Dear Friends,
In the spirit of vulnerability, I will outline some of the reasons why this project often keeps me up at night. I will also dive deeper into some of the things I love about this story. I will also outline the progress we are making on the film script and the team who is helping make this movie become a reality.
The absolute most rewarding part of this journey so far is the people. I am so grateful for having a reason to ‘sit at the table’ together with them. From the North Korea heroes I’ve met to the team that is supporting this project, and even those of you who are silently observing and willing to read this email every few weeks. I am grateful for you. I could write pages about the amazing people on this journey who already have changed the course of my life. Let’s start with the friends I now rub shoulders with regularly: Jared, Matthew, Kensington, Steven, and Heidi. There are many more I will mention in a future update…
THE PEOPLE
Jared Shores is a talented producer, director, and creative strategist who I am honored to work beside. I would even call him a legend, based upon how I see others in the field react, the work he’s doing and has created, and having the privilege of meeting with him every week on our project.
Jared co-produced an Oscar-shortlisted short called the REFUGEE in connection with Angelina Jolie and Brandt Andersen. [Note: You really should click that link and watch it.] It’s now been developed into a full feature film called “I Was A Stranger” and Angel Studios is releasing it in theaters on January 9, 2026. Jared also produced one of my favorite sketch comedy TV series called Studio C. This was a show that our family spent many hours watching and quoting.
| Great filmmaking isn’t defined by budget but by creativity, resourcefulness, clarity of vision and, of course, a great script. |
I am damaged goods…so who will ever love me? |
Doohyun’s father is labeled as a traitor by the regime. His family has been disgraced and thus Doohyun bears the burden of this internal scar that he cannot overcome. Jiyeon is attacked by robbers and knifed across her face from her mouth to her ear. She has an external scar and she and her family believe no one will ever truly love her. In their minds, they are each damaged goods, but yet can their love triumph over these internal and external scars? Will her parents accept this disgraced and orphaned young man to love their precious and scarred daughter?
Here are some adjustment/inserts from our first round of script talk meetings.
- Make sure we feel the love along the way and the price being paid.
- Make sure we always experience the force/face of antagonism from the State.
- Make sure we always track the cost of the journey for freedom, the pain and the toll it takes.
- Strengthen the beat so it is clearer that Father was turned in for jealousy - and being a capitalist.
- Feel the darkness then when there is finally light in China and the light grows as the journey takes Doohyun closer to freedom.
- Make sure the audience feels the barriers build up from experiences and ultimately from that event that nails the certainty of Doohyun’s fate. He won’t ever be free from his past and it now will stop his family from succeeding in this society.
- Make sure the NO TURNING BACK MOMENT echos with finality (like feeling the regret of NK pin being dropped into the river).
THE PRODUCER
This Project both Thrills and Terrifies Me! Doing anything that has the potential for BIG IMPACT will have risks, require hard work, and involve many people. As an entrepreneur I have accepted certain risks in all of my business ventures. However, producing a film of this magnitude feels like climbing Mount Everest while trying to eat an elephant at the same time. If figuring out how to produce a great film (i.e., the artistic side) doesn’t feel overwhelming how about risking millions of dollars on a venture in an industry rapidly evolving where I haven’t developed the expertise to assure success (i.e., the business side)? And it’s one thing to take risks with your own money but what I fear most is risking other people’s money…and I am doing it publicly to boot. Yikes! Oh yeah, there’s one more twist, we are producing films not really to make a lot of money but with the intent to INSPIRE others, ADVOCATE for an oppressed people, and make the world a BETTER place. Yes, I’ve already had many days when I wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out…and I know we haven’t seen the hard yet. Every day I have thoughts like "I don’t even know how to fund this film", but a voice inside me just says it’s going to work out. That is why we keep rolling forward.
I’ve asked myself many questions over the past year like why me when there are already talented people and amazing organizations producing great films, impacting the film industry for good, and reaching millions of people doing it! Just in this short journey I’ve already spoken with (who also follow this newsletter) people behind Angel Studios, Harbor Media Fund, Wayfarer Studios, The Chosen, Remember Films, and more. They have the money, the experts, track record, momentum, Hollywood contacts, etc., so why would I chose to do something like this and how do I expect to be successful at it? First of all, if I did not feel that this was something God wanted me to do I would not do it because I know without His support this is doomed. That is why I’m seeking for, and taking note of the miracles I see along this journey. Most of them come from my feelings together with the people I meet who offer their support. This is a journey that cannot be accomplished by one person. If people choose to brush this aside then it simply cannot happen, or it will happen with the support from others. But seeing our progress and including the growth this newsletter audience increases my confidence and excitement.
| DOES GOD REALLY CARE ABOUT A FILM? |
Well that is a question I have spent countless hours pondering. Something about this journey matters to God so I figure His will can only be revealed with time. I recently met a North Korean defector named Charles Ryu…he escaped from North Korea TWICE!
He came to America as a youth so his English is excellent and he produces some funny, entertaining, and super informative videos. He recently posted this Video about whether God is helping North Koreans escape. He interviews three different defectors who each observed miraculous events that helped them escape. These were crazy obvious events like a massive rainstorm coming out of nowhere right at the point where this defector would be spotted by guards but this storm distracted them so that they could slip by undetected. This video struck a chord after my noting the miracles that Doohyun and Jiyeong experienced in their harrowing journey to freedom. Plus, when I match up the feelings I have about this film project with these kinds of stories, it makes my heart pound, and it provides further clarity that God is involved. He does care about this story. I am certain of that.
I pray God will continue to help all of those who are oppressed, like North Koreans inside their country, or who have already escaped. I pray for all 26 million of them on a daily basis. I know that God loves all of His children.
Future newsletters will continue discussing fascinating layers this story reveals and also deep dive into other topics such as how a traditional indie film is financed, what unique strategies could reduce the financial risks of this venture in today’s evolving film industry, and I want to solicit your help for some ideas on what to include in our film (your ideas).
Gratefully Yours,
Erik Felsted
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