Yet another story portrays the Jesuit missionary Jacques Marquette and companions as they winter near the Chicago River.
D'Ambrosio said he hopes 8beats will be "a moving work of cinema" that will help Catholic artists and evangelists recognize the need for artistic mentorship.
Cecilia Stevenson, a filmmaker and recent college graduate, said the 8beats project has already given her the chance to learn from people she described as "devout and talented."
"This project is not just inspiring me to tell the gospel in my own way, it is teaching me about the Church and showing me that I have a place within it," she said. "My hope is that 8beats communicates that to everyone: the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the pure of heart, the merciful, the peacemakers…"
Filmmakers aim to reach filmgoers ages 20-35 who are non-religious but involved in the arts.
The idea for the project came about in March 2017. Filming began in September and is expected to finish by December. The film is aiming for a world premiere at the Catholic Creatives Summit in Dallas, Texas in March 2018, with a release in mid-2018 available in digital download and Blu-ray.
Producers hope to submit the final project to major film festivals in the U.S. and Canada.
The 8beats team aims to raise $200,000 for the project, half via indieGoGo and half via additional donations.
Other co-sponsors of the movie are Young Catholic Professionals and the Dallas-based Crossroads Initiative.