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Join Kosta and his guest: Adam Drake, award-winning filmmaker, Owner and Founder of Drake Films and First Assistant Director of The Chosen, the first-ever multi-season series about the life of Christ and the largest crowdfunded television show of all time.In this episode: Adam's journey in the entertainment industry, if The Chosen would exist if it wasn’t a fan-supported show and what has that freedom has allowed the show to accomplish, the balance between portraying biblical stories as they ...
Join Kosta and his guest: Adam Drake, award-winning filmmaker, Owner and Founder of Drake Films and First Assistant Director of The Chosen, the first-ever multi-season series about the life of Christ and the largest crowdfunded television show of all time.
In this episode: Adam's journey in the entertainment industry, if The Chosen would exist if it wasn’t a fan-supported show and what has that freedom has allowed the show to accomplish, the balance between portraying biblical stories as they were depicted plainly in the text and making the story more relatable to a modern audiences and if The Chosen and its audience could represent the beginning of a new era in faith-based media and entertainment.
Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN.
Find out more about Adam Drake and The Chosen:
https://www.angel.com/watch/the-chosen
Find out more about Kosta and all the ways we're better together:
http://kostayepifantsev.com/
Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a podcast about business, parenting and living life intentionally. We're here every week to bring you intentional conversations on making your own path to success, challenging the status quo, and finding all the ways we're better. Recorded in Cookeville, TN, Kosta joins guests from all walks of life to bring fresh perspective and start your week with purpose. We're better together.
Adam Drake: I always compare it
to so this is a Christian
version of Lost because I
thought Lost was so good at like
just diving in his characters
and made me care about them and
each one or hate this one or
love this one or I want to see
how their story develops. Well
that's what the chosen is done,
but with biblical characters,
just making them so relatable
and so authentic and going on
while I relate to that
character, like just like you
would any other show. Welcome to
Morgan Franklin: Welcome to
Better Together with Kosta
Yepifantsev, a podcast on
parenting business and living
life intentionally. We're here
every week to bring you
thoughtful conversation, making
your own path to success,
challenging the status quo, and
finding all the ways we're
better together. Here's your
host, Kosta Yepifantsev.
Kosta Yepifantsev: Hey, y'all.
This is Kosta. And today, I'm
here with my guest, Adam Drake,
award winning filmmaker, owner
and founder of Drake films, and
first assistant director of the
chosen the first ever multi
season series about the life of
Christ and the largest
crowdfunded television show of
all time. Adam, I want to talk
about your journey in filmmaking
thus far, our audience might not
know but you started in the
entertainment industry as an
actor. What inspired you to go
off screen?
Adam Drake: Well, let's just say
I haven't gotten fully off
screen, I still do some acting
nice fall into the side. For
instance, I just finished a Mel
Gibson movie where I was the
first ad and I was doing a
movie. And then the director is
like, you know what, Adam,
you're an actor once you fill
this role, and he put me in, and
I'm actually in the opening
scene as a cop. And I have like
two lines. So I still get a lot
of those actually have like, I'm
working on the film, and then
the director or whoever's, like,
oh, let's just put them in
there. He's naturally can handle
that. And we'll do a couple
lines. So I still enjoy that
too. That's a lot of fun. Just
taking on like a little small
role for sure.
Kosta Yepifantsev: How did you
take the opportunity of being an
assistant director on such a
large show? How did that happen?
Adam Drake: Yeah. So I got into
the business directing audition
back in college products agency,
I got an agent, I end up getting
a modeling and acting agent. It
was both my first job ever was
for for breeze. Model breeze was
my first job and just a bunch of
pictures. It was kind of like
fun and entertaining. And but I
was like, Oh, this is awesome.
Then I started getting on some
music videos as an actor,
because I was in Nashville. And
so obviously, there's lots of
country music videos, things
like that. Any ones that we
would know. I mean, sure. Oh,
man, it's been a while I have to
remember that. The problem is I
don't listen to country music.
So I forget. One of the first
ones I did was actually with my
wife. We just gotten married.
And one of the first ones I did
I think it's Jason Aldean. My
agent reached out to me said
you're married right? And said,
Yes. I said, would your wife be
interested in acting? I said,
well, she's not an actor. But I
mean, she's blond hair, blue
eyes. She's gorgeous. She'd look
right. And he was like, it's a
music video. Like, yeah, they
just want real authentic couples
for the scene, because you're
gonna be kissed. And I was like,
I like that. We audition, we got
the roll for the music video.
