52 Watt Studios Case Study

When Your Way Isn’t Working: Kyle Idleman Video Study

Client: HarperCollins
Christian Publishing
Kyle Idleman

Project Type:
Faith-Based Video Study Series

Project Highlights:
• 5 Session video study
• Promo trailer, social clips
• Filmed at Kyle’s ranch - Louisville, KY
• 2 camera setup steadicam and dolly
• Walk and talk style presentation
• Custom graphics and openers

When Your Way Isn’t Working Location Highlights

Overview:
Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of producing more than 200 faith-based video studies in partnership with leading Christian publishers and authors. These projects have given us the opportunity to tell stories that inspire, equip, and reach audiences around the world with biblical truth.

One of the authors we’ve been honored to collaborate with on multiple occasions is Kyle Idleman, teaching pastor at Southeast Christian Church and bestselling author. When Kyle came to us with the concept for When Your Way Isn’t Working, we knew it was more than just another study—it was a deeply personal message he was passionate about sharing.

The Vision:
When Your Way Isn’t Working is a study for people feeling spiritually stuck, emotionally drained, or relationally disconnected. Rooted in John 15:5—“I am the vine; you are the branches…”—the message challenges viewers to stop striving in their own strength and rediscover the power of staying connected to Jesus.

Kyle wanted the tone of the series to reflect this call to authenticity and connection. Instead of shooting on a soundstage or in a studio, we filmed in and around his own home and farm. These intimate, everyday environments brought a sense of honesty and peace that reinforced the message at the heart of the study.

Film crew in a café setting using a camera slider and lights while a presenter stands near the counter.
Crew films an on-location interview in a rustic barn space; subject faces camera under a large LED soft panel.
Camera operator on a white stairwell, smiling and holding a rig with audio bag; another crew member above with monitor and softbox.
Man walking along a black wooden fence at sunset on a rural property; trees and pasture beyond.

Our Approach:
From pre-production through final delivery, our team handled all aspects of the video production and postproduction:

  • Concept Development: We worked closely with Kyle and the publisher to shape each session’s narrative and visual approach.

  • Location Shooting: Using a natural light approach and cinematic camera work, we captured Kyle teaching in real-life, relatable environments—including his barn, his church cafe, and backyard.

  • Post-Production: We crafted a warm, authentic tone through color grading, natural sound design, and carefully chosen music beds to enhance emotional resonance.

  • Supplemental Content: Alongside the main sessions, we produced a promotional trailer, curriculum bumpers, and social-ready clips to support the study’s launch and distribution.

Results:
The study resonated deeply with audiences, churches, and small groups across the country. Kyle’s honest delivery, combined with our storytelling and production style, helped create a video series that feels more like a conversation than a sermon. The relatable settings and message of spiritual reconnection made this project stand out in a crowded field of curriculum.

We’re grateful to have played a part in bringing this message to life and proud to continue supporting authors and ministries with video that connects and transforms.

Person beside a utility vehicle pets a brown horse on a paved drive; pasture and trees in the background.
Cinematographer operates a shoulder-rig camera with monitor in a barn; lights and crew gear set up in the stall area.
Man sits on a small bench beside a stone fire pit, hands clasped, on a sunny day; pavilion and leafless trees in the background.