Oversold Interview for HOSFU

Director, editor and motion graphic artist Paul Morrell – right image
drawn by Paul’s five year old especially for this interview!

Paul Morrell is a freelance director, editor and motion graphic artist in Los Angeles. His portfolio includes movie trailers, music videos, commercials, infomercials, TV shows and short films. In 2007, Morrell was nominated for an MTV Movie Award for Best Movie Spoof, for a film titled Texas Chainsaw Musical. He am currently in post-production on a good, old-fashioned teenage slasher film titled Filth To Ashes. You can view Paul Morrell’s online portfolio on his website.

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Christian-Movie.com: What audience did you have in mind when you wrote Oversold, a modern adaptation of Hosea’s story – about a pastor who falls in love with a stripper?

Paul Morrell: I love telling a story where two worlds that do NOT belong together are slammed into each other, falling apart and then ultimately surviving. Originally, Oversold was a mainstream feature film script. But as everything fell into place (budget, talent, etc.), the scope changed and we honed down who the audience is: the church. Out came a Bible study film, and not just a film.

However, we do still hope to produce Oversold (the feature) some day.

Oversold: A pastor marries a stripper in a modern-day
adaptation of the biblical story of Hosea

Christian-Movie.com: How did former pornography star, Crissy Moran, get involved in this project?

Morrell: We asked, a lot. It took a bit of persistence, but after a few months we got a meeting, pitched the project and she came on board. We initially approached Crissy to be a consultant for the adult business side of the story (for the feature). Once we really got into the thick of it, we realized she would be perfect for the role.

With her testimony being so close to the story, combined with the teaching aspect of the film, it makes for a one-two punch that is incredibly powerful.

“With [Crissy's] testimony being so close to the story…it makes for a one-two punch that is incredibly powerful.”

Christian-Movie.com: How has Oversold been received in Christian circles? Have you received any backlash for handling a topic that many Christian filmmakers avoid, or for working with Crissy? What about the response from secular audiences?

Morrell: That’s a touchy subject. We have had a rollercoaster ride with soooooo many people on this. From people not wanting to be a part of the project and walking off set because Crissy was in it, to literal hate mail from “believers,” the reception has completely blown my mind.

“The reception has completely blown my mind.”

When we did a rough cut screening to 50 pastors around the country, the feedback had nothing to do with who was in it, or about the stripper scene. It was all about how the church in the story didn’t accept the stripper and “that was too close reality,” or “you guys shouldn’t be exposing that underbelly of the church.”

I will tell you why it is too close to reality. It is because that scene was not invented by a writer. That dialog was pulled directly from conversations I had with other Christians who didn’t want to be involved in the film because of “who was in it.” That scene was an afterthought, due to all the responses we were receiving.

Oversold lead actress, Crissy Moran

We submitted to the Gideon Film Festival. I was super stoked about this festival. My father is a minister and I grew up going to Ridgecrest every summer for conferences, and the thought of spending a week in the mountains with other filmmakers was riveting.

After submitting the trailer, the Gideon Festival’s immediate response was “we would love to show the film during the film festival part of our conference,” and we began the process of getting the film over to them. But then suddenly, our contact with the Gideon Festival became MIA. After a couple emails, I finally got the response that because of who Crissy was, and because she was in the film, they could not show the film at the festival. Keep in mind: THEY NEVER WATCHED THE FILM. They completely judged the film by the past sins of our lead actress! I responded to the Gideon representative with the request that they at least watch the film before making their decision, and I got NO response.

On the other side of the fence, we were greeted with open arms by nearly every “secular” media organization we approached: The Today Show, Extra, Reelz Channel and we were even featured in a documentary that was funded by a major cable network (not supposed to say which yet). Actually, our crew was made up of mostly non-believers. The majority of my Christian friends would have nothing to do with it (family and a few close friends, on the other hand, were VERY supportive).

Paul Morrell directs Crissy Moran and Stephen Zimpel

“All that to say, a huge chunk of the people that judged our project before seeing it have apologized since watching it, saying that the film made them think about how they really see people outside their Christian circle.”

Christian-Movie.com: Oversold’s production quality is impressively high. How did you round up the production crew, including DP Royce Allen Dudley? What is Royce’s background?

