When actor John Ratzenberger (Cheers) began his Nuts, Bolts, and Thingamajigs Foundation in 2007, he undoubtedly never guessed he’d be playing a woodcarver in a television project.

According to Jack Nasser, executive producer of The Woodcarver, Ratzenberger is a natural for the role.

Don’t Call This a Sequel

The Woodcarver, the second installment in the What Would Jesus Do (WWJD) series by Nasser Entertainment, tells the story of how one man, a woodcarver, forever changes the life of one young boy and that of his estranged parents.

But Nasser tells me in no uncertain terms that The Woodcarver is not a sequel of WWJD I, “not in the sense of having the same characters and plot.” The only thing, in fact, that the two stories share in common is the asking of the question, “What would Jesus do?”

Nasser shares that, “This is an entirely new concept. We’re seeking in this project to capture a fresh, y

younger perspective.”

The Casting Sets the Stage

And that’s exactly what production does with the casting of Dakota Daulby in the role of the young boy, Matthew Stevenson.

Ratzenberger proves to be the perfect choice for the role of the woodcarver as well. Nasser elaborates, “He has a passion for building things and working with his hands. And work with our hands is one thing that makes our country so great. What better person to play this role?”

Viewers Can Relate to The Project

Casting may be perfect, but challenges in filming always present themselves.

Nasser tells me he seeks to entertain without going over the edge. He wants to push the envelope just a little and, at the same time, maintain that storyline that everybody can relate to. He says, “You want to dramatize but have the setting in some kind of reality too. You want to have a story that everybody can relate to in the real world.”

Nasser believes the story everybody can relate to in The Woodcarver is the lesson to “never give up.”

Nasser Continues to Share

One thing his company is not giving up is the opportunity to share his faith.

The next project for Nasser Entertainment will be released around Christmas, 2012.

Tentatively titled Christmas Miracle, it is the story of a group of people stranded in an old, abandoned church during a blizzard.

Filmed in Nelson, British Columbia, in four feet of snow, Christmas Miracle promises to give us the consistency in faith-filled projects we’re used to seeing from Nasser Entertainment.

The Woodcarver Is Released

In the meantime, we’ll settle for the fresh storyline of The Woodcarver, released to DVD on March 13, 2012.

Cheryl has been a freelance TV/film writer for more than 10 years. Simultaneously, she has worked in PR for Bon Jovi Productions in NYC, PolyGram Records (also in NYC), and Rogers & Cowan Public Relations. Cheryl has published articles at suite101.com, “Sci-Fi Entertainment” magazine, and “Soap Opera Weekly.” She was also a credited researcher for English author Denis Meikle’s JOHNNY DEPP: A KIND OF ILLUSION. Cheryl enjoys writing for the entertainment industry and meeting new people. She is also an animal lover. 

This article originally appeared at suite101.com.