Dallas Jenkins
{{Short description|American film and television director and producer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Dallas Jenkins
| image = File:Dallas Jenkins.jpeg
| imagesize =
| caption = Jenkins directing an episode of The Chosen in 2018
| birth_name = Dallas Lawrence Jenkins
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|07|25}}
| birth_place = St. Charles, Illinois, United States
| alma_mater = University of Northwestern – St. Paul
| occupation = Director, screenwriter, producer
| years active = 2000{{ndash}}present
| spouse = {{marriage|Amanda Jenkins|1998|}}
| notable_works = The Chosen
The Resurrection of Gavin Stone
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
| children = 4
| parents = Jerry B. Jenkins (father), Dianna Jenkins (mother)
}}
Dallas Jenkins (born July 25, 1975) is an American film and television director, writer and producer. He is best known as the creator, director, co-writer and executive producer of The Chosen, the first multi-season series about the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Jenkins' career is focused on Christian media.
Early life
Jenkins was born in St. Charles, Illinois, the son of Dianna Louise (Whiteford) and Jerry B. Jenkins, a Christian novelist best known for the Left Behind series, one of the highest-selling book series of all time, selling over 60 million copies. In 1997, Jenkins graduated from University of Northwestern-St. Paul, where he met his wife, Amanda.{{Cite web |last=Press |first=Chris Hewitt {{!}} Pioneer |date=January 4, 2017 |title=Roseville college grad directs Christian movie starring 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' actor |url=https://www.twincities.com/2017/01/04/dallas-jenkins-resurrection-gavin-stone-new-film-coming-to-theaters/ |access-date=May 20, 2020 |website=Twin Cities |language=en-US}}
When he first began working in Hollywood, Jenkins was adamant that he did not want to do Christian movies. Though his faith was important to him, he and his wife thought it almost shameful to be labeled as a Christian filmmaker. However, Jenkins' mind was changed when he was mowing his lawn—he estimates in 2006 or 2007—and he felt that God was telling him to make Christian film content. Despite believing that it was a call from divinity, Jenkins still tried to reject the idea on the notion that Christian movies are not good movies, but realized that perhaps his job was to make them good.{{Cite web |last1=August 24th |first1=Kylie Beach {{!}} |last2=Comment |first2=2021 02:09 PM {{!}} Add a |date=2021-08-24 |title='I didn't want to do Christian movies' says Dallas Jenkins, creator of record-breaking Jesus series 'The Chosen' - Eternity News |url=https://www.eternitynews.com.au/culture/i-didnt-want-to-do-christian-movies-says-dallas-jenkins-creator-of-record-breaking-jesus-series-the-chosen/,%20https://www.eternitynews.com.au/culture/i-didnt-want-to-do-christian-movies-says-dallas-jenkins-creator-of-record-breaking-jesus-series-the-chosen/ |access-date=2023-03-29 |language=en-AU}}
At the age of 25, Jenkins and his mother started a production company, Jenkins Entertainment, together. Their first film was Hometown Legend, a faith-based film which was distributed by Warner Brothers in 2000.{{Cite web |title=Dallas Jenkins: Breaking Ground in Christian Films |url=http://www.chicagonow.com/seven-gunn-says/2015/08/dallas-jenkins-breaking-ground-in-christian-films/ |access-date=May 20, 2020 |language=en-US}}
Jenkins is a former member of the Executive Leadership Team at Harvest Bible Chapel where he served as the executive director of Vertical Church Media.{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Evan F. |date=March 18, 2020 |title='The Chosen': Elgin filmmaker wants people to 'Binge Jesus' on an app |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/3/18/21185293/dallas-jenkins-chosen-jesus-vidangel-christ-bible-streaming-app |access-date=May 20, 2020 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Gathman |first=Dave |title=Church close to starting first feature film |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/ct-abn-church-film-st-0225-20150224-story.html |access-date=May 20, 2020 |website=chicagotribune.com|date=February 24, 2015 }} Vertical Church Films, a branch of Harvest Bible Chapel, partnered with Blumhouse Productions and WWE Films to produce The Resurrection of Gavin Stone, a 2017 faith-based film that Jenkins directed with a reported budget of $2 million.{{Cite web |last=Gathman |first=Dave |title=Harvest Bible Chapel branch makes feature movie in Fox Valley |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elgin-courier-news/ct-ecn-elgin-movie-st-0614-20150612-story.html |access-date=May 21, 2020 |website=chicagotribune.com|date=June 12, 2015 }}
Career
