Behind The Scenes Outlaws Of Ravenhurst Photo Gallery

Outlaws Of Ravenhurst Photo Gallery

Director, Mary Bowen, shooting the welcoming of the Gordon at the Abel cabin.

Patrick Atwood (Muckle John) and Becket Bowen (The Gordon) lean out the castle window at Kasteel Noz.

In 2012 I watched Navis Pictures The War of The Vandee. I was fascinated that it was possible to create movies with a cast of children.

Not only fascinated, I was inspired.

A short while after that, my three brothers, my sister and I pooled money together to buy a Canon Camcorder.

This was just the beginning of our movie making endeavors. It was actually my mom who encouraged us to make a full length film with the homeschoolers. I remember that my dad had read a book that just sat on the shelf. As a little kid I remember looking at the pictures but was never very interested in the story or ever wanted to read it. My dad told us it was a good story and told me I should read it. I think I was 12.

Director, Mary Bowen and Script Supervisor, Faustina Bowen stand with who the cast call "King" Noz of Kasteel Noz.

Quick run through with actors before the shoot.

Lady Margaret's costume, complete with her headdress.

James Phillips (Godfrey) and Becket Bowen (The Gordon) wait for "Action!"

It was so full of adventure and fun!

Then my sister, Faustina, read the book. We could not help talking about it. We were children and "had been to Scotland", seen drama, and had to tell each other about it over and over again! (In fact, we still do that with the books we have read!)

At night we would do the same thing with Dad until Mom announced that she was missing out on something and had to read the book. As soon as she was through she said it had to be a movie.

With that idea in my head, I reread the book five times. I can see it now, from where I sit, it has been read so many times the cover is gone. The cover which had Angus, in surplice and kilt defending the Blessed Sacrament, his King and God. The spine of the book has long since disappeared I can hardly remember what it looked like except the glorious title-Outlaws of Ravehurst.

Outlaws Of Ravenhurst Photo Gallery

Anna Maria Quiroz (Benson) completely costumed, reviewing the script with Script Supervisor Faustina Bowen.

The Abell Family: Daddy Abell (Frank Lawrence), "George" (Becket Bowen) Mammy Abell (Faustina Bowen), Joel (Thomas Erskine) and Lizzie (Abbey Erskine)

I was so excited, I got to work right away on the script. I spent many months on the work.

Alas! I was just rounding the climax when the Gordon finds poor James locked under the castle, when the computer crashed. I was devastated! I was so close! If only we could save all the work I had put into that script!

But no, it was all gone...We could only save it if we put several hundreds of dollars to extract files from the dead computer.

I was so disappointed that I would not approach the project for three years. (Dad was disappointed too. He lost all his music.)

Three or four years later, Faustina took up the project where I left off. She faithfully copied the spineless book into a gorgeous screen play. It took her a full year to complete it. Mom read the script out loud, Jim Morlino read it, Fr. Pentergraft read it and after some edits, it was perfect!

Kathleen Bowen modeling Lady Margaret's headdress and wig.

Mary Bowen, Director, overseeing a read through with the cast of the Mass Scene.

James Phillips (Godfrey) and Jonah Lawrence (Sir Roger) act in the whipping scene.

Jonah Lawrence (Sir Roger) and James Phillips (Godfrey) share a laugh over a blooper.

First, we needed to find some actors. Next we realized that we were going to need to do some serious fundraising. Then came the actual fun and work of making the movie.

On August 5, 2017 the big day came. We casted 22 children to act in Outlaws of Ravenhurst. What a moment! To get everyone warmed up, I recited the poem My Hoggie by Robert Burns for all the kids to get in the Scottish mood.

We gave all the children a line from popular movies and had them repeat the lines in different emotions: sad, angry, surprised.

No one was shy or embarrassed during the auditions. As soon as each actor was done with their audition, we measured them for their costumes! The age range of the cast was from 45 years to 4 months.

In September, I put together a pledge drive for the Earl's Room. I wanted this particular set to look impressive so our budget was $700. I especially wanted a certain picture of Our Lady. I saw it on Art.com and just had to have it in the movie. It was $200.

In Outlaws Of Ravenhurst, the painting of Our Lady would play a special part in stressing a child’s faith in the influence of Our Blessed Mother before the throne of her Son.

