Faith-based films are usually told from the perspective of those who are already believers, but filmmaker Matt Chastain thought it’d be interesting to show what goes on in church culture through the eyes of a skeptic who joins a small group.
Known for being both in front of and behind the camera, Chastain has produced hundreds of TV commercials and promotional videos in his 15-year career in marketing and advertising. Now, because of “Small Group,” he adds filmmaker to his extensive resume.
According to the movie’s description, “R. Scott Cooper is hired to make a film about the dwindling influence of Christianity. But to his surprise, the producer asks Scott to secretly infiltrate a small group and make a cheap hit piece. Already having moved his family to Athens, Georgia, he’s forced to move forward but discovers much more than he set out to do.”
Below is an edited transcript of The Christian Post’s interview with Christian where he shares the heart behind the making of “Small Group.”
CP: What inspired you to write “Small Group”?
Chastain: In 2014, my wife and I had joined a small group at our church. We both grew up in small-town Baptist churches so we were a little late to the small group party. But better to be rookies in your mid-30s than never at all, right?
The whole experience just felt so much more real and genuine and interactive than other church experiences I’d had. It was early on, maybe in the second meeting, when I was kind of given the idea: this is a story that needs to be told! Somebody ought a make a movie called ‘Small Group’! Being too dumb to know what an undertaking it would actually be to do it right, I decided to write a screenplay and make a movie!
CP: Can you share with us your own experience with a small group and how it impacted your life?
Chastain: We can’t truly and fully present ourselves to God until we can come humbled, focused on Him and His desire for us rather than toxified by our own self-centered crap. When we’re committed to experiencing real life with a group of believers, it keeps us focused, accountable and humble.
In “Small Group,” the character Cori is explaining the concept of grace to Coop and she says that “pure and true grace, it flows from God, through me, to others.” I’ve experienced that flow of grace through some of the most wonderful folks I know and I hope they’ve felt it flowing through me as well.
CP: The film is told from the perspective of skeptics and nonbelievers, and it provided a different prospective from what we’re used to seeing in faith-based films. Did you find that it freed you to be more honest in your storytelling?
Chastain: Yeah, it was very important for me to have the protagonist of the story be a nonbeliever for several reasons. First, the conflict of his infiltration just provides great story tension. But I also wanted us, as Christians, to be able to take a good, objective look at ourselves through the eyes of an outsider.
It can be uncomfortable and challenging, especially as we play with stereotypes, but I still can’t find the passage in Scripture where it says we’re supposed to live easy, unchallenged lives. Plus, stereotypes are funny.
Click here to read more.
Source: Christian Post
BCNN1 WP 