Among 'The Chosen': Hensley: How Lubbock family helped in the making of a miracle
“Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people.”
Luke 9:16
It’s not every day somebody has a chance to be part of a miracle, so when the opportunity came along, the Stanford family didn’t want to miss out.
They were among the swarm of people who recently turned out to serve as extras in filming scenes for “The Chosen,” the first multiseason series based upon the life of Jesus that has become a runaway hit. The much-anticipated third season just wrapped up shooting near Midlothian in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Extras were needed for one of the most familiar stories in the Bible where Jesus feeds a crowd of 5,000 with only five loaves and two fishes. It is the only miracle of Jesus recorded in all four gospel accounts.
“The filming was my favorite part,” said Susan Stanford of Lubbock. “You got a taste of what it might have really been like sitting there in the heat, listening to some parables and seeing this miracle performed.”
The series is based upon the Bible. Its director, Dallas Jenkins, envisions it as a seven-season production. The production relies on crowdfunding efforts, meaning a season isn’t produced until its financing is in place. Fans of the series can support it financially, and those who gave at a certain level were invited to be extras as the feeding of the 5,000 was filmed.
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The Stanford family, like many other fans of the series, have enjoyed watching the series and say it is a powerful account that blends scripture and storytelling in a way that presents the life of Jesus and his followers in an even deeper, authentic way.
Her children, 20-year-old Katie and 24-year-old Garrett, were with her during the shooting. They all said they came away with a deeper appreciation for the series and the biblical narrative from which it draws.
“I think the neatest thing is it was definitely an impactful experience,” Garrett said. “It was also an emotional experience just sitting there you could see and observe what the actor who plays Jesus was saying. It made it easy to imagine myself in that scenario.”
Everyone who took part in the filming had to be tested multiple times for COVID-19. The production schedule was demanding, but the Stanfords said those in charge made sure everyone had plenty of water and was well taken care of while shooting of the miracle took place over two days in the Texas heat. The production crew included numerous volunteers who worked to ensure a smooth experience for everyone.
“We’ve been watching ‘The Chosen,” Susan said. “We love watching it. It makes you appreciate the scriptures more, and the actor (Jonathan Roumie) who plays Jesus is so gentle and so loving. He just plays the part well. The show helps you picture the scriptures in your mind and you can see almost how it might have been. (Husband) Brad and I are big fans. We support the show. It’s blessed us, and we want it to reach all over the world for people to know and accept Jesus.”
With filming complete, the new season of shows will be edited and prepared for release to the public. Published reports indicate the third season will comprise eight episodes (similar to the previous two seasons) and debut later this year, likely in November.
"One of the things Dallas Jenkins said that I really liked,” Katie Stanford said, “is 2,000 years ago 5,000 people were listening to Jesus and watching a miracle. Jesus became a part of their story. Recreating that scene here, all of you have a story about how Jesus has met you in your life. It impacted me to realize that many people had had an encounter with Jesus.”
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Susan said the opportunity to be a part of the filming drew people from across the nation and from as far away as South Africa.
“Some people think ‘The Chosen’ isn’t biblical,” she said. “Dallas Jenkins, the director, doesn’t claim this is the Bible or the scriptures, but it is based on the scriptures. It’s a gateway for people who may not know about Jesus. Then they can go read God’s word.”
"One of the things that passage in the Bible includes is that Jesus saw the crowds and that he had compassion on them,” Garrett said. “There was a moment when we were filming it, that I saw the actor (playing Jesus) look back, and it was easy for me to see that moment when he had compassion on them. It was an emotional experience for me.”
In some ways, the production of “The Chosen” and the feeding of the 5,000 have much in common, a fact that wasn’t lost on the Stanfords. “Dallas Jenkins said during the filming that all of us part of this whole thing and that he was using us just like the bread and fish – to minister to people,” Katie said.
Besides a devoted fan base, “The Chosen” has also received much critical acclaim. It is produced by Angel Studios. For those wishing to watch the first two seasons, they can download “The Chosen” app or the Angel Studios app.
Doug Hensley is associate regional editor and director of commentary for the Avalanche-Journal.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: 'The Chosen': Lubbock family helps filming TV series about Jesus' life
