COSHOCTON NATIVE has a hand in TV show, movie
Christopher Shaw is the director of ‘Church People’ and was director, editor and producer on ‘Something Smells Funny’
COSHOCTON – A Coshocton native with several projects in the works has a television show and movie available for home viewing.
Christopher Shaw has worked in the film and television industry off and on for about 25 years. He said the biggest challenges are finding financial backing and, then once a work is completed, distribution. However, Shaw was lucky enough to find both for a comedy cooking show and a faith-based movie.
“Church People,” directed by Shaw, was released March 13 as a Fathom Event with churches able to request special viewings through the Faith Content Network. It will
be available on DVD and for digital download on Sept. 3. Shaw said they’re working on having it put on a streaming service next year.
Guy Sides (played by Thor Ramsey) has been named America’s favorite youth pastor, but he realizes the megachurch he’s associated with and senior pastor Skip (Michael Monks) is more concerned with filling seats than presenting the gospel. When a blasphemous stunt is conceived for Easter Sunday, Guy has to figure out how to steer the church back to the right path.
It features several Hollywood veterans in supporting roles. This includes Donald Faison of the television series “Scrubs,” NSYNC member and reality star Joey Fatone, Stephen and William Baldwin of the famed Baldwin Brothers acting family and William’s wife, Chynna Phillips of the singing group Wilson Phillips. Stephen Baldwin was instrumental in getting the movie made and finding financial backing, Shaw said.
“I have been very pleased with the overall responses. They’ve been very favorable. I’m hearing reports of people laughing throughout the movie. I’m hearing about some crying. I’ve even heard some people say they were sobbing at the end. Some people are experiencing all the feels watching this movie,” Shaw said. “No matter where you are on the faith spectrum, whether you’re a believer or not, you probably are going to find one, if not two, characters in the movie to identify with.”
Additionally, “Something Smells Funny” is available for free via Tubi. If successful, Shaw hopes to film a second season. He served as a producer, editor and director. Host Scott Wood welcomes stand-up comedians to cook a healthy meal and cut up in the kitchen. Guests are Mark Christopher Lawrence, Jimmy Brogan, Bobby Collins and Victoria Jackson, best known for her time on “Saturday Night Live.”
“We show mishaps and mistakes. It’s not one of those shows where everything goes perfectly as planned. We’ll show a blender falling on the floor. It’s really fun,” Shaw said. “It’s not all clean as far as the mess goes. It is clean humor though. It’s family watchable.”
Shaw has recently wrapped a time travel, comedy short film called “Zoom Time.” Ramsey of “Church People” has also written other scripts being shopped around with Shaw attached to direct. One of those involve time travel as well.
“There’s been a lot going on behind the scenes this year. It’s now a matter of finding the right fit with the right funding possibilities,” Shaw said.
For more information on “Church Pepole,” go to Churchpeoplefilm.com and for more on Shaw, visit Christophershawnshaw.com