Jenn Gotzon and Husband Jim Chandler to Explore Themes of Faith in New Sci-Fi Project
By Movieguide® Staff
Actress and producer Jenn Gotzon and her husband Jim E. Chandler are best known for their romantic comedy, THE FARMER AND BELLE.
However, the movie-making duo recently announced a new project that will take audiences to space and explore themes of faith.
“Belief alone is not faith,” is the tagline for their potential TV pilot, BEING.
“It’s actually developed from a short, into becoming possibly an eight-episode series that’s being considered by a streaming service… Hopefully, it gets picked up and gets the order for eight episodes… Jenn can tell you a little bit about the story,” Chandler said.
“What we can say is that it is a space sci-fi TV series that follows an astronaut scientist who’s on Mars on an emergency mission back to Earth,” Gotzon, who previously took Movieguide® Founder and Publisher Dr. Ted Baehr’s “How to Succeed In Hollywood” class, said.
“My character is that astronaut, Doctor Ana Harbin. Cameron Arnett plays the AI on the ship… This extraordinary team has literally created from the ground up an interior of a spaceship in a warehouse in Orlando,” Gotzon said.
“We are so honored, so humbled and just so blown away by their generosity, their kindness (and) their love. It’s so good…And Jim is in it,” she added.
Chandler is set to play a mission control commander on earth. Chandler said that science fiction can be used to explore spirituality.
“I’ve enjoyed science fiction,” he said. “I wouldn’t consider myself a Trekkie or somebody who is like die hard Star Wars, but I enjoy watching them. It’s always interesting because in the intergalactic world they’re always (facing) the same things we face on Earth – and what we face in Christianity. It’s a parallel to like a spiritual thing where there’s spiritual good and spiritual evil. Most of those science-fiction stories generally follow that motif.”
Gotzon said that while they did not initially plan for it to be a complete, 8-part series, she and the team realized they had a unique opportunity with BEING.
“It’s so neat because it started off as a bunch of friends at Premise Entertainment. They said ‘Hey, let’s just do what we’ve been wanting to do forever. Let’s just do a short film on a spaceship.’ So, if you can imagine, like a bunch of young kids when they’re gonna go out and build a spaceship out of cardboard boxes,” she explained. “That’s what it reminds me of. Such creatively intelligent men who are working professionals in the world said ‘Let’s do this’ but instead of with cardboard boxes they did it (almost for) real.
“It started off as a short but then it just got such excitement behind it because there’s nothing like this in the faith-based world and it picked up legs,” she continued. “There is a company that’s very interested in it and once they see the pilot or the proof of concept they might want to move forward with making it (a series). So, our entire team has shifted direction to say ‘Wow! This is no longer a little fun project.’ This is a project that can be fun and have the opportunity of reaching people with a really fun story and message.”
Gotzon and Chandler’s previous movie, THE FARMER AND BELLE promoted Christian and family values.
Movieguide®’s review reads:
THE FARMER AND THE BELLE: SAVING SANTALAND follows Belle Winters, a tired supermodel who’s worried about aging out of the industry. One evening in her apartment in New York City, Belle remembers a charm bracelet with biblical beauty affirmations that her grandmother gave Belle when she was a child. Belle no longer has the bracelet but thinks it might be at Santaland, a Christmas farm where she played in her youth. Desperate to find the bracelet, Belle sets out to find it and ends up finding herself in the process.
THE FARMER AND THE BELLE: SAVING SANTALAND is a wide video on demand release. The fact that the story is based on true events adds to its appeal. SAVING SANTALAND has a strong Christian, biblical worldview. Its message stresses on finding your worth from the truth of God rather than the standards of the world. Also, several scenes showcase prayer, the true meaning of Christmas, and the value of public confession and repentance. THE FARMER AND THE BELLE: SAVING SANTALAND is a “feel good” movie for families, with little questionable content.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
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Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
