‘Loaves and Fish’: Why THE CHOSEN Crew, Cast ‘Bring Their Best’
By Movieguide® Contributor
THE CHOSEN producers sat down with Movieguide® to talk about what everyone brought to the table in Season 4.
To encourage the cast and crew, Director Dallas Jenkins created a “loaves and fish” mentality among the team. He drew inspiration from the Bible, where, on several occasions, Jesus multiplied bread and fish that people brought to him.
Executive Producer Brad Pelo said, “The idea of loaves and fish is just everyone brings their best to the table with no expectation that it’s anything but just…their offering,” and then God multiplies that into a big impact.
“Each season we see that miraculously again and again, whether it’s someone who’s come to help build the set, so there were many people last year that we saw bring loaves and fish,” he shared. “This year, it’s actually coming to us by virtue of some of the new cast that you’re going to meet in this season that we just are so fortunate to be able to attract to the show.”
Mark Sourian, the supervising producer, shared that the loaves and fish he brought this season are perspective.
“It’s a perspective of how a major studio or a big production would do things as opposed to maybe a mom-and-pop operation,” he said. “And so…it’s not like I’m reinventing the wheel; it’s just I’m adjusting things and giving some advice about how to adjust things to a much bigger scale than what was done in seasons one and two, which were slightly more of a mom-and-pop operation.”
THE CHOSEN now operates on a much bigger scale than when it first started. Pelo explained how this helped the show be more successful.
“We might think in the faith community that Hollywood’s a dirty word. Hollywood is just shorthand for people who make their profession at just a little more sophisticated level. They have bigger budgets. They have more tools,” he explained.
“So as the show has grown, we’ve actually looked to Hollywood to say are there people here who care about telling this story, and we found…wonderful team members, some on the production side. Our new head of production comes out of Hollywood. And also some of my staff on the marketing side that have been marketing some of the biggest blockbuster films in the last decade are on our team,” Pelo said.
All of this not only makes the production of the show better, but also helps viewers get more value out of their donations.
“All they’re doing is really kind of elevating our game,” Pelo said. “They’re helping us do this job and in a way that this sort of merits the sacrifice of the audience, who’s contributing their money to help support this, and also so those of us who are giving our loaves and fish, as we like to call it.”
What excites him most about Season 4 is the skilled storytelling.
“It’s really just great storytelling and high-level production value. I’m a big fan of filmmakers. I’ve worked with filmmakers, some of the best, and so what I respond to is a filmmaker with an articulate vision who brings that to life in the best way possible, and that’s what Dallas Jenkins has done with THE CHOSEN,” Sourian shared.
He also thinks audiences will be struck by the susceptibility of Jesus and his followers.
“The path to the light isn’t just easy. It’s a hard road, even for Jesus. That’s not going to be a simple straight line,” Sourian said.
“I think even for Jesus and the disciples, there are challenges that they face; there is vulnerability, and I think that’s something that’s going to resonate with everyone,” he shared.
Movieguide® previously reported on the theme of Season 4:
“We’re getting closer and closer to what we know is coming,” Jenkins told Fox News. “There’s some extreme pain and sadness that’s coming soon in future seasons.”
“And of course, there’s also some extreme joy that’s coming. But on the way there, Jesus is getting increasingly sad because of the fact that things are getting increasingly heavy,” he continued.
Woman’s World reported, “The actors themselves understand that it’s the fact-based, but heartfelt story line that keeps viewers interested. Noah James, who plays Andrew, [said], ‘The reason the show is so popular is because it’s so focused on authenticity.'”
The Direct reported that while viewers will still have free streaming access through THE CHOSEN’s website and app, Season 4, episodes 1, 2 and 3 will be released in theatres in the U.S. and Canada from Feb. 1–14, 2024. The successive episodes will screen from Feb. 15 to 28.
Check out the rest of Movieguide®’s interview with Pelo and Sourian here:
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.
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.
