Does the guy holding the microphone always hold the truth? This is not your father’s “Christian” film . . . or anyone’s for that matter.
Comedy, satire, heist . . . Riot Studios—creators of the surprise hit documentary Beware of Christians—debuts its first feature film, Believe Me, in theaters and on demand on September 26. Irreverent, funny and insightful, Believe Me poses a simple question: “Why believe someone just because he’s speaking on a stage?”
“Four college friends see people believe any voice that shouts loud enough, and they use it for their own gain by starting a fake charity,” said Director Will Bakke. “Believe Me looks at the power of platforms, particularly among today’s young Christians.”
Watch the trailer now:
Featuring rising stars Alex Russell—who shot to fame in Chronicle—and Zach Knighton (Happy Endings), Believe Me also features Johanna Braddy (Easy A), Miles Fisher (Final Destination 5), Sinqua Walls (Teen Wolf) and Max Adler (Glee), with Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) as Sean and Christopher McDonald (Boardwalk Empire) as Ken. Grammy Award-winning rapper LeCrae makes his feature debut in the film.
In Believe Me, Sam Atwell (Russell) stands on stage as thousands of fans go wild. Smart, charismatic, handsome, he moves them with his message, and when he calls for donations to his charity, the money pours in.
Only thing is, Sam doesn’t believe a word he’s saying.
Alex Russell plays the man with a plan (to steal money from unsuspecting Christians); Photo Courtesy of Riot Studios.
Just months earlier, Sam was a typical college senior focused on keg stands, hookups and graduation. But when a surprise tuition bill threatens his dream of law school and leaves him thousands of dollars in the hole, he’s forced to think outside the box. He convinces his three roommates they can make a killing on the gullible church crowd and the guys start a sham charity, campaigning across the country, raising funds for a cause as fake as their message.
For Sam, embezzlement is easy compared to getting attention from the only person he cares about. When Callie, the tour manager and Sam’s love interest, finally discovers the guys’ ruse, it’s Sam’s moment of truth.
On the final night of the tour, before a packed auditorium and alone in the spotlight, Sam Atwell has to decide what he really believes.
Zach Knighton suspects the God Squad may be up to something; Photo Courtesy of Riot Studios.
“Believe Me is a parody on religious scandals,” co-producer and co-writer Michael B. Allen said. “It holds up a mirror for viewers to see themselves and their assumptions from a new perspective.”
Believe Me is produced by Alex Carroll and co-produced by Sandhya Shardanand, Gary Cogill, Richard Toussaint and Steve Markham. John Rutland is director of photography with casting by J.C. Cantu.
A Riot Studios Production in association with Lascaux Films, Believe Me is distributed by Headline Features and Gravitas Ventures. The film releases in theaters and on demand Sept. 26, 2014.
To learn more about the film and cast, visit Believe Me Film Online
Check out the latest Christian entertainment news: “Hope for Hurting Hearts” Gains 4 International Film Festival Honors
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