Producer Spotlight
Travis Reed (The Work of the People)

This month, WorshipHouse Media interviews the one-and-only Travis Reed.

Travis has been married to his wife Lara for 8 years. Travis and Lara have 2 kids. Travis lives in Houston, Texas and is involved with Ecclesia Church. Travis was the founder of Highway Videos and is currently the Founder/Producer of The Work of the People.

A fun fact about Travis:

Travis shook Johnny Cash’s hand in 1975 in San Francisco at the Circle Star theatre as Johnny & June where piling into their getaway limo. And, Travis’ dad is the Garlic Guru – the “evangelizer of all things garlic.” (See him on the Food Network on the show “All Things Garlic” 3/20&21 and 4/1&9).

WHM: Today I’m talking with Travis Reed of The Work of the People. Travis, tell us a little about your background and how you got into video.

Travis: I don’t have any formal training other than renting a VHS video camera in college and doing “a day in the life” kind of thing – very entertaining, but not appropriate for family viewing. (When my kids are secure in their faith, I’ll let them watch ;)). Long story short – Jesus touched my heart through the U2 tune Hawkmoon 269 and I surrendered my life to Him - my chains were released and the resurrection party began. Soon after that, I ended up living in a garage creating weekly shorts for my church, The Highway Community from 1996-2000ish. That’s how I learned to do what I do – making like 200 really bad films to get to my first “not bad’ piece. (I’ve always depended on the hope that God can make the rocks or “my efforts” cry out. The early films of me dressed up in a Roman Centurion outfit as “Commandment Cop” abducting “sinners” in public places is really too awkward for words to describe). I also watched movies non-stop and read as many editing books as I could get my hands on, then just ripped everyone off. I think it was Picasso who said, “Good artists borrow, great artists steal.” Someday I’d like to get some formal training or at least read the manual to my editing program, until then I just kind of run off the reminder from First Corinthians 1 where it says, and I’m paraphrasing, “God uses the idiots like Travis to confound the wise and mighty.” Works perfect for me, being a complete moron and all.

WHM: I love your perspective and sense of humor, bro. Tell us about the end of your relationship with Highway and the beginning of The Work of the People.

Travis: Highway was my baby and I produced the majority of the Highway library up until this summer, so it will always be a part of me and my journey, but it was just time to move on…a new season. Highway will continue to be a great resource for the church and a champion of the artist. The Work of the People (the literal definition of liturgy) grew out of the relationship with my “BBQ Buddy,” Justin Hyde, and our common passion for Jesus, music, mystery, The Church, cigars, scripture, culture, the lost, HBO programming, Jesus again, art, music again, more Jesus and red meat.

WHM: Cool. Glad you guys are doing this. So, Travis, what inspires you? Where do you get ideas?

Travis: Uhhh…let’s see…in no particular order: Scripture, Ryan Adams, preaching and teaching, Six Feet Under, people who actually drop everything and follow Christ wherever He leads even if it means no TIVO (I can’t even imagine), David (the dude from Psalms), my buddy who feeds his daughter through a tube, my dad who’s trying to beat alcoholism, Radiohead, Magnolia, the saints that went before us, my kids, Wilco, Creation, my sister who beat cancer, my other friend who hasn’t, Rick Rubin, mothers and theologians, my buddy who’s trying to save his marriage, Johnny Cash, witnessing Christ redeeming His children and giving life to what was once thought to be dead, the resurrection, and of course…NCAA’s March Madness.

WHM: Of course. Who do you respect as an artist or filmmaker?

Travis: Alan Ball, Martin Scorsese, Paul Thomas Anderson, The Coen Brothers, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Mark Romanek, Rick Rubin, Wilco, Radiohead, and The Drive By Truckers and the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

WHM: Yeah, I miss riding with those boys. Good times. What does The Work of the People currently offer?

Travis: We have a pretty small library at this point, but we have some usable Easter resources: transitional Scripture pieces inspired by the Revised Common Lectionary, a few backdrops (the Doves loop is pretty cool) and a music video to The Choir’s “Rescue Me” tune.

WHM: Which is awesome! “Rescue Me” was the #1 pick on my Easter Media Review. What can we expect to see from you guys in the future?

Travis: Nothing new under the sun, but from here on out, we’ll continue producing a weekly video that’s inspired by the Revised Common Lectionary: transitional and meditative Scripture pieces, man-on-the street interviews, and music videos. We’ll produce misc. short films outside the lectionary. We have a few curriculum series we’re working on with a few authors and pastors that we’re excited about. We’ll also be producing a new line of youth opener shorts called “Leg Warmers” that are guaranteed to raise the dead. We’re also opening a chain of “Christian Strip Mall Day Nail Spas” across the Southwest, so we’re keeping busy.