The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast explores the creative vision behind The Chosen, a groundbreaking new multi-season series that reimagines the life of Jesus through a deeply humanizing lens. Filmmaker Dallas Jenkins discusses his transformative personal journey that led to this project, shifting from a desire for public affirmation to a focus on authentically serving a higher purpose.
The blurb covers the innovative approach and unconventional financing model of The Chosen, which has resonated with audiences around the world and sparked a resurgence of personal connections to faith. Notably, the series aims to tap into emotional experiences of Jesus that potential audiences—Christian and non-Christian alike—have yet to explore on screen.
Sign up for Shortform to access the whole episode summary along with additional materials like counterarguments and context.
After the failure of his film "The Resurrection of Gavin Stone," Dallas Jenkins experienced a crisis of faith that led to a pivotal perspective shift. A stranger's message helped Jenkins realize his role was to humbly provide his talents, not control outcomes. This sparked Jenkins' surrender of ego and desires for public affirmation, focusing instead on authentic service to God.
Drawing from previous experiences reimagining Bible stories from fresh perspectives, Jenkins envisioned a multi-season series that could deeply explore the lives of Jesus and his followers. He aimed to humanize Jesus by portraying His everyday life and tailoring interactions to connect emotionally with viewers. According to Jenkins, this personal approach could impact modern audiences similarly to those who encountered Jesus historically.
The Chosen pursued an innovative crowdfunding model, raising a record-breaking $10 million from over 16,000 backers worldwide, indicating strong public interest. Its free online release built a large, engaged global audience by prioritizing authentic storytelling over conventional business models.
The Chosen has resonated with both Christian and non-Christian viewers, sparking what some deem a spiritual revival, particularly among younger generations. By setting a new standard for relatable biblical storytelling, the series is credited with igniting profound personal connections to faith. Jenkins' approach has positioned The Chosen for lasting cultural influence.
1-Page Summary
Dallas Jenkins recounts his emotional and spiritual metamorphosis that followed the crushing disappointment of his film's failure. This journey is a testament to the transformative power of perspective and faith in the face of adversity.
Dallas Jenkins's professional and personal life was thrown into turmoil after his film "The Resurrection of Gavin Stone" failed at the box office, grossing only $2.3 million. Jenkins felt responsible not just for the film's financial success, but also for its spiritual mission. On January 20th, 2017, with other projects getting canceled as a consequence, he felt he went from a promising future to having no future at all. Jenkins, alongside his wife Amanda, was left grappling with a crisis of faith; they prayed and even turned to the biblical story of the feeding of the 5,000 for guidance.
Amidst his self-doubt, Jenkins’s perspective changed significantly after a stranger from Romania imparted a key message by alluding to the biblical story of the feeding of the 5,000. The stranger reminded Jenkins that his job was not to “feed the 5,000” but to faithfully provide the "loaves and fish." This parable helped Jenkins understand that his role was not to guarantee success but to offer up his talents. He realized that the boy in the biblical story played his part without focusing on the scale of the miracle, paralleling Jenkins's situation of providing his best work while leaving the impact to a higher power.
This encounter prompted Jenkins to surrender his ego and desires for external affirmation. He began to understand that true s ...
Jenkins' personal/spiritual journey and transformation
Dallas Jenkins shares his comprehensive approach to creating "The Chosen," a series that reimagines biblical stories by focusing on the emotional and human aspects, aiming to make the narratives personal and relatable for a modern audience.
Jenkins had previously created short films for church services that retold Bible stories from various perspectives. One such film focused on the crucifixion from the perspective of the two thieves on the cross. Another showcased Peter's point of view of the crucifixion, featuring a vignette where the disciples were arm wrestling. These short films, which used the historical and cultural context to inform the stories, proved to have a powerful impact on audiences by unlocking emotional connections to these familiar narratives.
Inspired by binge-watching "The Wire," Jenkins appreciated the multi-dimensional storytelling and realized that biblical films and miniseries typically failed to explore characters beyond the miracles and verses of the Bible due to time constraints. He proposed a detailed, multi-season show that would delve into the backstories and context of Jesus and his followers, enhancing the dramatic effect and audience engagement.
During the development of "The Chosen," Jenkins created sets for various biblical locations on property owned by the Salvation Army in Texas. This detail-oriented approach reflected his vision for the series. Jenkins also described the excitement of working on the upcoming season, which deals with Holy Week, presenting both dramatic events and intimate personal encounters with Jesus.
Jenkins sought to humanize Jesus by showing him engaging in everyday activities, allowing the audience to connect w ...
The creative process and vision behind The Chosen
"The Chosen," a series about the life of Jesus Christ, has defied conventional media industry norms in both its financing and distribution, using a crowdfunding campaign for the former and releasing episodes for free online for the latter.
When the time came to fund "The Chosen," creators turned to an innovative way of raising funds that would also involve and empower their audience: crowdfunding.
Jenkins, the creator of "The Chosen," admits that he had his reservations about the crowdfunding model. However, following a personal transformation that left him more humble, he grew receptive to this unconventional method. His role transitioned from simply providing the short film to humbly inviting potential viewers to invest in the project.
The crowdfunding approach was not only a marked departure from traditional TV and film funding methods, but it also proved to be an overwhelming success. VidAngel, a streaming platform now known as Angel Studios, presented the idea to Jenkins, and they launched a campaign that spoke directly to potential viewers' desires to see the story of Jesus told in a new and compelling way. The result was a record-breaking $10 million raised by 16,000 people around the world, driven by the impact of a 20-minute short film Jenkins made.
Peterson views this crowdfunding effort as a "market test," which not only raised funds but also demonstrated the public's interest and support for such a series. The financial success of the campaign underscores the audience's desire for content that resonates with their faith and interests.
While there's no specific information provided from the content about the distribution strategy of releasing episodes for free online, the success and popularity of "The Chosen" points to an innovative model that goes beyond customary approaches. By releasing episodes to a global audience online without a paywall, "T ...
The unorthodox business and distribution model of The Chosen
"The Chosen" is impacting viewers both inside and outside of Christian circles, sparking what some believe to be a spiritual revival and setting a new standard for biblical entertainment.
The series has garnered a significant following extending beyond its Christian roots. Dallas Jenkins, creator of "The Chosen," hints at a personal, transformative experience that occurred at four o'clock in the morning, which could tie into the show's genuine appeal. While not expressly articulated, Jenkins’ own experiences may contribute to the series' authenticity and extensive resonance.
Jenkins has shared that viewers often approach him with emotional reactions to the show, communicating how it feels very personal to them and offering gratitude for its creation.
Furthermore, "The Chosen" attracts a diverse viewership, with 30 to 40 percent of its audience comprising non-believers who find the historical drama aspect intriguing.
Jordan Peterson mentions that the buzz generated among believers and recommendations by various individuals piqued his curiosity, leading him to watch the series. This suggests the show’s influence reaches beyond a strictly Christian demographic, engaging non-believers as well.
The series has been commended for its relatable portrayal of biblical narratives. The way the show depicts Jesus reaching out to individuals in their specific circumstances has evoked profound emotional responses, resonating with viewers on a personal and spiritual level, and potentially sparking a revival.
The conversation suggests "The Chosen" may be indicating a religious revival, particularly in the West, including in North America and Europe, where spirituality and religion have been facing a d ...
The cultural and spiritual impact of The Chosen
Download the Shortform Chrome extension for your browser