After producing Hometown Legend and directing two short films, Jenkins' feature-length directorial debut was Midnight Clear in 2006. The film, which starred Stephen Baldwin and was distributed by Lionsgate, was based on a short story written by his father, Jerry Jenkins.{{Citation |title=Midnight Clear (2006) |url=https://letterboxd.com/film/midnight-clear-2006/ |access-date=May 21, 2020 |language=en}}{{Citation |last=Jenkins |first=Dallas |title=Midnight Clear |date=December 4, 2007 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0795426/ |type=Drama |access-date=April 28, 2021 |others=Stephen Baldwin, K. Callan, Kirk B. R. Woller, Mary Thornton |publisher=Clear Midnight, Jenkins Entertainment}}
In 2010, Jenkins directed What If…, a film about a businessman who is shown by an angel what his life could have become if he had followed God's calling for his life.{{Cite web |last=Gathman |first=Dave |title=Church close to starting first feature film |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/ct-abn-church-film-st-0225-20150224-story.html |access-date=2020-05-21 |website=chicagotribune.com|date=2015-02-24 }} It starred Kevin Sorbo, Kristy Swanson, John Ratzenberger, and Disney star Debby Ryan. Box Office Mojo reports the film made US$814,906 domestically ({{Inflation|US|814906|2010|fmt=eq|r=-3}}).{{Cite web |title=What If... |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl4269311489/weekend/ |access-date=2020-05-21 |website=Box Office Mojo}} It was successful internationally and continues to be successful via DVD and streaming.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}
In 2017, Jenkins directed The Resurrection of Gavin Stone, a 2017 American Christian comedy-drama. The movie featured Brett Dalton (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), comedian Anjelah Johnson, D.B. Sweeney (The Cutting Edge), Neil Flynn (The Middle), and wrestling legend Shawn Michaels. Jenkins labeled the film as a different kind of Christian movie, a sort of new experience for that audience. He attempted to do this by filling the movie with aspects that are not so common in Christian films, such as comedy.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Dallas Jenkins, faith-based filmmaker, on 'Gavin Stone' project |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/may/2/dallas-jenkins-faith-based-filmmaker-gavin-stone-p/ |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=The Washington Times |language=en-US}} Accordingly, the Hollywood Reporter said of the film: "This genial religious-themed dramedy is refreshingly lacking in preachiness."{{Cite web |title='The Resurrection of Gavin Stone': Film Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/resurrection-gavin-stone-966449 |access-date=2020-05-21 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=2017-01-20 |language=en}} It was, however, not considered a box office success. Box Office Mojo reports the film made US$2,308,355 gross worldwide ({{Inflation|US|2308355|2017|fmt=eq|r=-3}}).{{Cite web |title=The Resurrection of Gavin Stone |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl2927527425/?ref_=bo_da_table_30 |access-date=2020-05-21 |website=Box Office Mojo}}
In an interview with CBN News, Jenkins described it as his "biggest career failure".{{Cite web |date=June 21, 2019 |title='Unlike Anything You've Seen': A Powerful Show About Jesus' Life |url=https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/entertainment/2019/june/unlike-anything-youve-seen-a-powerful-show-about-jesus-life |access-date=May 21, 2020 |website=CBN News |language=en}} After this,{{Cite web |title='The Chosen' is a New and Promising TV Series on the Life of Christ |url=https://www.ncregister.com/blog/jamesmerrick/the-chosen-is-a-new-and-promising-tv-series-on-the-life-of-christ |access-date=May 21, 2020 |website=National Catholic Register|date=April 9, 2020 }} Jenkins made a short film for his church in Elgin, Illinois, U.S., The Shepherd; filmed on a friend's farm in Marengo.{{Cite web |title=Largest-Ever Crowdfunding Campaign for a TV Show Issues Equity to Investors |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/largest-ever-tv-crowdfunding-campaign-issues-equity-investors-1173422 |access-date=May 21, 2020 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=January 5, 2019 |language=en}} The short film is about the birth of Christ from the point of view of the shepherds.{{Cite web |last=Herald |first=Sarah Harris Daily |title=How a show about Christ's life shattered crowdfunding records |url=https://www.heraldextra.com/entertainment/movies/how-a-show-about-christ-s-life-shattered-crowdfunding-records/article_3a10b53a-442c-5463-bad8-9a50d1ec3f19.html |access-date=May 21, 2020 |website=Daily Herald |language=en}}
The film got the attention of the filtering and streaming service VidAngel, which was embroiled in a copyright infringement lawsuit with major Hollywood studios and thus seeking original content to distribute. VidAngel suggested putting the short film on Facebook as a concept pilot to generate interest for Jenkins' idea of a multi-season series. The short film received over 15 million views around the world.{{Cite web |date=December 28, 2018 |title=New TV Series "The Chosen" a Modern Day 'Five Loaves and Two Fish' Story |url=https://www1.cbn.com/television/new-tv-series-chosen-modern-day-five-loaves-and-two-fish-story |access-date=May 21, 2020 |website=CBN.com – The Christian Broadcasting Network |language=en}}
