Paul Christensen and his wife Donna were recently in Oak Creek, Wisconsin shooting a live concert DVD for the Milwaukee based group Testify. The project, titled For the Rest of my Life, took place at Parkway
Apostolic Church in nearby Oak Creek. In addition to the DVD, the concert was also recorded as part of an upcoming live CD release produced by veteran Record Producer, Derrick Horne. The evening’s festivities featured high energy performances by Testify’s nine singers as well as the Parkway Church Choir, presented against the texture of a hand picked five piece rhythm section assembled by Horne. The ensuing performances provided a rich canvas of movement, color and visual excitement for the enthusiastic home crowd as well as Omega’s cameras.
Testify began as a trio in 1997. Because of the demand for a larger group, Director Andrew Mclean added additional members from
Parkway’s Youth Choir. In addition to their role as a traveling ensemble, members of the group also serve as part of the praise and worship team at Parkway Church. In order to satisfy the demand for Testify’s material and with the blessings of Senior Pastor Anthony Tamel, the decision to shoot and record the project was made this spring.
The project was produced by Andrew McLean, who also serves as Parkway’s Director of Music. Derrick Horne produced the live CD, served as Music
Director and assisted with musical arrangements and rehearsals. Paul and Donna Christensen served as Television and Live Event Producers, bringing in Director Carey Goin to assist with the shoot. Rounding out Omega’s talented crew were local shooters Jimmy Sammarco and Tom Caldart on Hand Held Camera, Paul Bodi on Jimmy Jib and Dave Zale and Tom Reardon on Fixed Cameras.
Assisting Omega’s crew were Michael Placek, Clint Mevis, Tim West and Dave Moore, who also serves as director of Parkway’s video department. Bethany Fobia shot all of the interview and behind the scenes footage, which will become part of the final DVD. The stage was transformed into a spectacular wash of colors by Lighting Director, Bryan Brunclik with Clearwing Productions, Inc., Milwaukee, 
who through Lighting Operations Manager, Aaron Hubbard, provided a full compliment of conventional and intelligent lighting. Parkway personnel assisting were Richard Paulick, Lighting, Thomas West, Projection, and Peter Fobia Technical Assistance. In addition, Tim Jung, Patrick Hansen, Jessie Rodriguez, Eric McLean, Todd Burant, Cory Pichler, Jake Davies and Robert Padilla served as much needed lighting stage crew.
Video Impressions, Chicago, Illinois, provided remote television facilities, with the assistance of EIC and principal, Mark Hislop,
who also shaded the cameras to capture the vibrant look of the stage. Additional camera facilities and a wide angle lens were provided by Steve Pantaleo with SP Video, Inc., Milwaukee. Metro Mobile, Chicago, Illinois, provided remote recording facilities. Metro’s Mike Konopka provided the engineering expertise for the live sound track, assisted by Darren 
Styles and Rick Canning. Parkway supplied the sound reinforcement system, with Shane Maki providing the concert mix at the Front of House position, with assistance from Parkway’s sound department director Jose McFarland and tech Gary Moore. Gary Moore and Greg Boone also handled Stage Construction and various technical issues. We are especially appreciative for all of Gary’s help during our stay.
Others providing valuable assistance were Gerald and Darla McLean who provided all the crew catering, as well as office staff
and printing department personnel, Anne Ney, Dawn Berg, Cindy Moore and Marie Cyborowski. Certainly not to be forgotten was the excellent rhythm section picked by record producer, Derrick Horne, who himself provided Acoustic Piano, Electronic Keyboards and Acoustic Guitar – Eric Elder on Bass, Marvin McQuitty on Drums, Mark Johnson on Guitar and Jeremy Teague on Organ and Electronic Keys.
The Long Form Video and DVD will be edited in Milwaukee at Parkway and be released in the Fall of 2005. The CD and television soundtrack will be mixed and posted at Derrick Horne’s Studio with a late Summer 2005 release. You can also learn more about the ministry of Parkway Apostolic Church by going to www.parkwaychurch.ws.
Paul Christensen and his wife Donna wish to thank Pastor Tony Tamel, Andrew McLean, all the members of Testify and the great folks at Parkway Apostolic Church for being so gracious to us during our recent stay. We are excited about the project and look forward to seeing and hearing the final CD and DVD.