I made the pledge drive fun by having The Virgin Annunciate painting gifted to the largest donor to the pledge drive! Money poured in from all directions, and I am glad to say, we passed our goal by $100.

Outlaws Of Ravenhurst Photo Gallery

Jonah and James in the Whipping Scene.

Jonah Lawrence (Sir Roger) checks out how the microphone sounds in the headphones.

Our first shoot day was in August of 2017. Our last shoot was in June 2018. We premiered Outlaws of Ravenhurst on July 21, 2018. After we finished the first 30 minutes of movie we showed it to the actors and families in January. The day after this mini premiere, Fr. Stephan got busy and had to bow out of the movie.

I replaced him with a new actor. I also moved the original Sir Roger to Muckle John and pulled in a new actor to be Roger. Then the actress for Lady Margaret could not make it to shoots any more. I had no one to fill this position with so I jumped in and starred in my own movie.

The tough scenes that needed to be shot several times were the coach scene (shot 3 times), the scene with Lady Margaret and the Gordon in the Earl's Room (shot 4 times) and the tunnel scene (shot 3 times).

It felt so good drawing towards the end of shooting and having actors one at a time being done forever. It was really great when the first of the three main characters, Godfrey, was done. 

Moms contributed to catering at the shoots. I don't think there was ever so much healthy food at a children's project event!

Cast and crew members get ready for another shoot day. For the view that The Gordon gets through the hole in the tunnel, we made the set only wrap around one corner, which limited our angles, but was easier set up and less costly.

Luke Cavanaugh (Little James) and Matthew Anderson (Little Stephen) get a refresh on their lines for the Mass Scene.

Becket Bowen (The Gordon) and Kaitlyn Valdez (Betsy) in the rearranged Earl's room.

Faustina, Kathleen, and Mary Bowen stand behind the camera while filming the Mass Scene.

The premiere was a smashing hit! Noz Kasteel was a perfect venue, and we were honored to have Mr. and Mrs. Noz in attendance. Jim Morlino flew from Connecticut to be at the premiere.

The premiere included classy concessions, a directing Q&A, a hugely successful silent auction. Our evening's highlight was meeting and hearing Mr. Jim Morlino's speech about the importance of reclaiming the culture through the arts.

The movie was very awesome as well. The actors sat in the front row and were thrilled to see themselves on the big screen.

After minor technical difficulties and many desperate prayers the movie turned out great and got rave reviews!

The party was over around 9 but we got home around 11. We stayed up until 1:00 am counting how much money the premiere made, talking to Mr. Morlino and continuing the celebration.

The premiere made $1,500 which was a happy start for Max & Carlota! 

I'd like to thank everyone who came out to our big premiere! All the work was nothing compared to the joy we felt in sharing this very special evening with you.

On the last shoot day we celebrated by playing Highland games in full Scottish costume. After a relay race, Laird Jamie (Michael Bowen) is victorious.

A typical lunch break during a shoot day.

Becket: Traits that I like about my character is how he is headstrong and stubborn about his faith and just sticks to it without trying anything new.

Jonah: I like how Sir Roger was a very assertive man who was there, said what he said and was blunt about it. He got to yell. I like to yell.

James: I like my character's attitude and his plan.

Michael: My favorite scene was the ocean scene in the end because I got to go to Monterey Bay.

Elijah: I like how my character is a priest and how he climbs in the fireplace.

Frank: Some traits that I like about my character is that he is a commanding father and his children obey him.

Thomas: I really like how my character, Joel, prayed a lot.

Paul: I like how Edwin had all the inside information and knew what was going on when he was thought to be fooled.

Kaitlyn: I liked how even though she could have lost her job, Betsy told The Gordon about his mom.

Luke: I like that Jamie becomes an Earl of Ravenhurst.

Matthew: I like that Stephen got to become a priest.

Clare: I liked seeing my friends every time I acted.

Declan: Roger was a little wimp but he got to go to Castle Noz and hiding from Bertrand under the table.

Grace: I liked speaking. I also liked the good guys and the bad guys and watching the fight at the mass.

Emiliano: My favorite part about being in the movie was being with my friends.