| PHOTOS BY MICHAEL ONIFFREY AND
BOB ROYSTER |
 |
 |
| Stand by on the
set! |
|
After recording our
Christmas Album, we wanted to invite everyone to our home to sit
on the couch and experience the music as it was meant to be
experienced -- surrounded by family. Of course this was
impossible, but Daddy submitted the idea to North Carolina Public
Television. The original idea was to bring cameras into the
house and filming an actual Cockman Family Christmas, but they
convinced us that it would be much more practical to build a set
and film it at UNC TV in Chapel Hill. We were encouraged by
their interest, and started writing the script and designing the
set. To simplify matters, we decided to use our Christmas
Album as the soundtrack. The Holiday Special includes every
song on the CD, plus David doing a bass solo and Ben playing "The
First Noel" on resophonic guitar. |
 |
| Daddy, Billy and
Ben try to make themselves at home. |
|
For several weeks
we all met to brainstorm on the script. We wanted the
program to have the feel of a loving family sitting around their
living room for a time together at Christmas. Daddy designed
the set with our living room in mind, and we worked hard to write
natural-sounding dialogue for the family interaction between
songs. We made sure to mention our grandparents and some
fond Christmas memories, and of course we carried on the tradition
of reading Luke's Christmas story to our children.
Continue to Page
Two |
 |
| The grandchildren
gather for the Christmas Story |
|
 |
| John
Sr. |
Jane |
 |
 |
|
Billy |
David |
 |
 |
|
John Jr. |
Caroline |
 |
 |
|
Ben plays "The First Noel" |
Jessie and Joseph |
 |
 |
|
Jamie must stay in this position. |
Jennifer, Arwen and Lorien |
 |
 |
|
Arwen entertains herself |
Caroline adjusts Samuel's shirt |
 |
 |
|
John and David wait for the next song. |
Arwen looks at the miniature winter scene. |
 |
 |
|
Billy and Daddy get ready for "O Holy Night" |
John and David |