What is Beyond the Farthest Star?

Natalie, Pastor Rob Gore, & Jonathan Gore on Set of BTFS

It has been over a year and a half since I first sat in the waiting room for auditions for the feature film “Beyond the Farthest Star”. I started out as the “check-in” girl. Well actually, I started out running the camera for the auditions, and then got moved up to checking in the actors. It was then that I caught the “bug” of this film and began to invest everything I could possibly give to be a part of this movie.

As we sat last Friday night at the test screening, I couldn’t believe it was finally here. The first time I would sit down and see the movie from beginning to end. I had read the script of course, worked for two months of pre-production, saw countless audition tapes, co-wrote a song featured in the movie, was on set everyday for the four week shoot, and even worked a couple months of post production. But this was the defining moment where it would all come together on the big screen.

We had the Virtual Reality Theatre in Irving, TX completely packed with local pastors, guests, contest winners, and even a few TV Stations such as Trinity Broadcasting Network and Daystar. I sat next to Cherami Leigh (who stars as Anne Wells in BTFS) and we re-lived those four amazing weeks of filming back in April of ’10. We laughed as we saw our friends on the screen and at the amazing transformation of Cherami herself on screen vs. real life.

You see, Cherami plays a character that is broken and beat down, a Pastor’s Daughter with many secrets, who even had a failed attempt of suicide. So as my friend, the curled-hair-and-cute-dress girl, sat next to me I almost forgot that she was the same girl who was being tormented on screen, dressed in black with cuts on her wrist. She does such an amazing job at portraying the character of Anne that I actually got lost in it. I could see the world the way Anne did, feel and question the way she did, hurt the way she did.

Another star attending the test screening was the leading male Todd Terry. He is such a phenomenal actor and it is a HUGE honor just to know him. I don’t think there is another person on this planet that could have done a better job than Todd did as Adam Wells. He grips you from the very beginning of the film, causing you to go on this journey of self discovery, worth, loss, and redemption all in less than two hours.

So what is beyond the farthest star? The tag-line for the movie reads “Closer Than You Think”. I don’t want to spoil the ending, or even give too many clues away, but know this; it is not discovered through religion, but through relationship.

I love that this movie is not “in your face” about the message of Christ. But rather, you watch a journey of discovery. This journey is so real, and so raw, that if you aren’t looking close enough, you may not even be able to find the answer. I think that is why Jesus spoke in parables. It reminds me of the verse in Jeremiah 29:13 that says "Seek Me and you will find Me, when you seek me with all your heart." Sometimes all it takes is looking.

One thing is for sure, there is at least one person in this movie that the audience will be able to relate to; whether it’s the leading female Maureen Wells (played by the AMAZING Renee O’Connor, XENA) who is completely trapped in her web of lies, Pastor Adam Wells (Todd Terry), who has the weight of the world on his shoulders, Anne Wells (Cherami Leigh), who would give anything to leave this life, or any one of the other colorful characters that bring this story to life.

I couldn’t have been more proud of the film I watched last Friday night. I think I speak for my generation when I say, we don’t like things “sugar- coated”, we don’t like to be lied to. We want truth. And this film does just that, while still managing to ask you soul-gripping questions that provoke “what really is beyond the farthest star”?

The audience was left with few dry eyes, and the feedback was wonderful. You can see the video of the audience’s reaction to the film here: (VIDEO RESPONSES)

If I could come away with just two words to describe my time working on Beyond the Farthest Star, it would be this: Life Changing.

The director/writer, Andrew Librizzi, gave me the opportunity of a lifetime. Starting out as a college-graduate intern, to coming away with the honor of co-writing a song for the band in the movie with my brother Jonathan Gore, making memories that will last a lifetime, and learning more about God’s supernatural Grace, Favor, and Redemption that cannot be learned through any other way than by experience.

Thank you to all the cast/crew that worked on this magnificent film, and to the wonderful town of Leonard, Tx for letting us invade your lives! I am so excited to see what God is going to do!

Be sure to visit http://www.beyondthefartheststar.com/ and click the “BRING IT” button to bring this film to a theater near you, and also be on the lookout for the novel to be released in conjunction with its theatrical release! Become a fan on Facebook for the latest updates, and of course, check back here for upcoming news on my brand new EP.

With Love,

Natalie

Jeremiah 29:13 “Seek Me and you will find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart.”