The Prayer
Memphis, Tennessee | Film Short
Drama, Thriller
The Prayer takes place years after the rapture. It's the survival story of a father and son as they cope with the realities of being left behind. Now they must fight for their lives after they're visited by a psychopath that infiltrates their home by impersonating a minister.
The Prayer
Memphis, Tennessee | Film Short
Drama, Thriller
Green Light
This campaign raised $3,815 for production phase 2. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
25 supporters | followers
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The Prayer takes place years after the rapture. It's the survival story of a father and son as they cope with the realities of being left behind. Now they must fight for their lives after they're visited by a psychopath that infiltrates their home by impersonating a minister.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Hi, I’m Rod Kirby, and I’m a screenwriter, director, and producer based in Memphis, TN. After completing my last short film (Joy, 2016), an interesting idea popped into my head. What if a father and son had to fight for their lives after the rapturing of the saints?
The Bible talks about an event where believers are spared from the destruction and horrors of the end times. This event, the rapture as it’s commonly known, sees Jesus' return to earth, taking believers with him, and leaving sinners behind to face the apocalypse.
I started working on the script for this idea during the summer of 2016. However, I got stuck on the ending and let it sit on a shelf for three years.
Since then I've been working full-time as a corporate videographer, producing projects within the Memphis film community, and earned my master’s degree in entertainment business from Full Sail University. While things were going well professionally, artistically, I was in a rut. I had a burning desire to finish the script, but I didn’t know how.
One day, something miraculous happened, the perfect ending for the film came to me in a dream. I woke up, started jotting down ideas, and before I knew it, I was ready to dive in and finish the story. After three long years, I finally finished the script for The Prayer in the fall of 2019.
The Prayer is a faith-based drama and thriller that follows the story of a man whose wife and daughter are taken to Heaven during the rapture. He’s left behind, along with his son, to pick up the pieces after they’re gone. Now, years later, they must fight for their lives when they’re visited by a partially blind psychopath; who infiltrates their home by impersonating a minister.
The Prayer - Teaser Trailer from Rod Kirby on Vimeo.
This isn't your typical Christian film. The Prayer is a dark and gritty exploration of what happens when we’re forced to confront our sin and what it takes to earn redemption. The film is a mix of faith-based films like the Left Behind series, thrillers like Frailty, and family dramas.
After finishing the script last year, I entered several screenwriting competitions with hopes of winning enough money to produce it. Unfortunately, my script didn’t move forward in any of the competitions. While I was extremely disappointed, I learned a lot by entering the competitions and continued to apply.
Encouraged by my wife to move forward, I saved some money, gathered a cast, assembled a skeleton crew, and shot the first part of the film in February 2020. It was so rewarding to finally see my characters and story brought to life! I’m truly blessed to have been able to work with such a talented cast and crew. Watch the first part of The Prayer, here: www.theprayerfilm.com
Now, we need your help to produce the rest of the film. With a successful campaign on Seed & Spark we'll be able to fund additional casting, light stunt work, key VFX shots, a powerful musical score, professional color grading, distribution, and marketing.
My vision is to introduce The Prayer to audiences regionally and nationwide. I want to exhibit the film at festivals such as Indie Memphis, the Nashville Film Festival, The Oxford Film Fest, and more. I want to personally invite you to join me on the production of The Prayer. Together we'll make the film happen and impact the lives of those in front of and behind the cameras through this process. Thank you for your support!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast Needed!
Costs $650
We need to cast Father Haymen, a news anchor, and extras to complete the second half of The Prayer.
Help Wanted!
Costs $1,100
We need a DP, Boom/Sound Mixer, Key Grip, SFX Make-up Artist, and more to help us.
Production
Costs $500
Includes; Props, Costumes, Craft Services (food), Travel & Transportation.
Post-Production
Costs $650
Includes: funds for the musical score, sound FX, and VFX work on 2-shots in the film.
Share this update!
About This Team
Delvyn Brown “David”
In 2007, Delvyn Brown took acting lessons under Irene Crist at Playhouse on the Square in Memphis, TN. In 2008, he debuted alongside Ekundayo Bandele as “Mitch” in “A Street Car Named Desire.” This led to other Hattiloo Productions, such as “Mahalia”, “If Scrooge Was a Brother,” and “The Whipping Man”. In 2014, he was nominated for best actor by Broadway World Memphis for his portrayal of a doomed trumpet player, in “A Member of the Wedding” produced by Theatre Memphis. In 2015, he was presented with the Actor of the Year Award by Diversity on Stage and Film (DOSF).
