Director and Producer Dallas Jenkins Talks His Latest Project, The Largest Crowd-Funded Multi-season Series On The Life of Jesus
Seele Magazine: How was "The Chosen" conceived? Where did the idea come from to create a series on the life of Jesus, especially when "AD The Bible Continues" and "The Bible" were successful series?
There's never actually been a multi-season show about the life of Christ, so I thought it'd be a great opportunity to do something that a miniseries or movie can't do, which is to go deeper into the people and the stories. The idea came when I was doing a short film about the birth of Christ from the perspective of the shepherds, and in 20 minutes I felt like I saw more about the story than I'd seen before.
SM: Can you share a little about your calling into film making?
Dallas Jenkins: My dad is a famous Christian author, so I got the storytelling gene from him, and he introduced me to great movies when I was younger. I felt like Christians deserved good movies, too, even though the ones I'd seen weren't very good.
SM: Why do you think Jesus tops the list as the most written about person in history? Why do you think that many people are hesitant to follow Him and give their lives to Him?
DJ: I believe Jesus was the most written about person in history because I believe he was who he says he was and did what his followers claim. The hesitation in following him comes from the fact that he asks people to give up their lives for him, to put aside their own wants and self-focus and dedicate it all to him. That's quite a radical decision, and we tend to be wired to want to run our own lives, not give up leadership to someone we can't see.
SM: How has your life been spiritually impacted since the making and release of the series?
DJ: It humbled me greatly because the show is much bigger and better than I'm capable of. I've learned more than ever that it's not my job to feed the 5,000, it's only to provide the loaves and fish, and watching God feed the 5,000 with the meager loaves and fish I'm providing has been life-changing.
SM: Why is the world in greater need of Jesus, now more than ever before, with Covid-19 than before?
DJ: Every movement towards God, either personally or nationally, is preceded by crisis. Crisis results in a desperation for salvation, and God provides the only kind of salvation that is permanent and reliable.
SM: You had hopes and plans to create a second season? What is needed to make that happen?
DJ: Money. Right now, the show is growing incredibly fast, which is encouraging, and between our "pay it forward" program and if we offer a crowdfund opportunity again, it looks likely we'll be producing Season Two before the end of the year.
SM: When you hear the name Jesus, what comes to mind?
DJ: The man I'm telling stories about to the entire world, and I hope to do it the rest of my life.