And we're just making out in one
of those country music videos.
And that was like one of our
first kids get them. We got paid
several $100 Each to make out on
screen and I was like, I'm in
Kosta Yepifantsev: now. You grew
up in Sparta? Yes. And your wife
grew up in Livingston, where
both of you guys engaged in
theater when you were in high
school?
Adam Drake: You know, that's
what's crazy. No. So my wife's
definitely not that was like her
one gig. Amazing. She's not in
the business at all. Okay, I
just wanted to clarify, she's
full time model. We got five
kids. So she's she's full time,
mom. But yes, she's from
Livingston and from Sparta. We
were in Nashville for a bit and
then we moved back to Cookeville
to be closer family because we
have five kids at home. So We're
originally from the area. Yeah.
And came back
Kosta Yepifantsev: when we were
talking before the podcast. You
said you had three kids in one
year. So how did that process
unfold? Because that's
astounding. I mean, I had I have
Irish twins. So I have guys that
are 10 months apart. But man,
three kids, and when you're What
was your life like after that?
Adam Drake: Oh, yeah, it changes
drastically, that's for sure. So
it was we adopted twins, okay,
and had a baby. And we were also
in the process of moving from
Nashville back to Cookeville.
And I was on a movie in
Virginia. So my wife basically
did it by herself.
Kosta Yepifantsev: So when we
were talking, you said that
you're not the director of the
chosen, but you're the assistant
director, can you kind of give
me a brief description of what
your job looks like?
Adam Drake: Yeah, so a lot of
what I do these days for the
chosen and for a lot of shows is
that come on as a producer or
first assistant director, the
first assistant director is not
what you think it is. It's not
the director of the show. But if
you were to walk onto a film
set, you would instantly think
I'm the director, nice. I'm
running the show. I'm making
sure everything happens and
falls into place. Because
there's 150 people on set, and
actors and extras and
everything. And I'm I'm the one
yelling at everybody saying
here's where everything needs to
go. Here's what needs to happen
to get this into the frame. My
job starts with the schedule.
Let's just use the chosen as an
example, when Dallas and his two
other riders with him. So
there's three riders, once they
finished the first draft of the
script, they send it to me, and
I take it and I start breaking
it down. So it's just a script
on paper. But I take and break
down each scene and each
character and all the props and
all the different things sort of
breaking out into pieces and
going okay, well there's one
scene in the synagogue and
there's another scene here in
the temple. And there's another
scene over here in Simon's
house. And so I start piecing
those together go well, we can
shoot all these scenes in this
day and this day, it's certainly
got a schedule for the whole
season for all the episodes.
Where did
Kosta Yepifantsev: you learn all
of this from doing it? Okay. All
right. So it's just one of those
like trial and error, you just
start and see what works and
kind of build a business around
it because you have a film
business called Drake films is
that the production company does
great films, is that associated
with the chosen?
Adam Drake: No, it's not the
chosen is just hired me, okay.
And Drake films was kind of, I
used to do a lot more production
stuff where I shoot, you know,
commercial things for businesses
and music videos for artists. I
still do some of that. But
that's kind of morphed into,
it's just me, and I hire
freelancers, other people to do
what I do that need to if I need
somebody that can do post, or I
need somebody that can shoot or
edit or all the different things
I know I have all those
connections. So it's just me and
then I hire out other people
that I need for those positions.
Kosta Yepifantsev: What type of
projects have you worked on with
regards to Drake films?
Adam Drake: As far as outside of
movies? Yeah, well,
Kosta Yepifantsev: I mean, just
any type of movies that we might
know.
Adam Drake: I'm excited about
the new one coming out with Mel
Gibson, their trailer should be
coming soon. It's called boys of
summer. It's like a kid's action
adventure, like a Goonies that
that was really fun. But I've
worked on mostly stayed in the
faith based market, like I did
case for Christ, which was a
pretty good hit back in the day,
and like, I'm not ashamed was
actually filmed in Nashville,
just about the Columbine
shooting. I shot my own film
here back in 2016. I think it
was called Heaven bound. That's
a Christian comedy that we shot
here in Cookeville, and Sparta,
and that one I produced and kind
of put together with a team
here. I love that. Yeah.