Morrell: Wow, thank you. That is awesome of you to say. I am BIG on production value. I will push my budgets to the limit. I put EVERYTHING I have onto the screen. Royce has shot 35 feature films, from $15K features to million dollar features. He is the best that I could find on my budget to do the job.

“Always surround yourself with people
that are better at what they do, than you are at what you do.”

Which brings me to one of the most important things I can say to aspiring filmmakers (and it took me a long time to realize this): Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you can do it all yourself. I was told by a college professor one time that you should always surround yourself with people that are better at what they do, than you are at what you do. It will make you better.

Director Paul Morrell (center) in Oversold’s Coffee Shop Scene

YOU HAVE TO HIRE PROFESSIONALS if you want it to look like a professional did it. I know that sounds obvious, but in this “DV” age, people think they can literally wear all the hats. Sometimes they can…but 99% of the time that they do, the production quality suffers or just isn’t up to where it could be.

I hired a DP to shoot and light my film. It made all the difference in the world. And don’t be afraid of the old guys, they just want to work. Because of their experience, chances are they are going to bring a lot more to the film than their talent. You will get wisdom, advice and plus they usually have incredible stories to tell! And believe it or not, you CAN afford them. Their rates are very competitive.

“YOU HAVE TO HIRE PROFESSIONALS if you want it to look like a professional did it.”

The ironic thing is that Royce was one of the FEW crew I hired. Due to budget constraints, most of my crew ended up being family members who I flew out to LA and gave filmmaking crash courses to as we went along. Key department heads – DP, Grip, Audio and Makeup – were hired; everyone else were family member volunteers.

Christian-Movie.com: If your viewers took only one message away from Oversold, what would you want that message to be?

Morrell: Christ loves us. He wants us as we are. I think so many times we forget that, without Christ, we are unworthy of anything God has to offer. We can’t clean up to come to Him. He cleans us up. We are broken people and HE heals us. We have to stop judging other broken people; that is God’s job. We are to just love those “unlovable people” and spread the good news.

“Christ loves us. He wants us as we are.”

Christian-Movie.com: What is the most meaningful comment anyone has made to you about Oversold?

Morrell: The most meaningful thing for me has not been comments (although there have been many), but the relationships I have forged with some of my crew. If you are familiar with my portfolio at all, you know that I am not your typical “Christian Filmmaker,” and making this film has opened doors for conversations that I would have never been able to have otherwise. Opportunities for me to share my faith with people that normally wouldn’t listen.

Crissy Moran and Stephen Zimpel

Christian-Movie.com: What are the top three things you wish you had known before you started?

Morrell:

1. Make sure everyone knows what they are getting into before you start. We lost an entire group of “extras” for the dinner scene (notice there is no one else in the cafe), once they realized Crissy was in the film.
2. Vegas was an unnecessarily expensive place to shoot. We could have saved thousands of dollars doing it here in LA, and taking a smaller crew to Vegas for exteriors.
3. Unless you have the money to pay for it… don’t try to get Label-owned music. There are thousands of bands and musicians out there that are willing to give you a needle drop for no charge. The Label side of the music business will charge you an arm and a leg for a song, plus an ongoing royalty. At least they did to us. We had to remaster the entire project once we sold to distribution, as the royalty to one record label for one song was more than I was making. And I fronted the money for the production.

Christian-Movie.com: What was the biggest hurdle that you faced during the filmmaking process, and how did you overcome it?

Morrell: The biggest hurdle has got to be the lack of support from the Christian community. How did we overcome it…don’t know that we did; we are still battling it.

“The biggest hurdle has got to be the lack of support from the Christian community.”

Christian-Movie.com: What was the most significant lesson that God taught you, from a personal standpoint, during the making of Oversold?

Morrell: In the midst of how our project was received, God revealed to me that this is exactly how I have always been. It was time to start loving the unlovable.

Christian-Movie.com: What’s next?

Morrell: We are currently in fundraising mode for Wailin’ Jones – an almost-modern retelling of Jonah and the Whale.

Christian-Movie.com: How may Oversold be purchased?

Morrell: We currently have distribution through Heritage HM for Australia/New Zealand and through Osmango Distribution for the U.S. and the rest of the world. Osmango is expecting to have DVDs on Christian Retailer shelves by the holidays. In the meantime, though, you can get it from our website.

Christian-Movie.com: Any closing thoughts?

Morrell: Rock it.

My Interview with HOSFU!

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