role in CREED OF GOLD was logistics. From recruiting cast and crew to working with the press team on marketing, Kathleen worked to provide the tactical support necessary to ensure the successful completion of the film.
Micah Lawrence
Assistant Director
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With experience in film, graphic design, and animation, Micah Lawrence, joined the CREED OF GOLD team as Assistant Director. A Thomas Edison State College graduate from the Class of 2009, Micah earned his Bachelor of Arts in Communication. From a young age he has pursued theatrical acting with performances before audiences as large as 2,000 people. In 2006, Micah worked as a graphic artist for the Institute in Basic Life Principles at their headquarters in Chicago, IL. While there he learned many of the initial design concepts which he has used in the years since. From there, Micah moved to on Studio 125 in Hartselle, Alabama where he worked as a 3D modeler. It was here that he learned to run sound equipment and was able to participate in live action television shoots.
As a student at Verity Institute (Indianapolis, IN), Micah worked as a student intern again in the graphics department. While there, he designed and created numerous brochures, pamphlets and other materials for the school. Since graduating in 2009, Micah has worked as a Freelance Graphic Design and 3D Artist doing 3D Modeling, Texturing, Animation, Effects, and Rendering. Additionally he teaches at Calhoun Community College as an Adjunct Instructor for Graphics and Animation.
For Micah, working on the production team of CREED OF GOLD was the experience of a lifetime. In Micah‘s own words, ―Tons of people talk about making a film. I am so glad I had the opportunity to be in on a project that went beyond talking and planning to actually putting a story on the screen.
Stephen Higginbotham
Director of Photography
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Stephen Higginbotham is a gifted artist, cinematographer, and photographer. After receiving his first video camera when he was only eight years old, he was deeply inspired to pursue both photography and cinematography. This fascination resulted in a deep interest in wildlife photography. At the age of fourteen, his first published photograph appeared in Nature Friend Magazine.
As a young man, Stephen has studied the art of cinematography and what creates a quality image, learning much from the award winning filmmaker, director, and photographer, Vincent Laforet as well as other notable filmmakers. Recently Stephen was privileged to give a presentation on film composition. Stephen has experience as a videographer for weddings, specialized classes, and conferences in addition to working on post-production, color correction, and motion graphics for a documentary on Haitian relief, entitled: Glory and Hope in Haiti’s Tribulation. He also was the cinematographer for an instructional film which is currently in post-production.
Working on CREED OF GOLD gave Stephen the opportunity to enlarge his experience in cinematography to include a major feature film. For Stephen the most exciting part was ―to assist in portraying a story that is thought provoking for our modern times.
Tabitha Davis
Make-Up & Hair Designer
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As the primary make-up and hair design artist, Tabitha Davis played a vital role in the success of this film. She was passionate about this film because on a personal level it provided her with valuable work experience and yet also presented a powerful message to the culture about moral relevance. A high-school senior, Tabitha plans on pursuing profession training in cosmetology.
Stacie Jones
Production Designer
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Passionate about film, faith, and family, Production Designer Stacie Jones played an important role in this film as she ensured that each set has the proper look and feel for the scene. A native of Texas, Stacie has worked broadly both in film and stage drama. She leads her own production organization, Morning Star Productions, and has produced a number of film shorts. Her experience in this industry is invaluable as she brings many unique talents and ideas to the team. Along with her work in film, Stacie also serves at the Hope Pregnancy Center, which assists women in crisis. She has a Bachelor of Arts in History from Thomas Edison State College.
Gracie Shepherd
Costume Designer
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When not working as costume designer for Crystal Creek Media, Gracie Shepherd is a journalist for the Augusta Chronicle in Augusta, GA. Originally asked to head up the press department, Gracie jumped at the chance to shop professionally once she heard the position of costume designer was open. Since she was to graduate from college less than a week before the movie began, she opted for more clothes and less writing as a change from her life as a Marketing/Journalism student at Verity Institute. In her own words, ―To go from writing 10,000 words a week to just shopping, organizing and ironing all day long was incredible. This was the job of a life-time.
Samuel Joshua
Composer
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Having worked with Daniel Knudsen as the score composer for Ultimatum, Samuel Joshua is joining the team once again. At the age of nine Samuel began music study on violin. It was not until second year of college that he considered music as a career. He switched his major from business to music, and decided to study piano at Eastern Michigan University with Steinway Artist, Dr. Gary Pedersen. He has since been the recipient of several music scholarships and awards. Samuel currently composes and records music for film and arranges music for church. He holds a degree in music, as well as film, and is currently pursuing a master‘s degree in piano pedagogy at Eastern Michigan University.
