Wild West Filmmaking

Wild West Filmmaking

by Josh David Jordan
TV & Film
Season 2

Am I Orthodox Enough? : The Making of El Tonto Por Cristo

The first investment made everything suddenly real. No more hiding behind an idea. Now I actually had to finish the script. I expected that to feel exciting. Instead, what showed up was doubt. If our investors are primarily outside the faith, do I even have the audience I actually want to make this for? Maybe I shouldn't be the one making this film. Maybe I'm not Orthodox enough yet. I didn't have a clean answer. I still don't know if I fully do. But I do know that question sat with me for a long time before anything moved forward again. We have something to announce on August 1st. Join the watchlist to hear it first. The Greenroom hears it even sooner. Join the watchlist for our upcoming announcement: https://www.eltontoporcristo.com/waitlist Join the Green Room for early updates, our monthly film club, and a closer role in what we make next: https://wildwestfilmmaking.substack.com/p/the-green-room Support Wild West Filmmaking: https://www.eltontoporcristo.com/donate Website - https://wildwestfilmmaking.com
S2 · E4
Jul 23, 2026
10:33

The First Belivers: : The Making of El Tonto Por Cristo

We assumed Orthodox Christians would be the first people to support an American Orthodox film. That felt obvious. So we put together a proof of concept and held our first investor house party. Just us, some footage, and a room full of people we were hoping would say yes. Something surprising happened that night. The first people who actually believed enough to write a check weren't Orthodox. Some of them weren't even Christian. They just saw something true in the footage and decided that was worth backing. That night taught me something I didn't expect to learn this early. Belief doesn't always come from where you assume it will. Sometimes the people who see your vision most clearly are standing completely outside of it. Join the watchlist for our upcoming announcement: https://www.eltontoporcristo.com/waitlist Join the Green Room for early updates, our monthly film club, and a closer role in what we make next: https://wildwestfilmmaking.substack.com/p/the-green-room Support Wild West Filmmaking: https://www.eltontoporcristo.com/donate Website - https://wildwestfilmmaking.com #IndependentFilmmaking #ElTontoPorCristo #WildWestFilmmaking
S2 · E3
Jul 22, 2026
16:59

Asking for a Miracle: The Making of El Tonto Por Cristo

Ideas are easy. I've got hundreds of them sitting around unused. Making a movie is a completely different animal. At some point, Jess and I got on a plane. Not for a location scout. Not for a meeting. We flew out to venerate the relics of Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco. Join the watchlist for our upcoming announcement: https://www.eltontoporcristo.com/waitlist Join the Green Room for early updates, our monthly film club, and a closer role in what we make next: https://wildwestfilmmaking.substack.com/p/the-green-room Support Wild West Filmmaking: https://www.eltontoporcristo.com/donate Website - https://wildwestfilmmaking.com #IndependentFilmmaking #ElTontoPorCristo #WildWestFilmmaking
S2 · E2
Jul 22, 2026
19:03

From Idea to Screen: The Making of El Tonto Por Cristo

In this episode, I tell the story of how El Tonto Por Cristo moved from an idea into a finished feature film. I wasn’t trying to make an Orthodox film. Somehow, the film found me. This is the beginning of the full story, from writing and production to the long road that followed. Join the watchlist for our upcoming announcement: https://www.eltontoporcristo.com/wait... Join the Green Room for early updates, our monthly film club, and a closer role in what we make next: https://wildwestfilmmaking.substack.c... Support Wild West Filmmaking: https://www.eltontoporcristo.com/donate Website: https://wildwestfilmmaking.com
S2 · E1
Jul 21, 2026
15:27
Season 1

You Have to Make Your First Feature Film (with Josh David Jordan)

In this episode of Wild West Filmmaking, Josh David Jordan shares his personal journey in filmmaking, discussing his early influences, the challenges of independent filmmaking, and the importance of community and collaboration. Follow Wild West Filmmaking on IG: https://www.instagram.com/wildwestfilmmaking/?hl=en Join the Substack: https://wildwestfilmmaking.substack.com?utm_source=navbar&utm_medium=web
S1 · E9
Feb 2, 2026
40:39

