Background and Production

The background and production of the series, **The Chosen**, are below.

See also: Crew

## Development

*The Chosen* is based on *The Shepherd*, a short film Jenkins made for a Christmas Eve service at Harvest Bible Chapel in Elgin, Illinois, filming it on a friend's farm in Marengo. The film got the attention of the faith-based filtering service VidAngel, which was embroiled in a 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.

To create *The Chosen*, Jenkins partnered with video marketing strategist Derral Eves, with Eves as executive producer. VidAngel, along with Eves and Jenkins, turned to crowdfunding to raise money to produce the first season, utilizing a provision of the JOBS Act of 2016 which allows companies to use equity crowdfunding to offer a share of ownership and profits from the company to online investors, rather than the arbitrary "perks" offered by regular crowdfunding. At the end of the first fundraising round in January 2019, the project had raised over $10.2 million from over 16,000 investors, surpassing *Mystery Science Theater 3000* as the top crowdfunded film project. Each investor received equity in the show and is regulated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Majority shareholders will not receive a share of the profits until the original investors earn 120% of their investments.

Since funding the first season by selling equity, the show has utilized traditional crowdfunding for subsequent seasons. Season Two fundraising had reached over $6 million from over 300,000 contributors as of July 1, 2020. The average contribution is $65. The show also raises revenue through DVD/Blu-ray and merchandise sales.

Producers estimate that the first 16 episodes have been viewed 312 million times as of November 2021.

Their goal is to introduce the authentic Jesus to 1 billion people, requiring impossible math and new thinking and are inspired by Isaiah 43:19, “Behold, I am doing a new thing.” $100 million will be needed for the production of the next five seasons. The makers of the series have expressed that they desire for *The Chosen* to be seen by over one billion people in every country in the world.

Seven seasons are planned.

## Casting

The casting director for the first four episodes of Season One is Beverly Holloway. Together with Holloway, the last four episodes of Season One were casting by Toni Cobb Brock and Sally Allen. Holloway, Brock, and Allen returned for season two as casting directors.

## Writing

The series is set 2,000 years ago about Jesus and those people who met Him. Jenkins and Tyler Thompson wrote the pilot episode, The Shepherd. With Jenkins and Thompson returning as writers, Ryan Swanson joins the writing group for Seasons One and Two, as well as the Christmas special episode (2021) The Messengers.

## Production Design

The production designer for Seasons One and Two is James R. Cunningham. The costume designer for Season One, Episodes 1-4 is Pamela Lee Incardona while for Season One, Episodes 5-8 and Season Two is Leila Heise.

## Filming

Season One was filmed over 60 days in Weatherford, Texas, and used the existing Capernaum Village, which offers film set rental and live experiences for tourists, to recreate the historical Capernaum.

Season Two moved filming to Utah's version of ancient Israel in Goshen, Utah County, where The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints built a replica Jerusalem movie set to film scenes for their Bible and Book of Mormon videos. This marks the first time a production not affiliated with the LDS church has been granted access to film on this set. Season Two was filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic, creating challenges for film production. 2,000 extras were used to film the Sermon on the Mount scene, all of whom were required to obtain a negative PCR test prior to filming. Following COVID-19 protocols cost the production of Season Two an additional $750,000.

In 2021, The Chosen partnered with several non-profits to construct a $20 million production complex in Midlothian, Texas on the former Camp Hoblitzelle. Once it is complete, The Chosen will lease the facility, which will also be used for other entertainment projects.

## Visual Effects

Visual effects are applied in the series. The filming for Season One was supplemented by a sound stage and visual effects.

## Music

Main article: Music
See also: The Chosen: Season One (Original Series Soundtrack) and The Chosen: Season Two (Original Series Soundtrack)

The music in the series is composed by Matthew S. Nelson and Dan Haseltine, featuring Ruby Amanfu.