SoCal camels, livestock star in ‘Why the Nativity?’ documentary

A new entire-duration documentary primarily based on the Nativity was filmed with the assistance of a Ramona, Calif., manufacturing organization, livestock from all around city and some iconic spots.

Movies centered on the Nativity, which depicts the birth of Jesus Christ, usually function a good deal of animals, and this film was no exception.

The creatures in “Why the Nativity?” — the brainchild of the Rev. David Jeremiah, senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon — have been introduced with each other by Ramona’s Gem Canyon Productions, owned by Larry and Racine Poole.

Whilst the Pooles owned a lot of of the animals made use of, camels in the movie arrived from Oasis Camel Dairy, a donkey from Hearts & Fingers Animal Rescue, and other animals from personal citizens.

“It was a wonderful shoot and it appeared like we had long gone back again in time,” claimed Larry Poole.

The film was produced by Turning Place, portion of the broadcast ministry of the church. Capturing for the film commenced in April and was concluded in July.

The human solid numbered a lot more than 120, with 220 track record extras, 320 crew members and more than 40 stay animals. It was the biggest scale manufacturing to choose spot in San Diego Place due to the fact James Cameron’s “Titanic,” according to the site.

In all, 10 areas were utilised for the movie, together with two places in Ramona.

The Mount Woodson castle served as the interior of Mary’s house, as perfectly as the interior for the Aged Testament prophet scene and Julius Caesar’s palace. Mary and Joseph’s courtship was filmed at the Concealed Oaks wedding venue in Ramona.

Guiding the scenes, Bella the cow gets some very last-minute grooming from proprietor Racine Poole.

(Gem Canyon Productions
)

The Pooles reported that getting part of the film was an unpredicted gift. Larry Poole was at first questioned to be an actor but had to switch it down.

“I couldn’t get the job done on the movie as an actor, simply because as a member of the Display screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Tv and Radio Artists, it was a non-union part,” said Poole, who has starred in flicks these types of as “Shooting Star” (2022), “Last Shoot Out” (2021) and “A Soldier’s Revenge” (2020).

Then Poole was asked to take on the head wrangler situation. So in addition to remaining in charge of the animals, Poole and Gem Canyon — which supplies livestock for films and movie — coordinated with the homeowners or provided the horses, camels, goats, sheep, pigeons, chickens and even a cow utilized in the movie.

“Larry and Racine came in and have been capable to pull all the numerous animals below one umbrella and take care of the entire approach for us from start out to finish,” explained Shannon Mann, special jobs supervisor for Turning Point. “This not only streamlined the preproduction system, but it made the filming method much easier, as we understood they had all the animals taken care of, they knew the animals and trusted them and they had all the animals in area as wanted.”

The Pooles’ function in the film was one particular of the “nuggets from above” pointed out by quite a few people today involved in the output. These “nuggets” commonly included unplanned or sudden functions that led to optimistic outcomes for the film.

Another case in point was the sheep applied in the movie, in accordance to Racine Poole.

“We went out and bought some sheep just to do the film. We ended up on the lookout for sheep that would glance genuine to the moments,” she reported.

Not only did they obtain an 80-year-aged person ready to sell his flock, but his sheep turned out to be a breed of spotted hair sheep that originated in Nazareth, she stated.

The flock, which was “pretty wild” when bought, tamed down in just a pair of months, Poole stated.

“We have been filming their scenes around Thousand Oaks in the vicinity of the Santa Monica mountains, and there ended up no fences,” she recalled. “For the shot, a Roman rider will come racing in and the sheep scatter. By the 3rd choose, the sheep mechanically went back again to their commencing posture.”

Racine Poole poses with Whisper, owned by Nancy Nunke of Hearts & Fingers Animal Rescue in Ramona, Calif.

(Gem Canyon Productions)

And in another “nugget,” 1 of the sheep gave delivery in the middle of filming. The lamb, which made it into the documentary, was carried all-around by a youthful shepherdess.

Poole stated she fell in love with the sheep and strategies to continue to keep them.

Bella, an Angus/Holstein cross who lives with the Pooles, was also obtained for the documentary. Like many of the animals, she necessary unique instruction extensive ahead of she appeared on camera.

