Liberty hosts producers of ‘The Chosen’ and actors Kevin and Sam Sorbo for Christian filmmaking panel

A panel of Christian filmmakers shared their industry insights with Liberty University’s Cinematic Arts, Zaki Gordon Center Wednesday morning as part of the university’s three-day CEO Summit, conveying their experiences with the next generation of faith-based storytellers.

The panel discussion was held in the university-owned theater inside the Get Air Trampoline Park in nearby Candlers Station Shopping Center and featured actor Kevin Sorbo and his wife, actor and author Sam Sorbo; screenwriter Dan Gordon; and Chad Gundersen and Chris Juen, producers of the hit Christian series “The Chosen.” Stephan Schultze, executive director of Liberty’s cinematic arts program, moderated the panel and was joined by assistant professor of cinematic arts Scotty Curlee.

All five panelists said they came into the industry with a different purpose than what they pursue now, with most of them wanting to produce or star in major, secular Hollywood projects before sensing a call to create works that honor God and spread stories that promote Christian values.

“Initially, I just wanted to get into Hollywood, but on that journey, God found me and shook me up,” Juen said. “God had a plan and it just took a little bit of faith and discipline on my part. (God) was saying, ‘I’ve trained you up all this time, and now I want you to go do something greater.’ You can stay inside the Hollywood system and be working on big-budget films and achieve someone’s definition of success, but if we’re staying Christ-centered and following His purpose, it’s a whole different journey.”

Gunderson cited a passage in the book of John, in which Jesus tells His disciples that He wants them to do greater things than even He’d done while on Earth, and Gunderson connected that to the ability that today’s filmmakers have to spread messages across the globe in an instant.

“I think about media and I think about the reach that we have, especially today with (the internet) … and we’re able to reach so many more people than Christ did in His time,” he said. “We have the ability to touch every person in the world. If we can impact the nation (through media), I think everything else will fall in line.”

“We have a battle on our hands. It’s part of a cultural war with Hollywood,” Kevin Sorbo added. “I love what everyone (on this stage) is doing, and I agree that this is a great time to be doing it. The independent market is really exploding right now. I love what I’m doing now, and I’m going to keep doing it.”

But with that massive reach, Gordon explained, comes a responsibility and earnestness to remain focused on promoting Christ and using the gifts He’s given for His glory. He recalled a mentor who told him, “All creation comes from the Creator. Your job is to be the vessel, and your responsibility is to keep the vessel worthy of what is going to come through you. You have to improve your skills so that what (God is saying) is expressed better.”

Gordon said he has had opportunities to write scripts for major franchise films but turned them down because he knew that they would be “damaging the vessel.”

The guests offered multiple encouragements to the young filmmakers in the audience, explaining that the key to a career in the industry is to not be afraid of failure and rejection, to see it as a marathon and not a sprint, and to focus just as much on treating others well as they create every project.

“I spent my 20s figuring out what I wanted to do, I spent my 30s figuring out how to do it, and now that I’m in my 40s I’m doing it and plan to continue doing it,” Gunderson said. “We can’t control (success). That’s in God’s hands. But what you can control is how you act within this industry. People want to work with people who treat them differently. Do the work. There are too many people, especially in the faith film industry, who say God has called them to do this … but then don’t put the work in.”

The panelists also emphasized the importance of working with smart, honest people who share that dedication to putting in the work and creating a quality project.

“Put very smart people around you and listen to what they are saying,” Juen said.

“You have a unique opportunity here in this (cohort) and this environment to find your posse, your collaborators, and so I encourage you to do that now,” Sam Sorbo added. “Pick people who are better than you. Find people who you respect and then take their input. Don’t allow people to set your limitations, and if you have the capacity to do more than just one thing, do that.”

At the conclusion of the panel, students were able to briefly meet with the guests and receive a free copy of the Sorbos’ 2017 film “Let There Be Light.” On Tuesday night, the Sorbos held a private screening of their latest film, “Miracle in East Texas,” for students.