Events that change our way of looking at life, whether through pain or pleasure, tend to affect the approach we take to our artistic endeavors. Before completing the first draft in 1999, THE ARMOR was originally conceived as a future tense sci-fi; along the lines of BLADE RUNNER meets PHENOMENON meets END OF DAYS. Over the course of post 9/11 time it grew into something very different but more relevant for today’s world. Having a relatively faithless foreign correspondent buried alive in Christ’s tomb and suddenly transformed into God’s correspondent, whether he likes it or not, was too good to let go of. God takes this guy for a real ride. Took me with him.

What or who was your inspiration?

The inspiration was endless at times. My family has been extremely supportive through so many changes in my creative career. The makeshift study in my dining room became my island of Patmos during a self-imposed exile. While writing the initial draft, as the story unfolded, scene by scene, I was having a blast. There were times I became so involved in the process that I feel I was literally just watching this incredible show from the sideline and writing down what I saw. I really got to like these characters – even the ones I got to hate. They proved to have so much to offer from both sides of the coin.

How long did it take you to write your script?

The first draft took about a year to write, including research and character development. The second draft took a little over another year to complete.

What were some of the challenges that you faced during the writing process?

THE ARMOR is unquestionably R-rated material and I knew that if I was going to be honest within the story, I was going to offend some people. But bad people do really bad things and sometimes they do it in God’s name – which made me cautious about how it would be received. Yes, it’s downright nasty at times – but show me a Jihad throughout history that hasn’t been. Another challenge was all the while knowing the subject matter was going to be decidedly touchy to many, I also didn’t want any of it to cross into propaganda and unabashedly preach to anyone. Without trying to be arrogant; I wasn’t supposed to sugarcoat this story for the mainstream Christian audience. It was given to me to make God real to the lost masses and reset our focus on who’s ultimately in control of the big picture. It became for me as visual a close an encounter with the Master as he would allow.

What is your writing background? Do you have formal training as a writer?

My professional career over the last decade has been in comic books as an illustrator. My formal and informal training in screenwriting comes from sources that range from numerous books and periodicals, coupled with countless scripts of all kinds. I attended Michael Hague’s seminar to cement my structural foundations, then learned how to be daring enough to break them under the teachings of Robert McKee. THE ARMOR is my third script. It also finished in the quarterfinals of the 2003 Screen Expo 2 competition.

Do you have advice for other writers who are dealing with Christian themes?

Pray about your work, listen for the answers and stay true to the One who gives us these fantastic ideas in the first place. Let him tell the story; he is after all, the author of this epic tale.