THE CHOSEN Crew’s Christmas Controversies: Real or Fake Trees and More
By Movieguide® Contributor
THE CHOSEN crew and a few CHOSEN insiders recently had a friendly debate over some popular Christmas controversies in a game of “This or That.”
“Real or artificial tree?” an interviewer asked the crew.
“Oh, I’ve gotta go artificial. I’m too lazy for a real tree,” confessed producer Chris Juen.
Insider Chris Durban, composer Matthew S. Nelson, assistant director Adam Drake, executive producer Darrel Eve, insider Jalein Abania and director Dallas Jenkins and his wife Amanda all voted artificial.
Dallas quipped, “Artificial because I’m not a real man, and I have no idea how to bring in a real tree and set it up and put those screws in to hold it in place. And then all the needles…Artificial all the way.”
Writer Tyler Thompson added, “Artificial but with the pine spray.”
Producer Chad Gunderson, composer Dan Haseltine, writer Ryan Swanson and second unit director Mitch Hudson all voted for a real Christmas tree.
Executive producer Brad Pelo added that he is all for a real tree “if I don’t have to set it up.”
For gift bags vs. wrapping paper, it’s an even 6-6 tie.
Jenkins joked, “You think I know how to wrap?
For freshly served Christmas dinner vs. leftovers, “both” took the lead by one vote.
When it comes to cold egg nog or hot chocolate, egg nog took the win by two votes.
For Christmas movie classics, ELF or HOME ALONE, the latter won by a landslide with eight votes versus ELF’s three.
When asked whether the crew prefers Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” or Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You,” many laughed out loud after they heard the question.
“White Christmas” won with seven votes, while “All I Want for Christmas” got three. Only CHOSEN insider Abania voted for both.
When asked whether they are early or last-minute shoppers, five crew members confessed they are last minute shoppers, two said they are both and four said early.
Amanda said, “ Early. Like a year early.”
The interviewer asked them if they liked the first CHOSEN Christmas special, THE SHEPHERD, or if they liked the second, THE MESSENGERS, for the final question.
THE SHEPHERD only got one vote, while THE MESSENGERS and “both” tied at four votes.
Jenkins had a different answer: “What an interesting question ’cause now we don’t have to choose. We combined THE SHEPHERD and THE MESSENGERS into one. So now they’re both part of Christmas!” he said excitedly.
Both of these episodes have been combined to make THE CHOSEN’s latest Christmas special, CHRISTMAS WITH THE CHOSEN: HOLY NIGHT. The new special features performances from Brandon Lake, the Bonner Family, Zach Williams, Matt Maher, One Voice Children’s Choir and Andrea and Matteo Bocelli.
Movieguide® reported Dallas’s prior comments on the new special:
“Over six years ago I made a little short film on my friend’s farm in Illinois. Entitled THE SHEPHERD, it was about the birth of Christ from the perspective of the shepherds, and it was only intended for my church’s Christmas Eve service,” Jenkins explained. “It ultimately ended up launching THE CHOSEN.”
“A few years later, with many more resources, we did THE MESSENGERS, a special episode about the birth of Christ from the perspective of Mary and Joseph,” he continued. “This year I had an interesting idea…what it we combine the two? I didn’t think it would work great, but it might be an interesting experiment.”
“When Amada and I saw the first rough cut, we were so moved,” he added. “It does work, and the nativity story took on even more relevance…I can’t wait for you to see it in theaters and ultimately start a new Christmas tradition.”
The special came out on Tuesday and earned an 89% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.2 score on IMDB.
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