Kosta Yepifantsev: So before we
move on to the chosen, because I
am just fascinated. And then I
talked to Darby about this, when
he was here on the show, what
you're able to create with
regards to the chosen, I feel
like is breaking a lot of
barriers for people to engage
with media that is faith based.
Because I'll tell you, when I
watch TV, I don't see anything.
I mean, like remember back in
the 90s, they had like Touched
by an Angel in seventh heaven.
Those types of genres don't
exist anymore. Right? And so now
it's like sitcoms, comedies, you
know, shows about cops. And
that's about it. Right? Yeah. So
I want to talk about the chosen.
But before I do, you mentioned
Mel Gibson a few times. And I
know that he was the one that
directed and I believe produced
The Passion of the Christ. And
so is there a relationship that,
you know, has been built over
the years? I'm curious.
Adam Drake: No, no, that just
happened. That's his last film.
I worked on that metal involved,
but no, no connection to the
chosen Israeli anything.
Kosta Yepifantsev: Have you ever
talked to him about why he chose
to create a movie like The
Passion of the Christ? Yeah,
Adam Drake: actually on set, I'd
asked him about it. He's an
incredible storyteller,
obviously proven that but just
talking to him, too. It's like
talking to your grandpa and
hearing horror stories. I mean,
the guy's a genius, an
incredible storytellers. So you
ask him a question, and you just
expect to be blown away? Yeah.
And yeah, I asked him about the
passion. And he just talked
about all the haters, and how
everybody was saying, don't make
it don't make it. And he was
just set on making it. And it
was like, This is gonna be a
train wreck and how nobody would
touch him. And nobody would
touch his film. But he just had
to do the work to get it out
there himself, basically.
Kosta Yepifantsev: So tell me
about the chosen. Tell me about
your involvement, and did the
Passion of the Christ that all
influence the chosen being made?
Adam Drake: I don't think so.
When Dallas talks about, you
know, what's inspiring for the
chosen, he does talk
passionately talks like regular
show, like any secular show
you'd watch on television. Nice.
The way the Chosun started was
that Dallas made a lot of short
films for His church. And he
made a short film first church
called the shepherd. It just
went viral. And lots of people
loved it. And he said, Well, I
have an idea to turn this into a
series about the life of Christ
with the disciples, and they
brought some other people on
board, and it just kind of blew
up from there. And so there was
a following. But even when we
started shooting, there still
wasn't that big of a following
that there is now today, of
course, but there was enough
people to kind of get started.
And so I've been very blessed
and fortunate enough to start
from the beginning. Dallas
called me actually the way I met
him was that film that I filmed
here, back in 2016, I was
showing a film festival, but
Dallas was showing his film,
which was also a comedy. It's
called Resurrection of Gavin
stone. And he'll tell you, it's
his greatest failure. So
honestly, it's great movie. And
there's nothing wrong with the
movie, but he just failed
horribly in the box office.
Interesting. But because that
movie failed so miserably that
created the success of the
chosen for Dallas. That's all on
YouTube. And there's lots of
great videos about Dallas and
kind of how that worked. But I
was able to meet him through a
friend also from Sparta,
Tennessee called Torrey Martin.
He introduced me to him because
he helped me make the film
heaven bound. And he introduced
me to him at the festival in
Dallas, love the film, thought
was funny. And we liked his
films, we got to connect there.
And so then eventually, when he
got the chance to make the
chosen, he called me and said,
Hey, I'm looking for a first ad.
My first idea on my last film
was terrible. I need a new one.
What do you think about doing so
then? Yeah, he sent me the
scripts. At the time, we were
only funded for the first four.
So we couldn't even shoot all
four absent, right? This first
four episodes. We didn't know if
it was going to be successful.
Kosta Yepifantsev: I mean,
producing the shows expensive,
very expensive. When Morgan said
that you were crowdfunded. I was
like, that's like millions upon
millions and 10s of millions of
dollars.
Adam Drake: Yeah, just put it in
perspective. The number one
crowdfunded project before the
chosen was Mystery Science
Theater 3000 and Can you
remember that show? No. It's
like we're the weird guys watch
the thing on
Kosta Yepifantsev: the on the
movie. Conan the Barbarian time
on TV
Adam Drake: and like sci fi
movies. Musa in there. Oh, it's
hilarious. I grew up watching
that. I love that. Well, they
raised 7 million, I think. And
that was the number one
crowdfunded project all time
secular Christian doesn't
matter. And for our first
season, we raised over 10
million for the very first
season. Wow. So we blew them out
of the water. Yeah, for sure.