Everett Anderson “Junior”
Everett Anderson is a well-rounded, upcoming actor that has shown his talent in a few local plays and films. At the age of nine, Anderson, along with his brother, did small improv skits which helped to influence his love of acting. In addition to doing theatre in high school, He majored in Computer Engineering in college. In 2010 Anderson started a photography company called Minnen Media (Minnen is Swedish for memories). Because of Everett’s passion for storytelling he acts, specializes in videography, and filmmaking.
Brandi Nicole Payne "Denise"
Brandi is an actor, writer and artivist who splits her time between Memphis and LA. An HBO Access Writing Fellow, her work has been featured on television and won multiple awards at film festivals across the country. Muted, a short film she wrote and produced about media discrepancy when a child of color goes missing, starring Chandra Wilson and Malcolm-Jamal Warner was acquired by HBO, selected for the Ryan Murphy Half Initiative Program and to date has just under 150k views on YouTube via Issa Rae's #ShortFilmSundays.
As one of three filmmakers chosen for the inaugural Emergence Program (a camera and equipment grant for female filmmakers), Brandi recently made her directorial debut with her short film Aloha, which was crowdfunded on Seed & Spark and supported by a grant from Grant Larson Productions. As an actor Brandi received her B.A. in Theatre, has been in multiple shorts and can next be seen starring in the indie feature The Mentor. Brandi serves as a proud member of RAINN'S Speakers Bureau and her goal as a writer, filmmaker and actor is to use story to bring together community and transform pain into power.
Rod Kirby, Writer/Director/Producer
Rod Kirby is a screenwriter and director known for Sodom (2013), Love in Dark Places (2014), and Joy (2016). He is the owner of Kirby Media Studios, an indie film production and marketing studio based in Memphis,
TN. Rod is also a professional photographer. His work has displayed, twice, at CrossTown Arts in Memphis.
Rod recently graduated, as a Salutatorian, from Full Sail University with a Bachelor of Science in Media Communications. He is currently enrolled in Full Sail’s Master of Science in Entertainment Business program, anticipating graduation in December 2019.
Antonio Tarrell, Director of Photography
Cinematographer Antonio Tarrell is a professional producer, director, and film editor living in Oxford, MS. After graduating as Salutatorian from Full Sail University with a Bachelor of Science in Digital Cinematography, he created Antonio Tarrell Films. Tarrell Films’ accomplishments include contributions to Pilot Episode: Bluff City Law for NBC, Dateline Crime with Tamron Hall for Investigation Discovery, Unspeakable Crime: The Killing of Jessica Chambers (2017/2018) for Oxygen TV, Stories Under the Rainbow (2018), and LGBTQ+ Community Fights for Parade After City Tries to Ban Pride (2018) for NowThis News and more.
Kimberly Kirby, Producer/Script Supervisor
Kim Kirby is an author, songwriter, and filmmaker. She’s the author of the “Joy” book series and “What to do Until He Finds You”. Her latest book, “Mrs. Virginia’s Trust” is scheduled for release in the spring of 2020. In 2015 she wrote and directed her first short film, “Love Like This.” Kimberly graduated from UT Martin with a Bachelor of Science in Human Services.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Hi, I’m Rod Kirby, and I’m a screenwriter, director, and producer based in Memphis, TN. After completing my last short film (Joy, 2016), an interesting idea popped into my head. What if a father and son had to fight for their lives after the rapturing of the saints?
The Bible talks about an event where believers are spared from the destruction and horrors of the end times. This event, the rapture as it’s commonly known, sees Jesus' return to earth, taking believers with him, and leaving sinners behind to face the apocalypse.
I started working on the script for this idea during the summer of 2016. However, I got stuck on the ending and let it sit on a shelf for three years.
Since then I've been working full-time as a corporate videographer, producing projects within the Memphis film community, and earned my master’s degree in entertainment business from Full Sail University. While things were going well professionally, artistically, I was in a rut. I had a burning desire to finish the script, but I didn’t know how.
