Having been I Am Second’s Executive Producer for the past 16 years, I am constantly asked, “Which I Am Second film is your favorite?” Yet, for some reason, I am never ready with an answer. Instead I opt for a default answer, which is usually the latest film, since it is still fresh in my mind. Or I may talk about all the films having a place in my heart, much like a parent loves his children equally.
But while I may not have a favorite, some films speak deeply to me for different reasons. All the Brian Welch films are important to me because his White Chair Film was the first I Am Second film to truly go viral around the world, and because Brian’s story was so captivating, we ultimately produced a feature documentary for Showtime and other mainstream audiences.
Annie Lobert’s film cut me to the core as her transparency and emotion pierced our film set. Jim Munroe provided an amazing depiction of how the blood of Jesus brings about new life. The Hausers’ three-part story provides a display of God’s transformation of marriages.
And there are so many more. Megan Patrick’s story, Chad Robichaux’s Second Edition film, our Unlikely Friends conversations film, the Robertson’s Dysfunction to Dynasty series. I can go down a long list, because every film, in its own way, touches lives, including mine.
Yet, to me, Ethan Hallmark’s story stands in a category of its own. First, his story was homegrown. It was first recommended to us by one of our Seconds, Tamara Jolee Metcafe, and then endorsed by our e3 Partners/I Am Second colleague, Jeff Thompson. They both lived in the area and had seen how the local community had rallied around the 13-year-old and his family as Ethan battled a rare cancer condition. Parents were witnessing how the Hallmark family was demonstrating faithfulness in the midst of Ethan’s illness. Also, Ethan’s friends were coming to faith in Jesus.
When we decided to film Ethan’s journey as a documentary, the community was so energized that they helped crowdsource the budget of the film in just a few weeks!
The resulting short documentary, called Many Are the Wonders, captured the last months of Ethan’s life and was released in the fall of 2014. It truly depicts Ethan’s courage, perseverance, faith and spirit. It is a film I treasure.
Now, 10 years later, this month’s release of our Second Edition: The Ethan Hallmark Legacy tops it all. One year ago, we received an email from a man named Aaron Palmer detailing his special connection with Ethan Hallmark. After discovering more about that connection, we knew we needed to honor Ethan and his family through another film.
Each second of this new film is filled with deep truths. Ethan’s parents, Rachel and Matt, provide a perspective fueled by both joy and tears. The clips from the documentary show a boy speaking with a maturity beyond his years. And we see the result of how living faithfully, obediently sharing our faith with others and the work of the Holy Spirit can change lives for generations.
We are so glad you have the opportunity to view this film. Ethan’s example of sharing his and God’s story with others speaks to us all, so I encourage you to watch it and follow Ethan’s lead to go tell that story yourself.