And still kept going.
Kosta Yepifantsev: $10 million?
How many episodes? Are you able
to produce on that? eight
episodes? Okay, so it's
essentially it's close to a
million dollars in episode.
Yeah. Wow.
Adam Drake: So then we just
finished season three. So we're
now a multi season show, which
is great. So we're about to
start season four, and we are 40
million or 5 million in
episodes. That's incredible.
Kosta Yepifantsev: Wow. Before
we get into the technical
details of you know, the crowd
funded because I have so many
questions about that. Can you
tell us like what each season is
about?
Adam Drake: Here's what's crazy,
when you watch the first episode
of the chosen, the very first
episode 90% of the episode is
not in the Bible, only the last
10% The last couple minutes of
the show is the only part that's
actually in the Bible. What we
do beforehand is lead you up to
that moment, what could have
happened? Now, of course, that's
very controversial, right, which
it is, but what they do is I
mean, they're studying it with
theologians, and rabbis and
everybody come together to go,
what could have happened, what's
the best chance scenario where
these characters could have been
before the situation that we do
know is factual in the Bible?
You know, what led us up to
that. So actually, the first
episode ends with Mary
Magdalene, and him taking the
demon out of Mary Magdalene.
Okay. And that's it all leaving
that you're just meeting
characters. What Dallas talks
about some of his favorite shows
are the ones that are very
character driven. When I read
the first four episodes, and
when we first started shooting,
it always compared it to us that
this is a Christian version of
lost, because I thought loss was
so good at like just diving in
his characters and making me
care about them. And each one or
hate this one, I love this
winner, I want to see how their
story develops. Well, that's
what the chosen has done. But
with biblical characters, just
making them so relatable, and so
authentic, and going out why
relate to that character, like
just like you would any other
show. So people turn off the
religion part turn off the oh,
what's Christian content, it's
probably not that great. They
can turn that off, because they
watch it and go, like, I care so
much about this character. And
because I think the show is also
developing so much in between
that the Bible doesn't fill in.
It's like, well, that's what
could have happen. And it gets
people excited about it. One of
the best quotes I've heard from
him, there's been lots of
different quotes of people after
they watch it what they say. But
one person said, it's like, I
went from reading my Bible in
black and white to not yet
color. Like that's what the
chosen is done. It's amazing. It
just brings it to life.
Kosta Yepifantsev: Do you think
that this project would have
been possible if it wasn't
crowdfunded?
Adam Drake: That's hard to say?
Probably not. Because it is
crowdfunded? Dallas, and his
team of who is created around
him has full control. So yeah,
because we haven't sold to
Netflix or any of the big gurus
out there. He's still got full
control.
Kosta Yepifantsev: Have you had
an opportunity to sell something
like that? Yeah. So
Adam Drake: season one, actually
is now on Netflix. Okay. UK,
season one in fun, just really
anywhere.
Kosta Yepifantsev: You know,
when you're describing Dallas,
his journey, specifically, and
you know, he's created the
shepherd, and it's for His
church. He's from Cookeville.
Adam Drake: No, he's from, he
was somewhere close to Chicago.
Kosta Yepifantsev: So he's in
Chicago, he's going to a church,
there's created the show called
The shepherd. The amount of
people that go to a church is
not going to get you to a
million dollars, and may not
even get you to $100,000. How
did you guys scale this
endeavor, using these
crowdfunded resources to make
the chosen become as successful
as it is now?
Adam Drake: Well, I do think
it's like one of those things of
just like, I mean, we're, I'd
say, man on the god like, yeah,
it is a phenomenon. So because
already lots of other people
have tried to do exactly what
the Joseph did and have not been
successful. There's that. And
then there's also the fact that
early on this company called
Angel Studios, which is in Utah,
got very excited about the pilot
and the series, and they came on
board, and they're the ones that
kind of pushed the crowdfunding
campaign. And so they're the
ones that kind of had the ideas
behind, okay, how can we do
crowdfunding differently? And so
they did it a little differently
than, you know, the Indiegogo is
and all the other things that
were happening. So that was part
of it, too. And then it's just
people just got excited about
it.
