Graduate and Filmmaker Raises Funds for Next Project
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Liberty graduate Nolan Goff experienced a life-changing event in 2007, the summer of his junior year at Liberty. He had the chance to spend the day on the set of Fox’s acclaimed TV show “Prison Break,” and from that point on, he knew he wanted to be a filmmaker.
“Watching the crew work together to tell one common story fascinated me. It was a team effort, where everyone united around a common goal. Since an early age, I enjoyed storytelling, but it wasn’t until this day that I found filmmaking would be my medium to tell such stories,” Goff said.
As a junior at Southern California’s Biola University studying cinema, media arts, and Bible, Goff is already an award-winning filmmaker and is raising funds for his next film.
“I am now in the thick of pre-production on my new short film, ‘Summer,’ which set in the year 1976, a time of love, youth, and spinning skate wheels,” he said. “The film will tell the story of love in its seasons and how moments in life fade away in the blink of an eye.”
“This coming of age story will be no small feat. We have assembled an incredible crew of 40 individuals. We will shoot the film on the RED ONE camera, the most advanced digital camera in the film industry,” Goff said. In 2009, director Peter Jackson shot his acclaimed film starring Rachel Weisz and Mark Wahlberg in “The Lovely Bones” on the same camera, and it was also used in actor Matt Damon’s most recent films, “Green Zone” and “The Informant!”
Goff said that “Summer” will feature a large cast of professional actors from Los Angeles.
“Additionally, we will need upwards of 70 extras. Period specific costumes and props will be required to recreate this 1970s setting. All of these things add up to a budget totaling $10,000,” he said. “We are currently raising money to bring this story to life through a variety of means.”
Tax deductible donations can be sent to: 13800 Biola Avenue, Box 1002, La Mirada, CA, 90639. Write “Summer – Film Project” in the memo line. 
Goff explained that 10 years ago, someone his age could have only dreamed of making a film because of the high cost of production.
He said that with technology progressing rapidly, he had the opportunity to make two films, the first of which was a documentary called “The Other War,” which was the story of four orphans living in present day Uganda. Last summer, this film won the Gold Crown Award for Best Student Film at the International Christian Visual Media Conference in Denver, Colo.
This past fall, Goff wrote and directed his first narrative short film, “Burden of Proof.”
“Set in 1959, ‘Burden of Proof’ is the story of a fiery young attorney and the night before the biggest trial of his career, one which will change his life forever,” Goff said.
Recently, “Burden of Proof” was nominated for the Crown Awards. Following its premiere this fall, the film will be submitted to more than 20 festivals around the world, including Sundance.
“In the grand scheme of things, I hope to write and direct major motion pictures. Hollywood is a wonderful place filled with extraordinary artists and an incredible place for me to have a positive impact,” Goff said.
He added, “I’m fascinated by the past. The world we live in now is the way it is because of those who lived in the past. These are the stories that intrigue me. American history provides an incredible backdrop for my generation of filmmakers, and we are fortunate to live in a time where technology is providing new means for us to tell stories.”
As a Liberty graduate of 2008, Goff said that Liberty helped prepare him for college and beyond.
He said, “The thoughtful teaching and classes made college an easy transition for me. Liberty provided a personalized setting for learning where I made incredible friendships, and learned a great amount about life, the Lord, and my role in this world.”
Liberty is proud to have Goff as a graduate and will be eager to see the impact Goff makes in the world in the years to come.
Anyone interested in helping with “Summer” or learning more about Goff’s work can also contact him directly at nolan.w.goff@gmail.com