About Ray

“Art has meaning. It can communicate.”

Raymond J. Christensen didn’t strive for recognition; his passion was for storytelling. A committed filmmaker and storyteller, Ray cared about the spirit of filmmaking as well as the stories being told and how they touched the everyday lives of people, while challenging norms and preconceived notions along the way.

Raised in Omaha, Ray was obsessed with photography and always had a camera in hand. Constantly writing about cameras for school, one teacher threatened to fail Ray if he submitted one more paper on that topic. However, after demonstrating all the myriad things a camera could and couldn’t do, the teacher was convinced Ray was on to something and he passed the class.

Ray’s interest in moving from photography to filmmaking began after appearing in the Oscar-nominated documentary, `A Time for Burning.’ This powerful film follows a white church’s struggle to reach out to its African American neighbors, and one of its memorable storylines was Ray’s growth into a strong advocate for integration.

Ray’s one-man freelance firm, Ray Christensen and Associates, got their start filming television commercials, but soon he was drawn to making documentary films. He traveled to Niger to document the efforts of an African tribe trying to preserve water resources. He also worked with people challenged with developmental disabilities in Nebraska who were working to fulfill their individual potential. One of Ray’s favorite films, The Wilderness World of Sigurd F. Olson, captured the beauty of northern Minnesota with Olson, the noted author and environmentalist. Ray’s films inspired people to see the ordinary in new and unexpected ways. 

In 1968, Ray Christensen and Associates became Filmedia. After pitching his services door-to-door Ray was hired to make a series of safety films which were hosted by NFL announcer, Pat Summerall. These pioneering films helped people and companies understand that safety does not start with checklists and procedures, but with attitudes and emotions. These films became industry standard as well as bestsellers.

In the 1980s, Ray teamed with futurist Joel Barker to introduce the business world to an obscure scientific concept called “Paradigms.” These films helped organizations identify their limitations in order to think outside the box and recognize new opportunities for success. Their first film, The Business of Paradigms, became one of the most influential training programs in the world. Later that decade, Filmedia changed its name to Charthouse Learning, a reference to the place on a sailing vessel that holds navigational tools such as the compass, and maps. Like the navigational instruments, ChartHouse’s mission was not to tell its clients where to go, but to give them the tools to set their course.

Ray strove to find beauty in everything he did as well as in the world around him. He believed in the potential of all human beings, and everyone’s right to be respected and encouraged, which was reflected in his desire to start this foundation dedicated to fostering a rising generation of documentary storytellers. His legacy and spirit are reflected in the projects the Raymond J. Christensen Foundation seeks to fund – projects which embrace the qualities of community, humanity, collaboration and connection. Ray’s guiding principle is best summed up in the belief he shared throughout his life:

“Never lose your sense of wonder. Always be curious.”