Kosta Yepifantsev: There's a
show, I think, called the Bible,
if I'm not mistaken, I think
it's on Amazon. And I remember
watching a few of the episodes,
I'm fascinated by the Bible and
religion in general. So I like
to have as much knowledge as I
can on the topic, but the fact
that Dallas has this creative
control, do you think that
that's what's contributed to his
success because everything that
you're saying, and obviously
being a part of this project as
an assistant director, you guys
are doing this in a complete one
ad typical to how usual you know
content that is based around
religion and Christ is done and
so what was the touchstone or
the purpose behind rolling out
this show, and doing it totally
different than anything else?
Adam Drake: You Yeah, that's a
good question. I mean, one of
the main things that Dallas and
the team always says is get used
to different. That's a quote
that Jesus says in the show says
get used to different because
everything's different. And so
that's been our motto, the show
was created from the very
beginning differently started
differently. And so we've just
stayed to that and stayed true
to that and just kind of gone
without, you know,
Kosta Yepifantsev: how do you
balance staying true to the
biblical stories depicted in the
chosen, while also making them
relatable to a modern audience?
Adam Drake: What Dallas and the
writing team has done so well is
creating the characters right
outside of what you know, in the
Bible, because in the Bible,
it's very, you know, it's not
much on the disciples. It's
pretty straightforward, strict.
I know, for me, when I was
reading the Bible, I always
thought the disciples were
perfect people. They never made
any mistakes. And they're these
great people. And it's like, no,
if you really dive deep, it's
like, no, they're screwed up,
just like us. Yeah, making
mistakes all the time. And most
of them were low in society, and
like, they were not successful
people. And I think that, you
know, they dive into that, like
when when Jesus in the show also
calls Simon Peter, for the first
time, it's like, he's in the
lowest place of his life,
everything has gone wrong,
before Jesus calls him to follow
him. I mean, he just could not
be worse, he cannot be in a
worse spot. He's screwed up and
made all the wrong decisions,
right? So I think that seeing
them in that moment, because you
don't get that from reading the
Bible, you're like, oh, that
could have been. But when we
actually depict it in the show,
you're like, oh, man, that's
where I was. When Jesus found
me, I was nowhere I'd made all
the horrible decisions. And then
he picked me up. And so I think,
for believers, people that do
believe in the Bible, like it
just makes it so much more real
and authentic. And then we've
had lots of people that watch
the show that are not Christian
that don't believe in it at all.
And they say the same kind of
thing. It's like just the
characters, they love the
characters. And they can relate
to so many people, one of the
biggest hits is the character,
Matthew, and the guy who plays
Matthew is depicted as he's on
the spectrum, as like some OCD
incident on the spectrum. Well,
people never thought you don't
think of that when you read your
Bible that they would have those
issues. So when you depicted on
the screen, everybody loves the
character of Matthew that
watches the show, because
they're like they are on
Spectrum themselves, or they
know someone's on the spectrum.
So it just makes it so much more
relatable to them. Just like any
show you love at home, that it
you love it because it relates
Kosta Yepifantsev: to anatomy. I
think it's fascinating that you
guys are such great
storytellers. And you didn't
allow yourself to be put in a
box, you know, especially in a,
you know, in a faith based show
about Jesus, you know, where
each wall is, right. And so the
fact that you guys are using
storytelling, and is it safe to
say that you're connecting the
dots, but it may be considered
fictitious in terms of the
narrative? Because like, where
do you identify that Matthew may
have been on the spectrum? Or
how do you know, essentially,
these gaps that you're feeling?
Is that from history books?
Yeah,
Adam Drake: I mean, you could
argue, say, if you read the
Bible, like Matthew's depiction,
because he wrote a book in the
Bible, Matthew is very detailed.
So it's very kind of like OCD
detail. Nice. So you could
arguably be like, well, he was
probably that way, then. Yeah,
exactly. So and then Dallas
himself, you know, how you
riders relate it to themselves,
which I think also gets people
more interested, is Dallas
himself has a daughter on the
spectrum. So of course, all
that's relatable to him
personally. And then when he
reads the Bible, he looks at and
goes, well, Matthew is extremely
detailed and OCD. He might have
been on the spectrum or he might
have been OCD. Yeah. Yeah.
Kosta Yepifantsev: What kind of
impact do you think the chosen
is having on the Christian
community?
Adam Drake: Yeah, I mean,
obviously, huge. I think what's
what's been amazing is that it's
not just been the Christian
community, it's been outside of
that, too, because other people
are falling in love with the
show that don't know anything
about the Bible, or
Christianity. And then on the
Christian side of it, too, it is
doing globally. So what's really
cool because we've been outside
the box, because we're
crowdfunded. And we're not
backed by any kind of studio.