= Vertical Church Films =
{{see also|Harvest Bible Chapel}}
After working in Hollywood for years, Jenkins had a shift in his mindset. He decided that he wanted to be a Christian filmmaker who makes quality Christian films rather than being a Christian who makes secular films. This shift moved him to move from Hollywood and to start Vertical Church films out of Harvest Bible Chapel in Chicago.{{Cite web |title=Hollywood Director Dallas Jenkins Visits Bethel {{!}} Bethel University |url=https://www.bethel.edu/news/articles/2017/january/dallas-jenkins |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=www.bethel.edu}}
Vertical Church Films was launched in 2012 to produce Christian feature films. The ministry has produced four films: The Ride in 2012,{{Cite news |date=November 28, 2014 |title=The Ride |language=en-US |newspaper=Attic Window |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2938042/ |access-date=January 16, 2017}} Once We Were Slaves (retitled The Two Thieves) in 2014,{{Cite news |date=March 6, 2015 |title=Once We Were Slaves |language=en-US |newspaper=The Attic Film Fest |url=http://atticfilmfest.org/portfolio-item/once-we-were-slaves |access-date=January 16, 2017}} The Resurrection of Gavin Stone in 2017,{{Cite news |title=Christians in Film: Why I'm Going to See The Resurrection of Gavin Stone |newspaper=The Exchange {{!}} A Blog by Ed Stetzer |url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2017/january/christians-in-film-why-im-going-to-see-resurrection-of-gavi.html |access-date=January 16, 2017}} and The Shepherd in 2017.{{cite web |title=With Vertical Church Films | website=IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?companies=co0429618}} The Shepherd later became the pilot episode for Jenkins' new TV show, The Chosen.{{Cite web |last=Downs |first=Willie |title='The Chosen' film campus in North Texas holds ribbon cutting |url=https://www.kltv.com/2022/10/07/webxtra-behind-the-scenes-look-chosen-film-campus/ |access-date=2023-03-16 |website=www.kltv.com |date=October 7, 2022 |language=en}}
=''The Chosen''=
{{see also|The Chosen (TV series)}}
The Chosen is a 2017 television drama based on the life of Jesus Christ, created, directed and co-written by Jenkins.{{Cite web |date=2022-02-18 |title='The Chosen' creator and cast visit Liberty University, share faith-led journeys to making the popular show » Liberty News |url=https://www.liberty.edu/news/2022/02/18/the-chosen-creator-and-cast-visit-liberty-university-share-faith-led-journeys-to-making-the-popular-show/ |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=Liberty News |language=en-US}}
It is the first multi-season series about the life of Christ, and season 1 was one of the highest crowdfunded media projects of all time.{{Cite web|title='The Chosen': Elgin filmmaker wants people to 'Binge Jesus' on an app|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/3/18/21185293/dallas-jenkins-chosen-jesus-vidangel-christ-bible-streaming-app|last=Moore|first=Evan F.|date=March 18, 2020|website=Chicago Sun-Times|access-date=May 5, 2020}}{{Cite web|title='The Chosen': Record-breaking TV series about Jesus debuts worldwide|url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/the-chosen-record-breaking-tv-series-about-jesus-debuts-worldwide.html|website=The Christian Post|date=December 13, 2019 |access-date=May 5, 2020}} Season 2 and Season 3 have a budget of $12 million and $18 million respectively, each crowdfunded.{{Cite news |last=Journal |first=John Jurgensen {{!}} Photographs by Cooper Neill for The Wall Street |date=2021-11-27 |title=Fans Pour Funding—and Faith—Into a Hit Drama About Jesus |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/fans-pour-fundingand-faithinto-a-hit-drama-about-jesus-11637989204 |access-date=2022-02-28 |issn=0099-9660}} The other co-founder of The Chosen, Derral Eves, was introduced to Jenkins, and the two partnered to create and own The Chosen, with Eves as executive producer, primarily responsible for building the audience through their social media channels.{{Cite web|title=This is so Powerful|url=https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen|access-date=2021-11-18|website=The Chosen}}{{Cite web|title=See the Biggest Live Nativity Scene in the World|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/biggest-live-nativity-scene-world/story?id=27307510|access-date=2021-11-18|website=ABC News|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Expert Ownership Podcast on Apple Podcasts|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/expert-ownership-podcast/id1506068263|access-date=2021-11-18|website=Apple Podcasts|language=en-US}}
Jenkins owns a stake in the company but won't share profits until the startup investors earn back their initial investment plus 20 percent.
