Who will become Hollywood’s biggest rival in the wake of WGA strike?

With the writers in Hollywood on strike indefinitely, independent production houses are rising in the midst of the holds production companies have on their various projects.

On Center Street in Provo gathered filmmakers, investors, actors, and other interested parties to support emerging production house Angel Studios, which is known for releasing such popular hits as ‘The Chosen’ and ‘His Only Son’, and discuss future projects.

Deseret publication points out that the studio is unique in that thus far it has relied wholly on crowdfunding to produce its successful projects, with such titles as ‘The Sound of Freedom’, ‘The Shift’, ‘David’.

Focusing on family values

Neal Harmon, co-founder and CEO of Angel Studios, commented that it was the emphasis the studio puts on family values that have made it organically rise in popularity.

“What are the values we want to see for our children and our grandchildren? Stories that are true, honest, noble, just, authentic, lovely, admirable and excellent,” Harmon said, explaining that there were many genres these values can be found in, if done right — from faith films to comedy and action.

“The Chosen” brings these values to life, and Seth Taylor, chief experience officer of Angel Studios, shared a new interactive online feature that allows fans of “The Chosen” to share their own stories of how the hit series has impacted them,” the CEO said. “The feature allows viewers to attach their particular connection to a scene directly to the scene as a sidebar on the video player.”

Making a difference

Harmon gave an example of one of these fans, a woman named Crystal. She was in a women’s shelter when she first saw ‘The Chosen’ on YouTube. While watching a scene that portrays Jesus healing Mary, Crystal realizes she could be healed too.

“I think I believe in God, or maybe I’m just realizing He always believed in me,” Crystal said.