"the Chosen" The Shepherd(2017) Apr 2026

After viewing the film, VidAngel suggested using it as a "concept pilot" to test interest for a larger series. It eventually helped launch the largest crowdfunded media project in history.

Jenkins filmed the short on a friend’s farm in Marengo, Illinois, following what he described as his "biggest career failure" with the film The Resurrection of Gavin Stone . "The Chosen" The Shepherd(2017)

Unlike the full series, this pilot was produced with a lower budget and a different crew, lacking the extensive historical research team used in later seasons. Plot & Narrative Structure After viewing the film, VidAngel suggested using it

" The Shepherd " is a 20-minute short film created by director Dallas Jenkins that serves as the pilot episode (Season 1, Episode 0) of the global phenomenon The Chosen . Originally produced as a Christmas Eve special for Harvest Bible Chapel in Illinois, its viral success directly inspired the creation of the multi-season series. Production Background Unlike the full series, this pilot was produced