In 2021, Jenkins directed a Christmas special episode of The Chosen, which was released in 1,700 cinemas for ten days. In April 2022, Jenkins apologized to fans for not informing them about a gag marketing campaign involving defacing their own billboards promoting The Chosen.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-14 |title=Why 'The Chosen' is using satire and 'defaced' billboards to try and reach a new audience |url=https://www.deseret.com/entertainment/2022/4/14/23025270/defaced-billboards-part-of-strategic-ad-campaign-by-the-chosen-to-grow-audience |access-date=2022-04-27 |website=Deseret News |language=en}}
In an interview with the Chicago Sun Times, Jenkins said, "We feel like if people can binge watch and have watch parties all over the world for shows like Game of Thrones and Stranger Things, there's no reason not to binge watch a show about Jesus. The term binge means to, you know, kind of have an obsession with something, and if we figure out how to have an obsession with Jesus, we might as well encourage that."
=''The Best Christmas Pageant Ever''=
2024 saw the release of a Jenkins-directed, feature-length film adaptation of the book The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company collaborated on the production, filmed in Canada beginning in December 2023.{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/film-news-in-brief-nov-6-2023-1235781364/|title=Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company Join With Dallas Jenkins For 'The Best Christmas Pageant Ever' – Film News in Brief|author-last1=Tangcay|author-first1=Jazz|author-last2=Brew|author-first2=Caroline|author-last3=Thompson|author-first3=Jaden|author-last4=Wu|author-first4=Valerie|date=November 10, 2023|website=variety.com|publisher=Variety Media, LLC|accessdate=November 11, 2023}}
Personal life
Dallas Jenkins and his wife, Amanda, wed on June 13, 1998.{{cite web |title=Interview with Amanda Jenkins Part 2 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziOcbz1ny9U |website=Gospel Spice Podcast |via=YouTube |access-date=June 13, 2024 |date=Jun 13, 2023}} They have four children.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}} Dallas is an evangelical Christian.{{cite news |date=8 February 2023 |title=A television show about Jesus Christ has become an unlikely hit |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/culture/2023/02/08/a-television-show-about-jesus-christ-has-become-an-unlikely-hit |access-date=15 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230214074745/https://www.economist.com/culture/2023/02/08/a-television-show-about-jesus-christ-has-become-an-unlikely-hit |archive-date=14 February 2023}}
Jenkins is a major sports enthusiast. At the age of five, he read the Chicago Tribune sports page every day. Inspired by his father, who was a sports writer when Dallas was a teenager, Dallas wanted to be a sports broadcaster when he was in middle school.{{Cite web |last=Romano |first=Jason |date=2021-11-29 |title=Dallas Jenkins podcast: Chosen creator on love for Chicago sports |url=https://sportsspectrum.com/podcast/2021/11/29/podcast-dallas-jenkins-the-chosen-chicago-sports/ |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=Sports Spectrum |language=en-US}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0420817|Dallas Jenkins}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jenkins, Dallas}}
Category:Wikipedia Student Program
Category:21st-century evangelicals
Category:American evangelicals
Category:Film directors from Illinois
Category:American television directors