“We received her at 6 months outdated, and we did a good deal of perform with her so she would be gentle and used to matters,” Poole stated.

In her big scene, Bella is calmly munching on hay when a young boy arrives working into the steady and hides by leaping into the hay. Bella never ever flinched for her debut, in spite of all the exercise going on close to her, Poole mentioned.

As a person could be expecting for a film about Bethlehem, several donkeys have been concerned, frequently playing pack animals.

Just one of those donkeys was Whisper, who belongs to Nancy Nunke of Hearts & Palms Animal Rescue in Ramona.

“She was definitely excellent all-around the youngsters and the cameras and took it all in stride,” Poole mentioned.

Whisper relished a great deal of shut-ups in the film, and was even ridden by Rose Anaya, the actress portraying Mary.

In a scene from the documentary, “Why the Nativity?’ the character Joseph sales opportunities Mary, who rides Whisper the donkey.

(Gem Canyon Productions )

Goats had been considerable in the time of the film’s environment, and far more than 18 goats ended up used. Pigeons, chickens and horses can also be observed.

Doing work with animals on set calls for much more than just the actual filming — a lot of guide labor is included.

“We’re not fearful of work, and it is nothing at all but work on a set,” Larry Poole stated. “For a even though, we experienced a 7 a.m. routine of 9-hour times. The animals necessary to be fed, loaded for travel and held cleanse. It makes for very long, prolonged days with a good deal of major points needing to be moved.”

Gil and Nancy Riegler, entrepreneurs of Oasis Camel Dairy, who supplied their camels for the documentary, agreed.

Describing the over-all shoot as “a magical, gorgeous experience,” Nancy Riegler mentioned that quite a few times on established have been very hot and really tough.

“It was 100 degree times, and issues continue to experienced to search excellent. The actors had to stay cooled off and the animals needed to be saved comfortable,” she claimed of the 6-working day-a-week routine.

Remaining aspect of the film concerned “the stars lining up for us,” the Rieglers said.

“For our camels to be included, it actually was a Xmas wonder,” Nancy Riegler said. “Because of COVID we weren’t performing our ordinary fairs in June, and the bulk of the filming times had been in June.”

Camel coach Tricia Krussow offering Camelot a bottle of h2o between usually takes on “Why the Nativity?”

(Nancy Riegler )

The pair had formerly showcased their camels at Shadow Mountain Church in El Cajon as aspect of its once-a-year residing Nativity.

“Every yr we would deliver Camelot, a donkey and some sheep,” Riegler stated. “They movie it and the worship goes out worldwide. They have hundreds of thousands of viewers.”

The Rieglers have been 1st contacted about the film about three yrs in the past.

“At that time, it was going to be a medium-sized job. They have been on our residence quite a bit, scouting out locations and animals,” Nancy Riegler recalled.

It turned out that not only have been the Rieglers offered with their camels, but the weekend ahead of the 1st day of filming they had scheduled a camel education camp.

“For 3 days, we experienced 20 persons handling all our skilled camels,” Riegler mentioned. “Even nevertheless the camels could quickly see the people did not know what they were performing, by the conclude of the weekend, they could wander the camels any place. It set us up so well for the film shoot.”

The Rieglers furnished 7 camels for each shooting, though only 6 were being used, Gil Riegler said.

The couple also took care to give their camels lots of various seems to be. So even if it is the similar camel appearing in every single scene, the viewers believes they are observing various animals.

And though Nancy Riegler claimed she was very careful to keep out of as lots of pictures as feasible, her husband was highlighted in a number of.

“When the unique sensible adult men appear collectively and progress by means of Bethlehem, Gil was main Jamal, they both of those glimpse so accurate and phenomenal in this film,” she claimed.

Capturing scenes in the desert with the camels was a emphasize of the film for the Rieglers.

“Our camels have by no means been to the desert, so taking them out to Glamis for the shoot was a significant offer,” Gil Riegler stated. “We took time to allow them engage in in the sand before we received them dressed up for their pictures. They loved it, it was so substantially enjoyment.”