As believers look for fresh ways to impact culture, award-winning artist and filmmaker Joel Smallbone is stepping into a bold new project.
Smallbone joined American Family Radio (AFR)'s "At the Core" program to discuss his brand-new, Revolutionary War-era musical film, "Drummer Boy." He admitted it's the most audacious undertaking of his career.
"It's the most expensive. I've spent the most creative time and investment on it ever. I spent four months in Ireland this year. I have never worked harder at a project in my whole life," Joel says.
Blending live-action drama with musical storytelling, Joel said the project ties into America's 250th anniversary and explores powerful themes of forgiveness and freedom.
The story center around two brothers, Benjamin and Jeremiah Clem, who are on opposing sides of the Revolutionary War. The movie trailer clearly emphasizes the divide between the ideals of the two brothers.
Benjamin: "You're fighting for the tyrants!"
Jeremiah: "What side would you fight for, Ben? The traitors?"
The movie was directed by both Joel Smallbone and his brother Ben Smallbone.
Ben spoke to The Christian Post about how he and Joel had worked together for years before having a falling out. It was this movie that brought them back to working together.
"Many of the storylines in the film about brothers separated on the opposite sides of the war are things that we've felt at times throughout our journeys of making music and movies. So, it is a personal story in so many ways," Ben said.
Projects such as this one can be risky, but Joel explained why taking creative risks matters.
"I feel like we've got to take God-sized leaps. I really believe that. I think you've got to — if you have faith. Nothing good, great happened by just playing it safe," Smallbone says.
Drummer Boy is currently in theaters, rated PG-13 for war violence and bloody images.
It was released by Angel Studios, who recently produced another Revolutionary War movie this year, "Young Washington."
