When Brent Gudgel was a kid growing up in the ‘80s and ‘90s, he already had the makings of the filmmaker he’d later become. Looking back now, he recalls watching reruns of The A-Team, MacGyver, and Knight Rider and thinking, “I want to be in stories like that with my friends.” With his VHS camera, he would channel his favorite shows by enacting and shooting stories about himself and his friends trying to protect their neighborhood from Columbian drug lords—bringing justice to evildoers and defending the helpless from harm. Nowadays, Gudgel may not be an A-team member or a superstar director of action blockbusters, but in many ways, his present work recalls the justice-seeking spirit of those first creative endeavors. As CEO and co-founder of the non-profit documentary film company Deidox, Brent has directed more than 250 short documentaries, many of which examine social issues affecting the poor and marginalized in more than 20 countries. He’s also the co-founder of Chronicle Project, a production company that specializes in marketing and fundraising videos for nonprofit organizations while helping to fight against AIDS, poverty, deforestation, sex trafficking, homelessness, and persecution in closed countries. Most recently, though, Gudgel has been screening and promoting Deidox’s newest film, The Ordinance, which tells the story of how Texas cities—with the help of local churches—are working to bring an end to predatory payday lending businesses. In a recent conversation with CT, Gudgel had the opportunity to reflect on what working on films like The Ordinance has taught him about how churches can share their experiences. On this week’s episode of The Calling, join CT managing editor Richard Clark as he invites Gudgel to share about his many filmmaking projects, how he kept himself interested during mandatory chapel services at his Christian college, and how following people around with a microphone and camera may be one of the best ways to show what God is doing in the world.
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