It's global. We're hitting
places that normally can't watch
a show, like Kenny watch any
show. I mean, we're literally
all over the world. And that's
what the chosen is pushing
towards to, and putting it in
every language that's possible.
I'm not sure how many languages
are in right now. But it's bunch
and they're just pushing for
more. And the other thing is, it
can be seen anywhere because
it's free, no one has to pay for
it. It's completely free. And
all seven we're doing seven
seasons, all seven seas amazing,
free. It's almost like that
Jesus project many years ago
that was put out it was that was
put up for free just so I could
get to everyone to get to the
masses. This is doing that on a
much bigger budget scale,
because people were behind it.
And we're just pushing it
globally. I think it's made the
impact that way. And then I also
think that as we talked about
before, Christian content kind
of being in a box and straight
laced, and a lot of it not very
good or cheesy. I think the
chosen will open up the doors,
the floodgates for more
creatives to come into the
Christian space, and make better
content and make better shows
and better movies.
Kosta Yepifantsev: And I have a
lot of questions on that. But
the overarching question that I
have is, how important was it to
create this type of content to
reach millennials and Gen Z who
are statistically not
participating in any form of
organized religion sort of
changed the tide of people not
being engaged with the church?
Adam Drake: It kind of goes back
to your other question to of how
We succeeded in the crowd fund.
Yes, I think the other thing was
timing. It was God's perfect
timing of we started blowing up
during COVID. In 2020. When
everybody's staying home, they
can't go anywhere. And
production has stopped on all
movies and shows there's nothing
new coming out. That's when the
chosen started pushing and
really started pushing
everything out. And that's what
got it out there to the masses
and got it out to the young
people. So everybody's sitting
at home does anything else to do
that would not normally watch
the show, started watching the
show?
Kosta Yepifantsev: Do you think
the fear of the unknown during
the pandemic played into the
success of the chosen?
Adam Drake: Oh, for sure. I saw
a lot of things from the
pandemic go it was either it
seems like a lot of businesses
in general either completely
lost tanked, and we're gone. And
she never made a comeback, or
some boomed. Like I was telling
about my buddy's business here
in Cookeville. His also took off
during COVID. You know, you had
certain people that just kind of
shut down and was like, Zack,
this is the end, I don't want to
do anything, or you had people
start looking for religion
looking for answers. Yeah, so
some people, I think there was,
unfortunately some people that
just kind of like, gave up. But
then I think there was also
people that were hungry and
looking for answers spiritually
true. Also business true. I
think businesses were
successful, because during the
pandemic, when there was like,
oh, woe is me, and what was me?
There were smart business people
that were like, well, this is an
opportunity. There was both
sides, you know,
Kosta Yepifantsev: do you think
that the chosen is the future of
faith based media?
Adam Drake: You know, it's not
the end all be all or anything
like that. But I think that it
will inspire more shows and
things like that. Yeah. And
that's the thing, too, is with
the chosen already in the
characters we've built, there's
so much more you can do just
specifically with the chosen. So
we touched on earlier, but I
didn't really get through it.
But basically, the chosen is
seven seasons. And it's only the
three years of Jesus's ministry.
So it's basically when Jesus
shows up to start ministering,
and then his crucifixion and
resurrection. And then we're
done with the seven seasons. So
there's so much, we're barely
touching the New Testament, you
know, Paul comes along, and then
the disciples in the X and how
the church got started. And all
that stuff is not in the show.
So there's so much potential
just for chosen spin offs in the
future on top of people who are
inspired by this that want to do
it. What's funny is the first
time I worked on the chosen the
first four episodes, I think,
was 2018. Since then, I've
probably gotten at least five or
six phone calls from a producer
saying, Hey, we're doing a
biblical show, or a biblical
musical. Would you come on
board? And I'm just like, what,
I never got calls for those. And
now all sudden, it's like, I
keep getting calls for biblical
things or, you know, stuff that
period. Yeah.
Kosta Yepifantsev: So are you
ready for the controversial
question?
Adam Drake: I guess? Sure.
Kosta Yepifantsev: So you're
crowdfunded. There's no
compensation for major media.
