Uplifters - True Forces for Good
We used our classically-influenced New Age music as the foundation of this music video that puts a spotlight on people doing great things.
“Being good is nice.
Doing good is better.
Empowering doers of good is best.”—J. Sprout
Uplifters lift others up: above poverty, starvation, crisis, and neglect. Many do their lifting quietly, so you don’t hear a lot about them. They’re usually modest and hard working.
This film celebrates the heroes -- the forces for good -- who are our uplifters.
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JONATHAN SPROUTDirectorGrammy Nomination, 18-time Film Freeway Winner
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RODNEY WHITTENBERGDirectorco-producer of Caregivers, Emmy Award winner, 18-time Film Freeway Winner
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JONATHAN SPROUTWriter
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JONATHAN SPROUTProducer
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RODNEY WHITTENBERGProducer
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Project Type:Music Video
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Runtime:4 minutes 33 seconds
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Completion Date:July 27, 2022
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Production Budget:4,000 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
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Vienna Indie Short Film FestivalVienna
Austria
Award Winner -
Mt. Fuji International Film Festival Season FourSendai
Japan
September 28, 2021
Award Winner -
Florida Shorts
United States
April 30, 2021
Award Winner -
My Hero International
Since his first professional appearance in 1972, Jonathan Sprout has recorded 12 albums, performed more than 6,500 concerts (including 5,500 children’s concerts), and taught more than 800 songwriting workshops throughout the United States. His songs have appeared on several internationally released compilation albums.
Jonathan’s seventh release, American Heroes, won critical acclaim for its groundbreaking contribution to the field of educational children’s music in 1996. Three American Heroes sequels followed in 2000, 2009, and 2014. The series has earned a remarkable 26 national awards, including a GRAMMY® nomination for Best Children’s Album, several NAPPA Awards, several Parents’ Choice awards, two Film Advisory Board of Excellence awards, a Family Choice Award™, Dr. Toy One of the 10 Best Audio/Video/CD/DVDs, Academics' Choice Award, KIDS FIRST! Award, Tillywig Brainchild Award, Dove Foundation Seal, Mom's Choice Awards® Gold, Creative Child Magazine Award, Santa’s Choice Award, National Parenting Center Award, and a Global Music Award Bronze Medal.
Inspired by the heroes he has been writing, performing and recording about for more than 20 years, Jonathan founded Force For Good in 2016. Force For Good provides uplifting compositions and character-driven messages to unify, inspire, and energize people to engage in responsible civic duties. Force For Good’s music videos compassionately and intelligently address important issues including sensible gun legislation, immigration reform, renewable energy, combatting hunger and homelessness, and celebrating and protecting the environment. The music videos he co-created with Rodney Whittenberg from the Passions CD received 18 film festival awards in 2020.
RODNEY WHITTENBERG
Rodney Whittenberg is an Emmy Award winning composer and Emmy-nominated filmmaker for Outstanding Documentary. From a young age he’s had four passions: music/sound, film/television, technology, and education. Rodney’s deep sense of faith has called him on a lifelong quest to integrate these passions into his art. In his late 20s he directed the non-profit Banner Project, an educational anti-drug program that emphasized nonviolence, and witnessed the power of music and arts to heal and transform communities.
In the early 1990s, Rodney created Melodyvision, a production and consulting company, to serve as a platform for his original audio and visual creations and a vehicle to help others achieve their artistic visions. In 2016, he produced We Stood Up, an audio CD of original songs, poetry and interviews with civil rights leaders. In 2018, he co-produced Caregivers, a film about the people who help the helpers that was nominated for an Outstanding Documentary Emmy.
From his numerous projects as a children’s music producer and composer to his award winning Voices of Ages, a feature documentary about the first intergenerational choir, Rodney makes art to heal, empower, and transform.
The music videos he co-created with Jonathan from the Force For Good Passions CD received 18 film festival awards in 2020.
This film puts the spotlight on people helping others. We hope this inspires others to rise with charity to their greatest potential.