Lee Park Worship releases the first of five exclusive music videos, a Director's Cut of "Why Wouldn't I Run," helmed by filmmaker Kent Smith.
https://www.einpresswire.com/article/837540965/lee-park-worship-unveils-first-of-five-special-director-s-cut-videos-for-why-wouldn-t-i-run-directed-by-kent-smith
Lee Park Worship releases the first of five exclusive music videos, a Director's Cut of "Why Wouldn't I Run," helmed by filmmaker Kent Smith.
Working with Lee Park Worship was truly a cinematic experience. We translated their powerful music into five distinct visual stories, bringing their songs to life in a way that is mind-blowing.”
— Kent Smith
CHARLOTE, NC, UNITED STATES, August 12, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Lee Park Worship has released the first of five exclusive Special Director's Cut music videos for their powerful song, "Why Wouldn't I Run." The video, featuring vocalist Karlie Russell, is the inaugural release in a new series now live on the official Lee Park Worship YouTube page. The entire project was helmed by award-winning director Kent Smith of Lucky You Films, whose feature film "The Last Passport" has garnered over 1.75 million views on YouTube. Smith is currently in production on his next feature, "On Earth As It Is In Heaven".
"What was created in just three days was five different music videos that each had a different look and energy to them," said Smith.
Led by Creative Director and Lead Worship Pastor Shane Dunlap, Lee Park Worship is a North Carolina-based collective that fuses modern worship with the traditional roots of the church. Their album, Faithful Still, was produced by notable names such as Jason Kyle Saetveit, Travis Cottrell, Bradley Knight, and Johnathan Crumpton. "With Faithful Still, we wanted to show God’s unwavering faithfulness, His supreme sovereignty, His goodness, and the boundless love He has for us all," Dunlap said.
The song "Why Wouldn't I Run" delivers a poignant message, asking listeners why they wouldn't run to a God who is waiting with open arms. Written by Shane Dunlap, Sue C. Smith, and Nathan Woodard, the song was intentionally crafted for featured vocalist Karlie Russell. "Karlie just does such a great job. Her voice just fits it perfectly," says Dunlap. "We wrote it for her... It’s pretty cool how that happened and how it’s become what it is."
The ambitious five-video series was shot over a tight three-day schedule. Smith and his dedicated crew—including Director of Photography Tom Butler, Rob Paul, and Chris Ponder, along with gaffers Jim Cote, Brett Ray, and Dan Lewis—skillfully captured a distinct visual style for each song. The versatile Coca-Cola Building in Charlotte, secured with help from The Nichols Company, served as the perfect backdrop for their creative vision.
The Special Director's Cut for "Why Wouldn't I Run" is now live on the Lee Park Worship YouTube channel. Four more videos in the series will be released soon.
About Lee Park Worship
Lee Park Worship is a collective of musicians and worship leaders from diverse backgrounds and generations, including Shane Dunlap, Sam Phipps, Todd Dunlap, Karlie Russell, Brooke Tomberlin, Jack Hargett, and Crystal Gomez. They are united by a mission to praise God, creating a distinctive blend of modern worship and traditional sounds that is both familiar and new.
About Kent Smith
Kent Smith is an award-winning director based in Charlotte, North Carolina, with a career that bridges the worlds of still photography and filmmaking. His eye for compelling imagery was honed during his years as a celebrated photographer, capturing portraits of some of the most influential people and companies in the world. He seamlessly transitioned this passion for visual storytelling into the world of film, working behind the scenes on major Hollywood productions. His extensive credits include TV shows like Homeland, Mr. Mercedes, Outcast, and Hunting Wives, and films such as Max, Tusk, American Animals, A Biltmore Christmas, and Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
In addition to his work on major projects, Smith is an accomplished commercial director, creating campaigns for top brands both nationally and internationally. His feature film directorial debut, The Last Passport, which he also co-wrote, was a festival success, winning Best Director and Best Actor at the Solstice Film Festival. His latest short films, MIKE and Little Package, have also earned significant praise on the festival circuit. Smith is currently in production on his second feature film, On Earth As It Is In Heaven, and has a feature-length documentary in the works. He also co-hosts the popular Adult Beverage Film Podcast.
