The World and Everything In It Rooted in redemption
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Feb 28, 2026 Nathan Englehart, co-director who shaped the film’s creative and faith-driven vision. Jeremy Spears, co-director with a storytelling and animation focus. Josh Gerls, composer who crafted the film’s Americana-tinged soundscape. They talk about making a wordless Gospel story, sustaining a volunteer crew through prayer and purpose, depicting sacrificial cost, and preparing for an Oscar moment.
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How A DM Led To Five Years Of Volunteer Work
- Nathan Englehart described meeting Esty Smith through Instagram DMs which led to joining the volunteer animated short project.
- He joined despite no budget because he trusted the Disney/Pixar-experienced creators and felt the project's heart matched his ministry calling.
Keep Volunteers By Feeding Inspiration Not Just Tasks
- Inspire volunteers continuously to sustain a long unpaid project.
- Jeremy Spears and Nathan kept motivation by sharing demos, artwork, and challenges so contributors saw the vision instead of only hard work.
One Image Anchors A Wordless Gospel Story
- Silent storytelling demands a single clear visual that embodies the film's message so every acting choice points to it.
- Jeremy Spears explains decisions like whether the bear looks back were driven by that core image guiding frame-by-frame acting beats.