The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast 1KHO 565: Faith, Film & Family | Brennan McPherson, Light of the World
Sep 5, 2025
Brennan McPherson, the producer of the animated film 'Light of the World' and president of the Salvation Poem Project, shares insights on blending humor and reverence in storytelling about Jesus. He discusses engaging audiences through art that fosters real-life connections, moving away from screens. The conversation also touches on the power of creativity in addressing personal loss and the importance of family connections in art-making. Brennan highlights the film's vibrant animation and how shared experiences can deepen spiritual bonds.
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From No Experience To Feature Film
- Brennan had no film experience and was asked to make an animated film about Jesus with a tiny nonprofit team.
- He and colleagues built a team of over 400 people and finished the film on time and on budget after four years.
Disciples Likely Were Teenagers
- Scholars generally agree many disciples were teenagers, making John plausibly as young as 13 when called.
- Framing the story through a teenage John makes the film a family-friendly coming-of-age tale and likely closer to historical reality.
Show Both Divinity And Humanity
- The filmmakers insisted you can portray Jesus reverently while showing his full humanity, including humor and grief.
- Showing both divinity and humanity helps audiences relate and underscores Jesus as acquainted with human suffering.