237. How Has ‘The Chosen’ Become The World’s Top Christian-Made Fandom? | with Ryan Swanson
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Hi! Wow. Middle of autumn. I know what you’re thinking about. Christmas! This weekend the new comedy The Best Christmas Pageant Ever! releases in theaters. And five Thanksgiving seasons ago, in Nov. 2019, new fans began watching the second half of a new biblical fiction drama called The Chosen. This week, we’re thankful to host one of the three Chosen screenwriters who also cowrote The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!, Ryan Swanson.
Episode sponsors
- Sky Turtle Nova: Rift by Steven James
- Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett
- The Jabin Kainos series by Vince Mancuso
Mission update
- New review of The Time Door by Shannon McDermott
- Subscribe free to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild
Concession stand
- Even among our listeners, some may have negative views of this show
- We’ve dealt with many of those in episode 148: Why Do Some Christians Revile ‘The Chosen’? | with Josiah DeGraaf and Jenneth Dyck
- Also, must credit Jenneth Dyck (writer of this article) for this connection!
- We recorded this interview was recorded before big news at ChosenCon.
- Swanson is showrunner for “The Chosen Adventures” animated series.
- If we knew, we would have asked more about this expanded Bibleverse.
- But this chap is good and didn’t give a single indication of this big news.
Introducing guest Ryan Swanson
Head writer and executive producer Ryan Swanson happened to go to high school with Dallas’s wife Amanda (he was her Sadie Hawkins dance date, actually). Several years ago, they got back in touch, Amanda introduced Dallas and Ryan, and the rest is history. All three writers on The Chosen (Ryan, Tyler Thompson, and Dallas) contribute equally, but Dallas and Tyler would be the first to tell you Ryan is the “keeper of the story.” Nothing gets through unless Ryan deems it high enough quality. It must pass the smell test; it must be good storytelling and television. If we have something to include from Scripture or an important spiritual truth to convey, that’s awesome, but Ryan makes sure it “works.” Not by changing it, of course, but by making sure the show and the plot elevate it.
1. From early faith to filmmaking experience
- How did you discover biblical faith and fantastic imagination?
- What gifts and interests led to you wanting to become a storyteller?
- What films did you help make? What did you love about that process?
2. From filmmaking experience to The Chosen
- How did a chance connection lead you to join The Chosen creator team?
- What might we have not heard about The Chosen’s original creation?
- After hitting the halfway point, what are the show’s greatest challenges?
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!, directed by Dallas Jenkins and co-written by Ryan Swanson, releases in theaters Friday, Nov. 8.
3. From The Chosen to Best Christmas Pageant Ever!
- How did Dallas (or whoever) ask you to help write this month’s remake?
- What do you like about this classic 1971 holiday story and original films?
- What’s next for you with The Chosen, other films/projects, and beyond?
Com station
- Who would win in a fight between the Sons of Thunder and the Herdmans?
@ChloeGotLB40 recalls meeting the makers of LB drama (ep. 219):
I had the privilege to record the song Remember Me from Mark Schultz years ago, at Gap Digital during the time they were recording these. I’m grateful that Todd didn’t inform me who he played in the series until after I finished the song. Imagine my shock to know that “Mac” recorded my song! At that time, I only knew him as the guy who ran Gap Digital and did these audio dramas. I had asked him to sign a magazine for me. He asked me if I wanted it signed by Todd Busteed or Spencer Binford. It took me about 30 seconds to realize he was the voice of Mac! This series is what my name here is based on…Chloe got Left Behind.
Jason Bergstrom enjoyed episode 235 about scary alien stories:
I hadn’t really equated the types of alien stories with how they represent some of our basic fears. The kind that might freak me out the most is the fear of “invading your personal space” and feeling helpless in the face of such a creature. Alien and Aliens are two of my all-time favorite movies, despite the first one qualifying as more frightful. The xenomorph with its beastly design and never-ending goal to get you like a space zombie is one thing, but then how they’re born from your own body in a way that’s out of your control is very scary. It’s the fear of “invading your personal space” on two levels.
Did anyone else read the My Teacher is an Alien books? I loved those as a kid. I reread them with my son a couple years ago and the first three are good, then the fourth goes super environmentalist. Pretty disappointed. Props, Zack, for mentioning Sphere. That was my favorite Crichton book–and yes, way better than the movie.
Next on Fantastical Truth
Boom. Doom. Gloom. Criminals pillage. Cities burn. Mobs rampage. Tyrants rule with iron fists. We live in a society! People here often feel we’re overdue for dystopia. Even now, dystopian tales prove popular among many readers. Let’s explore why and ask whether Christian fans really need these stories.
Hey, I know that commenter at the end. Thanks for responding to it, y’all. I have a hunch about the next episode, and why it’s focused on dystopian . . . but we’ll see soon.
(Just checking: was a winner for that signed copy of Mike Duran’s “Christian Horror” chosen yet?)
Indeed, chosen at the end of yesterday’s episode.
Just listened to it. Kind of funny and appropriate that BTM won. Thank you, sir!
Forgot to say, yes Zack, you should give “Sphere” a go!