Highlands Ranch crew will film Super Bowl XLI for faith-based programs

HIGHLANDS RANCH -- Television programs should be more than just harsh language and violence -- there needs to be TV networks that can provide a 24/7 safe harbor for families.

So says Highlands Ranch resident Jess Stainbrook, former general manager and creator of DC8, the Douglas County television network broadcast on Comcast. That's why he decided to form 16:15 The GC Media Project.

Along with cofounder Frank Bokowski, of Castle Rock, and Patrick Catanach, of Highlands Ranch, the production team will be covering Super Bowl XLI and creating faith-based programs with the intent to have them aired on a variety of national networks.

"Our goal is to use our award-winning skills as creative professionals in media to create a new genre of reality programming that shows the importance of faith and character in the high pressure arena of professional sports," Stainbrook said. "We all feel very called to move from what we call success to significance of utilizing our skills as filmmakers and broadcast professionals to impact the world through movie. And our world starts right here, in Douglas County."

Stainbrook left DC8 in April 2006 to start the nonprofit media project. Bokowski and Catanach still work for DC8, but volunteer as much time as possible for 16:15.

In 2006, Stainbrook, Bokowski and Catanach met and established a relationship with former Oakland Raiders quarterback Roman Gabriel III, the producer and host of the television show Sold Out on Super Sunday. The faith-based syndicated program gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the Super Bowl while talking to high profile athletes about their faith and what drives them, Stainbrook said.

"It just kind of kicked off from there," Stainbrook said. "From our production skills and producing size, we took the program to this whole other level that opened up a bunch of doors for the potential of this airing on major networks. The people we've been talking to that have seen our show and are considering it right now are NFL Network, Fox Sports and ESPN."

The GC Media Project again will shoot and edit all the footage for Sold Out on Super Sunday at this year's Super Bowl and the events surrounding it.

"Sold Out removes the helmets and reveals a unique side of the NFL that fans rarely get an opportunity to see," Gabriel said in a statement.

Stainbrook said many fans are interested in getting behind the scenes with athletes that are positive role models, rather than showing "the other side" so common on today's networks.

"We're the only non-sports outlet that's been credentialed by the NFL," Stainbrook said. "We're doing a documentary, behind-the-scenes. We're the only ones really doing a human interest, lifestyle piece on these guys at this event."

Bokowski, 16:15 cofounder and chief operating officer, said, "If you're a football fan, you'll want to know a little bit more about the faith of some of these guys."

Stainbrook said Sold Out on Super Sunday has featured Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner, Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu, former Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach, former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trent Dilfer.

"When we look at the list of these people that are part of this show, we have people that you probably never even knew had any kind of faith or a family that's so important," Stainbrook said. "That's kind of what the point of this show is: Get behind the mask a little bit and say, 'Who are these guys for real?' 'What really drives them?' 'What's important in their lives?'"

Bokoski said 90 percent of what they will film probably was never filmed by other media.

"We're really digging in on what goes on at the Super Bowl in conjunction with the faith of a lot of these men," Bokoski said.

Stainbrook added, "It's a different kind of show that not only utilizes the footage that's never been seen before, but, if you're a football fan, you don't ever hear these guys talk the way they're talking to us. They're talking to us about their faith and what's important."

Stainbrook said there is more important information out there than what mainstream media typically presents.

"It's time for a change," Stainbrook said. "It's time to look at the positive side of things and to lift people up and to encourage them in a good lifestyle, rather than what we see out there."

Stainbrook said they plan to make the annual, hour-long Sold Out on Super Sunday into a 13-week, half-hour series. He said they also are talking with NASCAR and Major League Baseball about producing similar faith-based programs.

"It seems like we're just kicking it off," Stainbrook said. "This is just the very tip of the iceberg as far as where we hope to be in providing this kind of programming."

Stainbrook said they plan to take their programming beyond the realm of sports with the ultimate goal of providing 24/7 programming that will be a safe place for families.

"If I'm watching that channel any time during the day, I know I'm not going to hear any swear words, I'm not gonna see anybody get shot, I'm not gonna see any blood or guts," Stainbrook said. "You see programming out there in the world - there's sitcoms, there's talk shows, there's this, there's that - we want to have the same versions of what that lineup looks like, but it's all positive material."

As printed on its Web site, the mission of 16:15 The GC Media Project is "to be actively involved in impacting the world for Christ by seeking positive change in the way the instructions of education, media and entertainment influence our culture."

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Super Bowl XLI
When: 4 p.m. (MST) Feb. 2
Where: Dolphin Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla.
Who: TBD (definitely not the Denver Broncos)
Fun fact: The 10-most watched programs in TV history are all Super Bowls
SOURCE: www.SuperBowl.com