Andrew Stokich – Co-Founder of Logos Cinema

Logos Cinema is the world’s first Orthodox Christian streaming service, created to bring the beauty, truth, and richness of the Orthodox faith into the modern world through film, series, documentaries, and family programming. Founded by Andrew Stokich (CEO) and Zach Delaney (CCO), Follow Wild West Filmmaking on IG: https://www.instagram.com/wildwestfilmmaking/?hl=en Join the Substack: https://wildwestfilmmaking.substack.com?utm_source=navbar&utm_medium=web
S1 · E8
Jan 15, 2026
1:07:21

Indie Filmmaking Is a Full-Time Job (with Josh David Jordan)

Behind every indie film is a full-time job that never ends. On today's solo episode, Josh dives into the daily grind, sacrifice, and calling that define independent filmmaking. --- Follow Wild West Filmmaking on IG: https://www.instagram.com/wildwestfilmmaking/?hl=en Join the Substack: https://wildwestfilmmaking.substack.com?utm_source=navbar&utm_medium=web
S1 · E7
Oct 13, 2025
37:07

Michael Paraskevas - Composer (Pt. 2)

Michael Paraskevas is a Los Angeles-based composer deeply immersed in storytelling through film and visual media. An enthusiastic collaborator and nostalgic film nerd, he loves exploring a variety of styles in his music and enjoys working with ambitious artists to share engaging and impactful stories. Most recently, he scored the Disney+/Marvel series, Agatha All Along starring Kathryn Hahn, alongside Christophe Beck. The show’s musical palette is highlighted by its subversion of the traditional superhero sound, its fusion of horror with other recognizable musical styles, and its exploration of eclectic sounds and evocative textures. His musical fingerprints can be found across a wide spectrum of genres, including projects such as Hawkeye, El Tonto Por Cristo, Unspoken, Frozen II, This World Won’t Break, and the Emmy-nominated score to WandaVision. Texas-born and raised, Michael studied music composition at the University of Tulsa and film scoring at the Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program, where he studied with Hummie Mann. Since then, he has worked closely with distinguished composer, Christophe Beck, on many of today’s biggest hits. In his spare time, Michael can usually be found watching Dodgers games, baking pie, or stuffing his face with tacos.
S1 · E6
Sep 23, 2025
51:27

Christopher Reeves – Choral Director

Born in 1987, Christopher Reeves has devoted his life to sacred music and liturgical service. In addition to his long-standing work within the Church, he directed the choir for the score of the feature film EL TONTO POR CRISTO, bringing his deep knowledge of Orthodox tradition into a cinematic context. Tonsured a reader in 2006 at St. Seraphim’s Cathedral, Christopher’s journey into church music began at the age of 12, and by 16, he was directing choirs. This early start laid the foundation for a career dedicated to blending musical excellence with spiritual devotion. After earning a B.A. in Religion from Pennsylvania State University in 2009, Christopher went on to serve for nine years as choir director at Holy Trinity in State College, PA, and later at St. Gregory of Nyssa in Columbus, OH, for seven years. These roles allowed him to refine his leadership style and foster vibrant musical communities within the Church. Currently, Christopher serves as the Director of Music at St. Seraphim’s Cathedral, where he oversees the main Cathedral Choir and manages four additional ensembles: the Slavonic Choir, Men’s Choir, Women’s Choir, and Youth Choir. In addition to directing, his responsibilities include guiding the chanting and reading programs, ensuring the continuation of Orthodox liturgical traditions. Christopher’s work reflects a commitment to creating an environment where sacred music flourishes, offering both inspiration and spiritual enrichment to those who participate and listen. His leadership emphasizes the transformative power of music as a vital aspect of worship and community.
S1 · E5
Sep 16, 2025
53:36

Tim DeLaughter - Musician

Tim DeLaughter is an Emmy nominated singer, songwriter, performer, and producer of the musical group The Polyphonic Spree. Formed in 2000 following a period of heartbreak, confusion, and uncertainty as his original band Tripping Daisy fell apart in 1999, Tim started over again. Accompanied by 23 other collaborators, draped in robes, and drunk on the natural exuberance of a new chapter, he introduced The Polyphonic Spree with the now-classic 2002 debut, The Beginning Stages of… The signature “Light & Day/ Reach for the Sun” surged through popular culture for two decades, appearing everywhere from the Academy Award-winning 2004 classic Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind to a 2017 episode of Girlboss. Along the way, the band released several albums, including Together We’re Heavy (2004), The Fragile Army (2007), Yes It’s True (2013), and Psychphonic (2014). And in 2023, they embarked on their next season with their full-length offering, Salvage Enterprise.
S1 · E4
Sep 9, 2025
1:03:16
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