Heaven Bound is a fun family Christian comedy about a struggling couple who robs a mansion, but become victims when a Christian man traps them inside. Adam Drake, one of the producers behind this amusing film, is also a Trevecca graduate.
Drake graduated from Trevecca in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and a minor in digital multimedia. It was at Trevecca that Drake became interested in the film industry, which later became his profession.
“Being on set is addicting,” Drake said. “It’s one of those things that once you experience you either love it or hate it. I got interested because in my sophomore or junior year I started getting into some acting. I booked a couple of acting gigs and that got me on-set. From that experience, I wanted to make movies.”
After graduation, Drake attended school in Los Angeles where he learned more about the film industry.
“I got my feet wet, learning how to shoot and edit and all that stuff,” Drake said. “I came back to Nashville and started to pursue it. I started to network and meet people, taking jobs on music videos and commercials.”
According to Drake, one of the biggest factors that set him apart from other producers wanting to work in the industry is his determination to work.
“There’s a lot of hard work and determination,” Drake said. “In this business, you kind of have to step out and make things happen on your own. This can be a very vicious business you know, ‘A-shark-eat-shark-world,’ so if you want it, you got to go get it.”
Working in the Christian film industry doesn’t come without stereotypes, though. One of the biggest stereotypes for Christian films is that they are considered cheesy, Drake says. While he thinks the stereotype may be warranted, Drake still believes that there is hope for the Christian film industry.
“There are lots of people making these cheesy films, but there are also people making great films,” Drake said. “The Christian film market is growing like crazy, and they are starting to make good films.”
He has faith that Heaven Bound and other films he worked on will help portray the Christian film market in a better light.
“I think Heaven Bound is going to be good. Another one that’s going to be good is the Case for Christ, that’s going to be a great movie, and I worked on that as well,” Drake said. “I also think I Am Not Ashamed was a good movie, and I helped produce that film when I was here in Nashville.
“So yes, I will agree that there are cheesy Christian films, no doubt about that,” Drake continued. “However, the industry [is growing] now and learning and making much better films. It’s only going to get better from here.”
He hopes to help Christian movies break out of that stereotype a little with Heaven Bound.
“It’s not your typical Christian movie,” Drake said. “In the movie we’re not bullying anybody toward Jesus. It’s more of a fun enjoyable family comedy that has a good message.”
Drake believes many factors can contribute to a movie’s quality, but says that low budgets are the main reasons movies are bad. But he recognizes that people are willing to help in the Christian film industry.
“We were a low-budget film, but because actors liked the script or were passionate about the script, they were willing to work cheaper,” Drake said. “That’s the great thing about the Christian market to is that you can get some great actors and crew members [who] are extremely experienced and will work under their pay rate because they are passionate about the script.”
Drake says Heaven Bound is the biggest accomplishment in his career so far.
“I would say this film is one of my biggest accomplishments because I produced it myself,” Drake said. “So, I made the whole film, got the funding and all that.”
As the Class of 2017 prepares for graduation next Saturday, Drake advised graduates to follow their dreams.
“I would say just to chase after your dreams, to not settle and go for what you want,” Drake said. “The biggest one is to make sure that’s what God wants you to do. It’s not your plan so make sure your plans line up with God’s plan because He has the right plan for you. Once you know what that is, go after it because you know that’s what God’s called you to do.”
By Princess Jones
Media contact: Mandy Crow, mmcrow@trevecca.edu, 615-248-1695