When I think of religious base
shows, I think of satire, like
the righteous gemstones. It's a
parody, like, honk for Jesus
save your soul. You know, when I
look at major media, I see
negative connotations pointed
towards the church and religion
as a whole. As I was saying
earlier, I don't see seventh
heaven, I don't see Touched by
an Angel, you know, those types
of shows that were in the 90s?
Why do you think that major
media outlets aren't supporting
the chosen and you have to turn
to, you know, crowdfunding to
have a show and make it
successful?
Adam Drake: Yeah, that's a tough
question. Because, you know,
it's like, Hollywood execs and
all those people. I don't know
exactly. What drives them. Yeah,
I know, money drives them,
honestly, more than anything.
There's already been interest in
the chosen from some people in
Hollywood, because they see the
money behind it. You know, I'm
really not sure why that stuff
is not currently out there or
why they're not because I've
tried a little bit of it like,
right, they tried to make Noah a
few years ago with Russell
Crowe, you know, huge budget,
but it basically had nothing to
do with the Bible. It was like
the guy had an arc. And that was
about it. It was not even. I
mean, watch it. I don't know, I
heard I heard. I've never even
seen it. I haven't seen either,
but I heard all the horrible
things about what where's the
Bible? And this is like, Noah
and the ark was about it. Yeah,
the faith based world has shook
Hollywood a couple times, like
passion did it with Mel Gibson.
Yeah. And they're all like,
Wait, there's money behind this.
Kosta Yepifantsev: Bruce
Almighty. I think too, you know,
from back in the day when we
were kids like those types of
movies were very successful and
they were based on religion. You
don't see those anymore though.
Adam Drake: In my opinion, this
is just my opinion. Hollywood
chases the money and back then
good Christian wholesome family
content made a lot of money and
now they see that it doesn't I
mean, but in fact it does, but
it seems like because anytime it
seems like something like that
does come out it does do well
yeah, I do think the chosen will
be a movement of that again.
Hollywood is not this steady you
know line like this. It's it's
up and downs of what they're
after what there you know, the
content was so cyclical. Yeah, I
truly think there'll be another
era of bringing shows back like
that. Maybe a seven seven or
something like that does come
back show because although it
goes Wait, people do sit around
and watch the show. Yeah,
Kosta Yepifantsev: I mean, with
my kids. Yeah. Well, it's
Adam Drake: funny I mean, I
totally agree with you. It's
like the the people that stay at
home during the day whenever
else is working, is usually the
moms or you know that or people
working from home. That's
usually is the content they
want, like they want good,
wholesome, clean or even
Christian content.
Kosta Yepifantsev: When they get
daytime talk shows In soap
operas like General Hospital, I
think,
Adam Drake: yeah, the other
thing too is we can we can
somewhat control the outlet of
that, and the media that and I
think that we as Christians, for
sure, and even non Christians
that want good, more wholesome,
clean content, you got to
support those things. So if a
movie like The chosen or like
any of these good, wholesome
movies that go support it, go to
the movie theater, watch it, and
Hollywood will answer you know,
I think that they'll see the
numbers and they go, oh, there
is people that want this.
Kosta Yepifantsev: So you're on
year four of year seven in the
chosen. So you've got
essentially another three years
to go. Have you started planning
for what comes next.
Adam Drake: So season three is
out right now, Episode Six just
came out last Sunday, seventh
and eighth, which you would have
some serious catching up to do.
But seventh and eighth come into
theaters February 3. This is
also something nobody's done is
they're going to release the
last two episodes in theaters
together. So Episode Seven and
eight are going to be in
theaters February 3. So now he's
got a lot of episodes.
Kosta Yepifantsev: I mean, I
couldn't listen, then just show
I can binge a show
Adam Drake: and that and well
that's another thing too is like
we have shirts to say bins Jesus
and like it's a very binge
worthy show. And once you start
it ends with a cliffhanger just
like another show. And so a lot
of people have watched 20
episodes in a row like they just
go you know, because it is so
good.
Kosta Yepifantsev: It's very
fascinating the way you guys
develop this show, I gotta be
honest. Yeah,
Adam Drake: yeah. I mean, it's
it's incredible people that have
been behind it, and the great
job they've done. So anyway, so
seven and eight come out next
month in theaters. And then we
start filming Season Four, at
the end of March. Dahl says let
it by know that season six,
we're going seven seasons,
season six is the crucifixion.
So we kind of know what to
expect.
