There are numerous times when I will interview one actor, and following the experience, that actor will connect me with another industry professional that I have the option of interviewing. And in the case of Wayne E. Brown, that is exactly what happened. He recommended that I connect with Daniel Knudsen, and although I was unfamiliar with Daniel, I agreed to an interview with this intriguing individual, and I am thrilled to share our recent Q & A session with my readers today!

RH: Why did you decide to pursue a career in the entertainment industry? What kind of training have you had to prepare you for this career?

DK: I was interested in filmmaking from about as far back as I can remember. During high school, I began working on movies and then pursued filmmaking courses in college. I graduated from Thomas Edison State University in 2009, and have directed or produced a film each year since.

What was your first job in the industry, and what are your memories of it?

I got my first chance to work as a production assistant on a movie set near Orlando, Florida when I was seventeen. I absolutely loved it. I feel the same way about filmmaking that Eric Liddell felt about running. Liddell said, “…when I run, I feel His pleasure.” I believe that God created us all for a purpose.

As one who has been in front of the camera as well as behind the camera, what do you enjoy about all the various parts you have had in film production? What have been some of the challenges?

With my experience in the film industry, here is what I’ve learned. Being a production assistant is great because you don’t have to worry about the budget. Being an actor is great because you don’t have to worry about the budget. Being a director/producer is very challenging because you have to be careful with budget and logistics. Leadership can be fun, but it carries tremendous responsibility with it.

Most (if not all) of your work has been in independent film. What are the benefits of indie film and what are the challenges?

A few years ago, I was working on a commercial for NBC. While working on the project, one of the lead advertising executives said to me that he was doing what he loved and his budget was unlimited. I think that statement defines the difference between major corporate work and the indie world. The budgets are much smaller; however, due to the advancements in technology, excellent production value is within reach.

Courageous Love

What do you consider your most notable works so far? Please elaborate if you would like.

One of my most widely view projects so far is a romantic drama called Courageous Love. One of Will Smith’s script consultants, Dr. Stan Williams, worked with us on this movie. I’ve learned a lot from Dr. Williams on how to make a movie more entertaining. We had a great time on set. The movie was Patricia Mauceri’s first film performance since her role of Carlotta Vega on the ABC soap opera, One Life to Live. I’m very grateful to be working in this industry and doing what I love. I feel like my biggest accomplishment has been working with many talented people to bring powerful stories to the big screen. If you have Amazon Prime, you can watch the movie here.

You are part of the team for Crystal Creek Media. Please tell us about that company and what your role is.

Creed of God

My father founded Crystal Creek Media in order to produce uplifting films. Our first feature was an adventure thriller about corruption at the Federal Reserve called Creed of Gold. My dad wrote it and I directed it. That movie opened up a lot of other doors in producing and directing. In a small company, you have to wear many hats. When we are shooting a feature, I am often directing and producing. Off season, I do a substantial amount of work with post-production and distribution.

What are your current/upcoming roles that you can tell us about?

In the last few years, I have been more involved with acting. I just acted in my first lead role in a movie and I co-starred in the TV mini-series The King’s Messengers. If you have an Amazon account, you can watch the first four episodes here.

It appears that a few of your projects are faith-based. How do you feel the perception of faith-based works has changed in the past few years? What have you noticed as far as the production value of these works is concerned?

Yes, I have done a number of faith-based films. This emerging genre has gained substantial momentum in recent years. Earlier this year, the Christian-themed movie I Can Only Imagine outperformed the past five Best Picture Academy Award winners at the box office. The production value has made massive strides forward and the market has been welcoming to inspirational films.

What is one story or type of story that you feel the entertainment industry has ignored (or virtually ignored) and that you wish more attention would be focused on?

I think we could make a few more friendship stories. In film, we have a lot of action movies and love stories. I think we could explore more friendship stories where the relationship isn’t based on a shared occupation or romantic interest. By friendship, I mean something deeper than Facebook friend requests.

When you have some free time, what do you like to do?

Riding my bike and watching the sunset.

I have to say that Daniel thoroughly has impressed me in every aspect of his career, and the fact that it is clear that faith plays a significant role in his life is something that thrills me to no end. While his credits are still relatively small in comparison to others, Daniel is one who is choosing to do things the proper way. He has multiple skills in various disciplines within the entertainment industry, and it is gratifying to witness his use of those talents to produce projects that inspire others positively while still appropriately reflecting his outlook and ideals. It is my sincere desire that everyone will consider checking out all his links below and perchance watching one or two of the projects he highlighted within this interview. I am honored to be able to promote the works of someone who is so committed to pursuing his goals and dreams with determination, humility, and above all, authenticity. 

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