Production Notes
From Director Brandon Wade

When I first decided to produce a documentary film about the history of Rainbow Trail back in 2004, I went in with ignorance, but with a passion to tell the truest story that I could help uncover. I had never made a historical feature-length film; especially, I had never dealt with 50+ years of history. I trusted in the creative system that as long as I could use the connections and friends that I knew about, I could help make something that would show appreciation for Rainbow Trail and the impact it has on people. When you are on staff at RTLC (since the Jarvis era), you get a chance to hear the history boiled down into about an hour by Don Simonton (the founding director of RTLC). However, that happened up until 2006, when Don was too ill to make it to camp.

Finding funding to produce the film that I had in my head was something of an undertaking. I thought, first off, that I would have the whole production sponsored by former staff; just another way to support RTLC, but the funds didn't come pouring in. I then tried to track down corporations that could use this film to help promote their product or service. I even talked to the Westcliffe Chamber of Commerce, but the viewing audience was too small and the film was too small of a film to really make it worthwhile for corporations or local businesses.

I knew this was going to be a 3 year production, and I knew the gear that I had at the beginning wasn't going to work, so I took out a business loan to help front the funds to buy a computer editing system and the best camcorder that I could afford; knowing that I could pay it off as I worked odd jobs on the side throughout production.

This film was solely produced by personal donations, and matching funds from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. I also kept doing work for my business, Visionary Reflections, to keep me afloat, while working hard on the film.
Dave Jarvis and the rest of the RTLC staff has helped make this production happen, and I want to thank them for their help to support this project and add to their already hectic schedule to promote and help with the bookkeeping.

Below are some photos of production and some side notes about my thoughts on the process. Enjoy.


Brandon Filming for Trailer, Spring of 2005


Don Simonton Interview 2005

The first interview that I ever conducted was Don Simonton?s. Since he was the founding director, I knew that he would be the place to start. I had some fundamental questions to ask him at that time, but I mostly just let the tape roll for 2 hours and let him tell me everything he knew.



Filming in Mexico as a group from RTLC builds a house for locals who need housing. Summer 2005

There are SO MANY facets to Rainbow Trail's ministry. From mainsite programs, to building houses in Mexico, to day camps all over the Rocky Mountain region, to Backpacking, it was hard to grasp all of the footage that was going to be needed to help tell the story.


Brandon and Meredith Denning Editing and Outlining Don Simonton Interview, Late Fall of 2005

I have met some wonderful spirits along the way of making this film. It was Meredith Denning who helped envision this project with me, and I will forever thank her for her passion to help kick start this production.




Brandon and Simon Pineda conducting interviews, Spring 2006, Photo by: Simon Pineda


Brandon interviewing Dan Campbell who talks about how PopShop came to be. 5/5/06


Brandon interviewing Dan Campbell who talks about how PopShop came to be. 5/5/06


Brandon interviewing Dan Campbell who talks about how PopShop came to be. 5/5/06

I interviewed over 50 people for this film.



Aerial shot form Helicopter. 6/18/06

I had the opportunity to film from a helicopter, using the connections that I had from my business, to help aid in telling the story, and to give us a perspective of camp that none of us had seen before. That day was the defining moment of making a professional film.


Brandon filming during sunrise service. 6/30/06 Photo by Sara Witte


Brandon filming during sunrise service. 6/30/06 Photo by Sara Witte


Brandon filming at Cloverdale Mine. 7/4/06 Photo by Sara Witte

Not many people know that Rainbow Trail sits where it does because of the Cloverdale Mine, which is located above Rainbow Lake. I knew that I was going to need footage of the mine and focus some attention to the mine when helping tell the story of camp's history.



Brandon filming from Million Dollar Curve. 7/4/06 Photo by Sara Witte


Brandon in California for Harriett Porch interview. 9/19/06 Photo by Harriett.


Brandon scanning archival photos and documents in California from Harriett Porch. 9/19/06


Harriett and Brandon on lunch break. California. 9/20/06

I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Harriett Porch in California in the early fall of 2006. Thanks to RTLC for cashing in their frequent flyer miles to get me out to California. Harriett had boxes and boxes of old photos of the Rainbow Lake Club, which was the original resort prior to the Lutheran Synods purchasing it and turning it into a church camp. Harriett's family owned that club and Harriett was raised there until she was a teenager. I spent hours and hours scanning everything that I could, so that it would be forever preserved in the RTLC archives.


Erik logging footage of Dave Peters. Brandon working on scripting and narration and Corey importing footage. 9/26/06

I had collected over 3000+ archival photos. This takes its toll on a computer system with 4000 Gigabytes (4TB), and a 150 square foot office.


Corey importing Hunger Meal footage. 9/26/06


"Cruzer" working hard on the script, and Matt talking through ideas for the film. 9/22/06


Corey creating a log sheet and Mark Fincham logging Don Simonton's interview. 9/28/06


Brandon and Matt filming Pikes Peak. 10/27/06


Brandon filming Pikes Peak. 10/27/06


Matt on location. 10/27/06

Thanks M@ for all of your hard work in making this production better!!! From sorting archival photos, to writing the script, to designing the art work and editing my words. Thank you.


Matt on location. 10/28/06


Brandon filming on location. 10/28/06

Filming the Sangre De Cristo Mountains at sunrise.


Erik on location at the Silver Cliff Mine. 10/28/06


Brandon filming on location at the Royal Gorge. 10/28/06

Right before this shot, I ran my leg into a cactus while traversing down part of the canyon to get a better shot. I had cactus needle marks in my legs for over 2 months!


Erik on location. 10/28/06


Matt, Brandon and Erik on location. 10/28/06


Sara transcribing interviews. 11/03/06


Joe Englund adding cello to the soundtrack at the Hersch Studio. 11/20/06

Joe and James went to college together and both studied music. Joe's additions to James' pieces where great and enhanced the whole production.


James Hersch recording Joe's cello for the soundtrack. 11/20/06

In 2004 I had coffee with James Hersch, a good friend I had met while working at RTLC. He said that if I needed help with the music for the film, in any way, he would love to help. He ended up writing 25+ tunes for this film and his music really adds to the telling of the story.



Brandon (and Matt) filming at the Denver Public Library. 11/30/06

Matt and I took some time at the Denver Public Library, and found an article that we used for the film that talks about Silver Cliff almost becoming the capital of Colorado. "According to the Denver Times, Silver Cliff would have won were it not for Denver including in its voting totals, Indians, tombstones and prairie dogs." (Denver Times - Dec. 2nd, 1909)


Recording of Charlie Pineda for the voice over narration of the film. 12/8/06

I pretty much always knew that I wanted Charlie Pineda to be the narrator for the film. He has a beautiful voice and a talent for reading the script in a captivating way. Thanks Charlie for your hard work to make this happen.


The Production Crew for LET IT SHINE at the Premiere in Denver. 2/18/07

(From Left to Right)
Sara Witte (Associate Producer), Dave "Cruzer" Cruson (Executive Producer), Matt "M@" Olin (Associate Producer & Writer), Brandon Wade (Executive Producer / Director), Erik Palmquist (Associate Producer) and Corey Okes (Associate Producer) (Not shown in this photo, but who helped out greatly were: Dave Jarvis, James Hersch & Charlie Pineda.)

Thanks for all of your help with making the film better & embarking on a voyage of self-discovery with me.

The premiere of LET IT SHINE was one that I will NEVER forget. It was wonderful to pack the house, and hear people laugh at the funny parts, cry at the sad parts, and to receive a standing ovation after the credits were finished.

If you were there, I hope you never forget that special moment.