Kosta Yepifantsev: Okay, but
have you started thinking about
what you're going to do after
the chosen? Yeah, it
Adam Drake: kind of touched on
earlier, Dallas has not
officially said anything, but
he's hinted at spin off shows.
Okay, you know, we could easily
have spin off shows of once
Jesus has died resurrected in
the church kind of get started.
You could follow Paul, you could
call Simon Peter, you can call
all these disciples that are
going out to the masses and
starting the church and doing
the book of Acts. So
Kosta Yepifantsev: the next 10
to 20 years of your life is
going to be some affiliation to
the chosen. Whether it's spin
off shows or you know,
obviously, you've got three more
seasons to go. I think that's
great, man. God willing.
Adam Drake: Yeah, I think that
it very well could be that you
have no
Kosta Yepifantsev: desire to do
anything and like, like secular
media, or Yeah, so
Adam Drake: I do that the chosen
doesn't take up every bit of my
time. So like the film I was
just telling you about boys a
summer is a secular project.
Nice. That's like a like says
like Goonies. It's like my son,
kids action adventure.
Kosta Yepifantsev: Do you have
any desire to have the main role
as an actor in like a major
blockbuster? And the reason that
I asked that? I'm just curious,
like, in the mind of an actor
who's very successful, do you
want to be like on a billboard
in LA? You know, like, super
famous?
Adam Drake: Definitely. I was
younger. That was that was it?
Yeah. It's like, for sure.
That's what I want. I want to be
on a billboard, I want to be
that as I've gotten older, I'm
like, you know, I'm okay with
just being a little fun
supporting role, like a little
comedy relief or something.
Like, for instance, one of my
favorite directors, and I love
what he does. I take his role, I
would just switch places with
him would be the dream. Now John
phosphoric, he did Ironman, but
he also does comedies. And he's
an actor. He did like, I thought
was really funny. And he's in
it. So he he directs and he'll
he'll make a small appearance,
but he also acts and other
people's shows too. And he's
always like a comedic relief or
something like that. I love his
role. Like, that'd be cool to
like, be making my own content
and then just kind of throw
myself in there for like a fun
little roll or something. Which,
but dream roll when you're,
you're saying if you could play
anybody, I think it'd be James
Bond. I love it. I was always
that I was like, I love action.
I'm like, I want to be the the
James Bond with like, the Jason
Statham. Yeah, actually
gathering. Like, everybody's
like, Wow, he's so cool. Yeah.
Kosta Yepifantsev: Here's a big
question. What do you think is
the greatest mission that you
see? And that you want the world
to know?
Adam Drake: Yeah, because we
didn't talk about how I got in
to the business, that way of how
I felt called into it. Yeah. But
for me, originally, it felt like
a mission field. Like I felt
like the Lord was telling me
like this is your mission field,
instead of being a missionary
overseas, or doing things like
this is what I was gifted at and
was good at. And the Lord was
saying, go to Hollywood, our
culture has been impacted by
movies and television shows and
things like that. And I felt
called into that. So the chosen
is obviously a huge part of what
I want to do. It's exactly what
I've feel called to do of, it's
changing people globally. And
then people are looking at the
Bible differently, or even
becoming a Christian because of
the show. So I want to do that
aspect of it too. And then I
have this other part too, that I
also want to work on the secular
films and be a missionary to
those people and to help change
media so you can make the
secular stuff more wholesome.
Kosta Yepifantsev: Yeah. So we
always like to end the show on a
high note, who is someone that
makes you better when you're
together?
Adam Drake: Honestly, I have a
lot of people in my life like
that. And so I'm very blessed to
have like, I can name a lot of
people like my mom and my dad
and extended family, but the
number one I should put it
should and I do say is my wife
for sure. My wife challenges me
in the work that I do. And being
a better father and being a
better husband and like you know
the core things that do matter
at home as you know, I travel a
lot for this work. It's a big
transition leaving for amount of
time and then coming home from
Mountain Time and stepping back
into the dad role of five kids
and a husband and so she's huge
support in that and is a saint
for dealing with five kids when
I've gone. So yeah, couldn't do
without
Morgan Franklin: Thank you for
joining us on this episode of
Better Together with Kosta
Yepifantsev. If you've enjoyed
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Kosta Yepifantsev is a Kosta
Yepifantsev Production. Today's
episode was written and produced
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Mike Franklin. Want to know more
about Kosta visit us at
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better together.