CJA Creative Collaborations and FILMBYSTEVO partnered with Wayfarers Chapel to create a 90-second FUNDRAISING film that reveals the soul of the architectual landmark, the stunning natural disaster confronting the congregation, and a hopeful vision for the future.
Wayfarers Chapel, 2024. Excerpt from The Tree Chapel by Frank Lloyd Wright, Jr. © 2024 FILMBYSTEVO, LLC and CJA Creative Collaborations, LLC.
BUILDING HISTORY
Wayfarers Chapel, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, Jr., was constructed in Rancho Palos Verdes, California in 1951. For 73 years, the sacred building served as a beloved destination for prayer, contemplation, and celebration. Ancient landslides began shifting the site so severely that the chapel was forced to close in February 2024. Several months later, the structure was carefully disassembled, in order to prevent its permanent destruction.
Wayfarers Chapel, 2024. Excerpt from The Tree Chapel by Frank Lloyd Wright, Jr. © 2024 FILMBYSTEVO, LLC and CJA Creative Collaborations, LLC.
RESEARCH AND CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT
Our conversations with the leadership of Wayfarers Chapel and experts at Architectural Resources Group and S.L. Leonard & Associates, provided a vivid understanding of the spiritual, historical, and cultural significance of the site. We used that information to establish our vision for a brief, impactful film that inspires the public to support the chapel’s urgent rebuilding efforts.
Wayfarers Chapel, 1951. Julius Shulman, Photographer. © J. Paul Getty Trust. Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles (2004.R.10).
FILM PRODUCTION
Our production process began with a site visit and discussion about the building’s unique features and its precarious condition. Dan Burchett, the Executive Director of Wayfarers Chapel, agreed to serve as the film’s on-camera subject and narrator to bring human context to the ethereal space and the dramatically altered landscape.
A custom-built “socials-first” camera rig was used to create a vertical-styled film that is optimized for social media. Drone cinematography was captured to provide a broader context of the surrounding terrain and breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean.
In order to maximize our time documenting the building site, the film’s voiceover was recorded separately via Zoom, which provided a comfortable setting and controlled atmosphere for the audio capture.
Our streamlined production process allowed us to efficiently provide our partners at Wayfarers Chapel with a concise and visually refined narrative to share with their global community.
PROJECT PARTNERS
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www.wayfarerschapel.org
Wayfarers Chapel is a Swedenborgian church that “welcomes people of all faiths.” Its mission is to “nurture the spiritual journey of wayfarers.” When it was completed in 1951, the Chapel “ stood alone like a precious jewel on a deserted dusty knoll overlooking the blue Pacific.” Frank Lloyd Wright Jr.’s “tree chapel” was “inspired by the cathedral-like majesty of the redwood trees in northern California,” and “is one of the foremost examples of organic architecture.” The Chapel is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and became a National Historic Landmark in December 2023. -
CHRISTOPHER JAMES ALEXANDER
Founding Principal
www.cjacreativecollaborations.co
Christopher James Alexander is a storyteller, strategist, designer, and artist. He utilizes his experience as a former curator of architecture and design at the Getty and his education in architecture, art history, and fine art to articulate and amplify the positive impact of dynamic organizations and innovative individuals. He has developed compelling films, books, essays, websites, exhibitions, and public programs for clients including NASA, James Jean, Judson Studios, Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects, and the Barnsdall Art Park Foundation. Christopher is the co-curator of internationally acclaimed Getty exhibitions, including “Overdrive: L.A. Constructs the Future, 1940–1990,” “Julius Shulman’s Los Angeles,” “Julius Shulman: Modernity and the Metropolis,” and “Lessons from Bernard Rudofsky.” -
STEVO CHANG
Founder | FILMBYSTEVO, LLC
www.filmbystevo.com
Brand Filmmaker Stevo Chang is a former Google Resident Filmmaker and recipient of the Amnesty International Award. He has been recognized for his social impact work in VR, commercials, narrative films, and frequently collaborates with world-renowned brands and institutions such as Pinterest, Airbnb, and NASA. -
www.argcreate.com
Founded in 1980 with the simple ethos of creating great places through preserving our built heritage and having fun in the process, ARG has grown from a two-person office into a 50+ person firm with locations in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Portland. Since the beginning, ARG has had the privilege of working with great clients and consultants on projects that preserve, protect, and adapt historic buildings, sites and objects for a new generation. -
Industry leaders in owner representation and project management, SLL uses an integrated approach to the construction process that builds trust, quality, and long-term value. As a collective team of industry veterans, we excel at strategic management, effective coordination, and clear communication. SLL specializes in maximizing the value of a project through collaboration with clients, the design team, and subcontractors.
Wayfarers Chapel, 2024. Christopher James Alexander, Photographer. © 2024 CJA Creative Collaborations, LLC.
For more information about how you can help rebuild Wayfarers Chapel, please visit www.wayfarerschapel.org