Dive into the heart and humor of “The Skit Guys” TOMMY WOODARD and EDDIE JAMES as they speak from the heart about faith, family, and the fun of FAMILY CAMP.
TOMMY WOODARD and EDDIE JAMES are familiar faces to Christian congregations around the world as well as to audiences in the stand-up comedy world. Known as “The Skit Guys”, Tommy and Eddie have been BFFs since high school when they discovered they had an innate ability to make people laugh. Once Tommy invited Eddie to church oh-so-many years ago, they were encouraged by the youth pastor to write and perform skits for the church’s youth group. This took Tommy and Eddie to the next level as not only were they able to make people laugh, but they were able to use comedy to bring people closer to God’s word. After traveling the globe and performing live for families at events, churches, and conferences, and after producing and “starring in” more than 300+ video skits and short films which have become ministry tools for so many, it was inevitable that Tommy and Eddie would eventually make the leap to the big screen. That leap is FAMILY CAMP. And what a leap it is!
Directed by Brian Cates and written by Brian Cates and Rene Gutteridge, FAMILY CAMP stars The Skit Guys themselves, TOMMY WOODARD and EDDIE JAMES, along with Leigh-Allyn Baker, Gigi Orsillo, Robert Amaya, Cece Kelly, Heather Land, and Mark Christopher Lawrence
Needless to say, as a narrative feature springboard for Tommy and Eddie, laughter and love abound in FAMILY CAMP as we meet the Armstrongs and the Sanders. When their pastor encourages the congregation to sign-up for a week away at family camp, despite Tommy’s objections, his wife sees this as the perfect escape for her less than perfect family – a week away from a world of cell phones, television, movies, and electronics, and reconnecting just as a family, with God’s word taking more or less a backseat. Of course, Tommy and their kids Hannah and Henry would rather be anywhere than at Christian Camp Katokwah. And naturally, Grace has her own idea of what camping is – think e-ticket festival-style glamping. Suffering culture shock on arriving at Camp Katowah, things quickly go from funny to total fish out of water hilarity when the Armstrongs are forced to share a hut with the Sanders family. Led by patriarch Eddie, this is the umpteenth year his family has attended FAMILY CAMP and each year they manage to walk away with trophies attesting to their familial glories. As Eddie and his wife Victoria are gung-ho campers with high octane Christian energy and in every competitive activity, the Armstrongs and the Sanders appear to be polar opposites. Or are they? Will Eddie and Tommy find common ground? (As you may suspect, the kids are all cool and the wives get along. It’s just that testosterone that kicks into high gear with Eddie and Tommy.) Or will too many rounds of Eddie playing “Rock of Ages” on his harmonica be the death of them?
FAMILY CAMP is as family-friendly as you can get with a film. There is something for everyone, be it jokes, pratfalls, heartfelt moments, a fainting beaver, introspective reflection, some very upset honey bees, or just sharing community with one another. Something that is of particular note, however, is that FAMILY CAMP does not sermonize. It doesn’t beat you over the head with scripture but rather, celebrates positivity, kindness, family and friendship, and incorporates Christian messaging and values organically where “God is the gravity” that picks you up.
I spoke at length in this exclusive interview with TOMMY WOODARD and EDDIE JAMES talking not only about FAMILY CAMP but their overall approach to comedy and melding comedy and faith into family-friendly fare that is good clean fun. Humble, hilarious, and honest, Tommy and Eddie opened up about their decades-long friendship and the idea of looking over during a skit or a scene and seeing your best friend and knowing he’s got your back, collaboration and opening their comedic arms to bring in actors beyond themselves into “The Skit Guys” branding for FAMILY CAMP, improvisation versus scripted material, the physicality of their roles in FAMILY CAMP, the learning curve of going from 3-5 minute skits and shorts to a narrative feature, working with a fainting beaver, poison ivy, and so much more.
TAKE A LISTEN. . .
by debbie elias, exclusive interview May 10, 2022
