The Chosen is the largest multimedia project of crowdfunding ever: almost $100 million in production costs, for four seasons, were raised thanks to the support of viewers. A truly one of a kind thing. We had a chat, in view of the release of the fourth season and the first episodes shown at the cinema, with Alaa SafiFrench actor who plays the disciple Simone, known as the Zealot and Giovanni Zappalà, who is the Italian representative of The Chosen.
What was it like for you to play Simon the Zealot?
«Not having a Christian culture, before working on this series, I really needed to feel like I could dive in and trust what was written and imagined by the producers. This project started with almost nothing, but it is nice to see that people in all languages contact us on social media and give us their personal testimony. It’s a very strong sense of communion.”
The religious theme has often been addressed in cinema, from popular to arthouse cinema. In your opinion (addressed to Alaa Safi and Giovanni Zappalà) what was the peculiarity, what worked about this series? What did the audience love?
Giovanni Zappalà: «We live in an era that is divided in two by the life of this man, of this boy: we live in a before Christ and in an after Christ and independently of faith, knowing the reasons why in Judea of over two thousand years ago, in such a short time, such a small group of kids, without social networks, without communication, who moved on foot, impacted the entire history of man in this way, that’s the key. When you strive to tell perhaps humanity’s most impactful story ever, if you tell it well, that’s when success comes: The key is very simple. The Chosen tells us about Jesus, true God but also true Man and tells us about disciples full of doubts, boys who are trying to find what to do in life.”
Alaa Safi: «I don’t have a Christian religious culture but I immersed myself in this story, which has always fascinated me, years ago, when I did various auditions to play roles in series about the life of Jesus. It is a universal story, which resonates in the time, but the particular thing about The Chosen is that it is a series and on this topic had never been done. Series today create a much stronger proximity to the story, which allows us to follow the characters over a longer narrative arc. We become attached to the characters more strongly. Also important is the fact that there is a very accessible, very modern language and there is a sense of humour.”
Returning to the words of Giovanni Zappalà who says «After watching this series, life changes», do you have any testimonies or stories that he approached the story of Jesus thanks to The Chosen or if anyone’s life really changed after this series?
Zappalà: «The effect that The Chosen has on the lives of some people, who then send us their testimonies, and there are so many, really opens our hearts. A woman told us that, watching some scenes of the show, she somehow got closer to God. In fact, this woman tells us that she has no longer believed in God for years, after suffering from anxiety, panic attacks and depression. She was very angry with God and this series gave her comfort, making her feel loved. She sensed love and joy, she makes me move. This series touched my heart and soul.”
Alaa Safi: «Many people have come across The Chosen in a moment of great difficulty: there is always this timing which is like a response to a need in that moment, something to attach to and hold on to in order to get out of a challenge or from a loss. All this gives us a lot of responsibility. Knowing that your work produces an impact of this type in the lives of others, I think is truly a great satisfaction.”
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