Cast
Taylor Lindsey
Role of Adam Smith
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Star of the film, CREED OF GOLD is Taylor Lindsey’s first movie production experience. As a child, Taylor, the first born son in his family, enjoyed watching movies such as Robin Hood by Disney. Growing up near the Dallas, Texas area, he developed an avid interest in photography as a teenager. Currently, a sophomore at Verity Institute, Taylor is pursuing a bachelor‘s degree in journalism with an emphasis in photojournalism. He has already been able to use his proficient skills in photography while participating in mission trips to places such as New Zealand and Pakistan. Twenty-year-old Taylor is about to attain a new level of experience with cameras when he makes his debut as ― “Adam” in CREED OF GOLD. Taylor is enthusiastic to be a part of this new adventure with Crystal Creek Media because he is anticipating the positive, affirming impact that this film will have on the culture around him.
Ellen Lawrence
Role of Kirsten Stanford
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Ellen Lawrence loves acting. Growing up as the fourth child in her family, one of her favorite movies was The Sound of Music. Now, at the age of nineteen, Ellen has her own acting repertoire that consists of voice acting, involvement in her brother‘s movie projects, and dramas with her church. Ellen is beginning her professional portfolio with her work co-starring as ―Kirsten in CREED OF GOLD. What did Ellen most enjoy about the new venture? ―Spending time with all the incredible people involved, and getting to enjoy acting while doing something meaningful. This fall Ellen is enrolling as a freshman at Verity Institute, majoring in nutritional science, while continuing to look for further acting opportunities.
Nicholas Willeke
Role of Cody Williams
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As a child, Nicholas Willeke acted in church dramas and went on to compete for four years in debate and speech in high school. There he won first place awards in Debate Speaker Awards, Impromptu Apologetics, and Extemporaneous. Nicholas always thought it would be fun to act in a movie. It took the first 17 years of his life for the opportunity to present itself. During lunch break at a debate tournament in Cleveland, Ohio, Director Daniel Knudsen asked Nick if he would be willing to try out for a film that Daniel was shooting over the summer. Caught a bit off guard by the request, Nick recounts, ―I was confused…but thought I‘d give it a shot. I ended up landing the role I auditioned for and headed to Indianapolis for the summer.
Alexander Ganahl
Role of Byron Takitt
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From Jamestown, Indiana, 19-year-old Alexander Ganahl has been extensively involved in volunteer projects and organizations to benefit his community. Participating in 4-H clubs, disaster response teams, and political campaigning, this summer was his first foray into film-making. A senior at Verity Institute and majoring in English, Alexander is continually striving to develop his communications skills, actively seeking new channels to proclaim truth. ―Working on a film such as this, with the goal of delivering a message of truth, is a step toward my life goal of telling the truth to the world. Alexander is seeking to become a journalist, focusing on government communication and media as an outlet to fulfill his life goal.
Vanessa Ewing
Role of Jenell Slone
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For Vanessa Ewing acting comes naturally. Involved with acting since a young child, she participated in church dramas and community theater productions such as Tom Sawyer and Peter Pan. From there Vanessa got involved with Neighborhood Youth Theater (NYT) and continued with them into High School because she enjoyed it so much. In her own words, ―I loved how in most of their productions you had an opportunity to act, sing, AND, dance! Major productions Vanessa has been in are “Annie,” “A Christmas Carol,” and “Music Man.” Some of the more major roles she has had are: Fern in “Charlotte’s Web,” one of Annie’s siblings in “Annie Get Your Gun” Bofur, a dwarf in “The Hobbit,” and my favorite the Witch in “Into the Woods Jr.”
Dr. Jay L. Wile
Role of Gerald Steinberg
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Dr. Jay L. Wile is a published playwright and a veteran of the stage. Early in his adult life, he pursued a career in acting but eventually decided to look for more stable work. He then took the next logical step and went to The University of Rochester to earn a PhD in nuclear chemistry. His favorite stage roles include El Gallo in “The Fantasticks,” Maurice in “Beauty and the Beast,” Lancelot in “Camelot,” and Harold Hill in “The Music Man.” While not nearly as experienced in film, he has been trapped in cellophane a few times—playing roles such as Regis Philbin character in the General Motors training film “Who Wants To Be a Better Engineer?”
Dr. William Greene
Role of Stuart Warnwall
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Dr. William Greene started acting during his senior year of high school when he was cast as the Professor in “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”. He took to it quickly and landed the lead male role in his second play. In college, Dr. Greene acted in plays every semester, ultimately winning the Drama Award after his second year there. Eventually though, he switched gears, going into political science and eventually ending up in academia and political consulting.
However Dr. Greene never lost his love for acting, so when he was invited to audition for CREED OF GOLD while teaching a class at Verity Institute, he put his heart into it—and ended up as one of the “big bad guys” of the movie. Commenting on the experience, Dr. Greene said, ―I have to say – I loved it! I was so impressed with everything about this movie – the writing, the directing, the professionalism of both actors and staff.
