Illinois-born, Summerville based filmmaker Mark Stewart Iverson is the creator of a new faith-based comedy, For Prophet. The film tells the story of a struggling entrepreneur after he is visited by an archangel who tells him he’s been chosen to save his hometown from corruption.
The funny and spiritual film celebrates its Charleston premiere at Citadel Mall and Northwoods Mall Theaters this Friday.
Starring Ben Marten (Chicago Fire), Valentina Garcia (Lessons in Chemistry), Enrico Natale (The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain), T’Keyah Crystal Keymáh (That’s So Raven), Eddie Jemison (Nope, Ocean’s Trilogy) and Bert Belasco (BET’s Let’s Stay Together), For Prophet plays like a modern day It’s A Wonderful Life, following a modern-day George Bailey named Damon Fisher (Marten) who is drowning in debt, marital issues and crumbling faith after the death of his father.
His overwhelming problems are compounded by the sense that his hometown is losing its way. To top off the suffocating gloom, there seems to be a cameraman always following him around who may or may not be a demon (Natale) and an archangel named Raphael (Garcia).
On the eve of the film’s release in theaters, Iverson spoke with the Charleston City Paper about the process of making a faith-based film.
Since his graduation from UCLA with a degree in film, Iverson’s worked mostly in comedy, like the 46 episode Hulu web series he’s known for, Dorm Life, which racked up three Webby, Streamy and W3 Gold Awards. But Iverson said he’s worked in nearly every genre — “I’ve done it all; I’ve done comedy, I’ve done drama, I’ve done horror. My filmmaking style definitely leans towards comedic and cinematic. I really try to use the camera to tell the story visually. I do my best to not overthink anything when it comes to creation… I follow the inspiration.”
So it makes sense that after he experienced a spiritual transformation, he decided to step into a new genre. As the first major project for his own company, MSI Films, Iverson independently wrote, directed and produced For Prophet, marking his feature film directorial debut.
Like most filmmakers, Iverson said he approaches each project with a particular methodology. “I think that each project I do has its own rhythm and its own rhyme. I lead with the idea and let the idea be its thing.”
But he was quick to add that, while he takes on the directing duties, filmmaking is still a collaborative effort. “I let a lot of improv happen, especially on this film. My approach is to cast incredibly and allow a supportive environment that will bring out their creative spark. The comfort to do that allows them to really sink in their roles.”
With a 100 page script, a 16-day shooting schedule and not a whole lot of money, the journey to For Prophet’s completion was met with many challenges, Iverson said, with one of the challenges being changing the perception of a faith-based film.
Iverson said faith-based films aren’t always given a fair shake, “But sometimes that is the film’s fault. So many faith films are low production value, have low acting talent, are low script, are poor scripts. That’s just the truth…. Me and (the executive producer) Enrico have always talked about trying to elevate the genre… We do want to be looked at as true filmmakers, not as people who are simply trying to push a message.
“I think more and more, we have great faith films being made. And that’s fantastic. More great actors are jumping into the genre, which is incredible and very inspiring for my next films. But it’s certainly something where I think more and more people in the faith world should look at their films as art and not simply as messages. You can put a sermon on videotape and call it a film. But at the end of the day, it ain’t cinema.”
So Iverson made this film as a labor of love and faith, and to prove that a spiritual message and high-quality filmmaking can exist at once.
“I wanted to create a movie that would make people laugh, think, and gain a new perspective on the struggle of this life; how faith can play a real part in overcoming doubt and fear,” Iverson said. “Whether you’re laughing or crying – hopefully both, I believe that the highest value in art is making people wonder about the eternal and really contemplate the human condition. I mean, everyone has an angel on one shoulder and a demon on the other — that’s For Prophet.”
Check out the trailer:
Find tickets for the June 21 release in Charleston and learn more about the film at forprophetfilm.com.
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