Media Contact: [Kent Smith] [Director at Lucky You Films] [Kent Smith] [704-905-3713]
Links:Watch "Why Wouldn't I Run" (Director's Cut): [Link to "Why Wouldn't I Run"Director's Cut on YouTube]
Lee Park Worship YouTube Channel: [Link to Lee Park Worship YouTube Channel]
Lee Park Worship Website: [Link to Lee Park Worship Website]
Lucky You Films Website: [Link to Lucky You Films Website]
Lucky You Films YouTube Channel: [Link to Lucky You Films YouTube Channel]
Kent Smith
Lucky You Films
+1 704-905-3713
kent@luckyyoufilms.com
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"Why Wouldn't I Run" (Director's Cut)
Behind the Scenes: The Magic of 'Why Wouldn't I Run' and More!
The music video for "Why Wouldn't I Run" is a visually stunning Special Director's Cut, directed by Kent Smith of Lucky You Films.
What an absolute whirlwind, and what an absolute joy! We recently dropped the Special Director's Cut Edition of Lee Park Worship's powerful song, "Why Wouldn't I Run," featuring the incredible Karlie Russell and let me tell you, it was an experience for the books. As the director, I had the incredible privilege of working with this phenomenal Christian music group from Monroe, NC, and this is just the beginning of something truly special.
An Ambitious Vision: Five Videos, Three Days, Five Looks!
From the outset, we knew this project was going to be an exciting challenge. Lee Park Worship is a collective that beautifully blends modern worship with the traditional roots of the church, creating a unique sound that resonates deeply. Our goal? To capture that spirit across five different music videos, each with its own distinct look, all within a tight three-day shooting schedule, and all on a limited budget!
It sounds ambitious, right? That's because it was! But when you're working with such incredible music and a group as dedicated as Lee Park Worship, you rise to the occasion.
The Dream Team That Made It Happen
Pulling off a feat like this requires a truly exceptional crew, and we were blessed with the best. Our camera crew – Tom Butler (Director of Photography), Rob Paul, and Chris Ponder – worked tirelessly, their expertise shining through every shot. They have an incredible eye and the technical prowess to bring any vision to life.
And our gaffers – Jim Cote, Brett Ray, and Dan Lewis – were absolute magicians with light. They crafted the perfect atmosphere for each distinct look, transforming spaces and setting the mood with precision and creativity. What this team pulled off in just three days will truly amaze folks when they see the full series!
The Perfect Canvas: A Location Found by John Nicholas Company
A major piece of the puzzle was finding the right location, especially with our diverse visual goals. We were incredibly lucky that the John Nicholas Company in Charlotte, NC, found us the perfect space: the Coca-Cola Building. This building, famously used for filming the TV show "Banshee," provided the versatile backdrop we desperately needed. It gave us everything we required to make the shoot a resounding success, offering endless possibilities for our five different looks.
The Heart of the Project: Lee Park Worship
Throughout the entire process, the members of Lee Park Worship were nothing short of incredible. Their passion for the music, their professionalism, and their willingness to dive into every creative idea made the long hours fly by. This group is truly amazing – a collection of diverse backgrounds, generations, and musical influences, all united in their mission to sing praises to our Lord. Their dedication on set was a testament to the powerful message they carry.
As I, Kent Smith, the director, often say: "We wanted powerful videos that would truly match each song's essence. For us, it was about making the energy and camera movements work in perfect synergy with the music, to powerfully showcase the message they were telling with every single note. What started out as a vision for one video quickly blossomed into five! I'm incredibly excited to showcase these Director's Cuts, as they really bring out the raw energy and profound heart behind each song."
What's Next? Get Ready for More!
"Why Wouldn't I Run" is just the first taste! This Special Director's Cut Edition is the inaugural release in a series of five exclusive videos that will be rolling out on the official Lee Park Worship YouTube page. Each one offers a unique visual journey into the heart of their "Faithful Still" album.
So, head over to the Lee Park Worship YouTube page, watch the "Why Wouldn't I Run" Director's Cut, and get ready for more incredible music and visuals from this phenomenal group!
[Link to "Why Wouldn't I Run" Director's Cut on YouTube] [Link to Lee Park Worship YouTube Channel] [Link to Lee Park Worship Website]
