Synopsis
Saving Faith is a story about a highly successful Wall Street stockbroker and atheist, Bill Stewart, who has been permanently injured in a car accident while driving intoxicated.  Two years later, Bill attends his first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting the morning after having caused the death of the driver of another vehicle.  Bill is forced to grapple with his past, which now haunts him, and challenge his current life philosophy — or accept a higher power that might save his life.

Background
The story that inspired the film is a very personal one for me, and reflects on a life-changing event in my own life:  my alcoholism and attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings from 2004–2010, which has led to my sixteenth consecutive year of sobriety.  While the plot, characters and relationships are fiction, the film is based on true stories and the people I encountered at those meetings.



New Beginnings
After recently retiring from a 30-year career teaching film and theatre arts, I decided it was time to start my own film production company.  LuckyStory Productions LLC is dedicated to producing films based on personal, universal life moments that are life-changing events worthy of a compelling story.  From short to feature-length films, documentaries to fiction, and comedies to drama, it’s my hope to tell stories that foster discussion, provoke action and entertain.

Early in my career, I had a chance to live in New York City for several years where I worked mainly in live theatre on Off-Broadway.  I worked in Europe and then with regional theatres across the country until my roles on daytime television—All My Children, One Life to Live, and especially my breakthrough part—a recurring role on Guiding Light opposite Morgan England, took me back to New York.

In 1992, I made my television series debut in Arizona as a guest star in Young Riders opposite John DeLancie.  I then co-founded Arizona Shakespeare Festival in 1992 and Southwest Shakespeare Company in 1994.  I have also appeared in Hidden Palms, Maneater with Sarah Chaulke, Deadly Dentists, Discovery ID, and numerous independent and feature films, commercials and industrial training films.  I have directed or performed in over 50 live theatre productions.

This is my first film as a writer, co-director, producer and actor.



LuckyStory Productions, LLC and PsychDesert Productions, LLC will serve as the creative and organizational engines behind this production. 

For information about me -- the writer, co-director, producer and actor, visit:  http://imdb.me/randymessersmith and www.randymessersmith.com.

For more information about PsychDesert Productions, visit:  https://psychdesert.com/.

Meet the team assembled so far:

What We Need & What You Get

The budget for Saving Faith is $20,000.  As you can see, the pre-production, production and post-production costs amount to 73% of the total budget. 

My first financial goal is to raise the $3,250 necessary to enter film festivals and provide marketing for the film so it will be seen by the widest possible audience.  Please see the section "Stretch Goals" below to learn how contributions beyond the original goal will be utilized. 

I invite you to join me on this journey and be an active participant in the realization of this vision. Check out the variety of exciting Perks you will receive when you become a contributor!  Perks are located on the right side of this page. 

How We'll Make a Difference
Producing a short film can be expensive, and it is very rare for a short film to make back any of its investment.  So why do it?   I've been successfully telling stories my entire life -- as a writer, actor, director, fight choreographer and theatre producer.  I've seen how certain stories can change people for the better.  I believe that Saving Faith has the power to be such a story.

We all can relate to the question of Saving Faith:  is it ever too late for redemption, or simply, to ask for forgiveness?  Our story's protagonist is living with an enormous amount of guilt because of what he's done.  He knows there is no going back and he's faced with a dilemma:  how does one react when a tragedy suddenly strikes your life?  This film deals with something so real and raw, and something that many can relate to in one way or another. 



Smooth Seas Do Not Make Skillful Sailors

Our #1 priority is the health and safety of our film and television community.  It is critical to our industry’s economy and continued prosperity.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic,  we will be following the guidelines set forth by Back2One (the New Mexico Film Office’s health safety initiative) and SAG/AFTRA's Safe Way Forward and Return To Work initiative to ensure we continue to operate a safe set in the current environment.



Ehhh, What's Up Doc?

We'd love to hear from you!  If you want to know what's up with LuckyStory Productions or the Saving Faith film, or even just have a question, use the Contact Us form at the following link:   

Saving Faith Film Contact Us Form

Otherwise, stay up to date on all of the latest news and events, and help us spread the word by engaging with us on social media!

  facebook.com/savingfaithfilm

  @luckystory2021