One day, something miraculous happened, the perfect ending for the film came to me in a dream. I woke up, started jotting down ideas, and before I knew it, I was ready to dive in and finish the story. After three long years, I finally finished the script for The Prayer in the fall of 2019.
The Prayer is a faith-based drama and thriller that follows the story of a man whose wife and daughter are taken to Heaven during the rapture. He’s left behind, along with his son, to pick up the pieces after they’re gone. Now, years later, they must fight for their lives when they’re visited by a partially blind psychopath; who infiltrates their home by impersonating a minister.
The Prayer - Teaser Trailer from Rod Kirby on Vimeo.
This isn't your typical Christian film. The Prayer is a dark and gritty exploration of what happens when we’re forced to confront our sin and what it takes to earn redemption. The film is a mix of faith-based films like the Left Behind series, thrillers like Frailty, and family dramas.
After finishing the script last year, I entered several screenwriting competitions with hopes of winning enough money to produce it. Unfortunately, my script didn’t move forward in any of the competitions. While I was extremely disappointed, I learned a lot by entering the competitions and continued to apply.
Encouraged by my wife to move forward, I saved some money, gathered a cast, assembled a skeleton crew, and shot the first part of the film in February 2020. It was so rewarding to finally see my characters and story brought to life! I’m truly blessed to have been able to work with such a talented cast and crew. Watch the first part of The Prayer, here: www.theprayerfilm.com
Now, we need your help to produce the rest of the film. With a successful campaign on Seed & Spark we'll be able to fund additional casting, light stunt work, key VFX shots, a powerful musical score, professional color grading, distribution, and marketing.
My vision is to introduce The Prayer to audiences regionally and nationwide. I want to exhibit the film at festivals such as Indie Memphis, the Nashville Film Festival, The Oxford Film Fest, and more. I want to personally invite you to join me on the production of The Prayer. Together we'll make the film happen and impact the lives of those in front of and behind the cameras through this process. Thank you for your support!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast Needed!
Costs $650
We need to cast Father Haymen, a news anchor, and extras to complete the second half of The Prayer.
Help Wanted!
Costs $1,100
We need a DP, Boom/Sound Mixer, Key Grip, SFX Make-up Artist, and more to help us.
Production
Costs $500
Includes; Props, Costumes, Craft Services (food), Travel & Transportation.
Post-Production
Costs $650
Includes: funds for the musical score, sound FX, and VFX work on 2-shots in the film.
Share this update!
About This Team
Delvyn Brown “David”
In 2007, Delvyn Brown took acting lessons under Irene Crist at Playhouse on the Square in Memphis, TN. In 2008, he debuted alongside Ekundayo Bandele as “Mitch” in “A Street Car Named Desire.” This led to other Hattiloo Productions, such as “Mahalia”, “If Scrooge Was a Brother,” and “The Whipping Man”. In 2014, he was nominated for best actor by Broadway World Memphis for his portrayal of a doomed trumpet player, in “A Member of the Wedding” produced by Theatre Memphis. In 2015, he was presented with the Actor of the Year Award by Diversity on Stage and Film (DOSF).
Everett Anderson “Junior”
Everett Anderson is a well-rounded, upcoming actor that has shown his talent in a few local plays and films. At the age of nine, Anderson, along with his brother, did small improv skits which helped to influence his love of acting. In addition to doing theatre in high school, He majored in Computer Engineering in college. In 2010 Anderson started a photography company called Minnen Media (Minnen is Swedish for memories). Because of Everett’s passion for storytelling he acts, specializes in videography, and filmmaking.
Brandi Nicole Payne "Denise"
Brandi is an actor, writer and artivist who splits her time between Memphis and LA. An HBO Access Writing Fellow, her work has been featured on television and won multiple awards at film festivals across the country. Muted, a short film she wrote and produced about media discrepancy when a child of color goes missing, starring Chandra Wilson and Malcolm-Jamal Warner was acquired by HBO, selected for the Ryan Murphy Half Initiative Program and to date has just under 150k views on YouTube via Issa Rae's #ShortFilmSundays.
As one of three filmmakers chosen for the inaugural Emergence Program (a camera and equipment grant for female filmmakers), Brandi recently made her directorial debut with her short film Aloha, which was crowdfunded on Seed & Spark and supported by a grant from Grant Larson Productions. As an actor Brandi received her B.A. in Theatre, has been in multiple shorts and can next be seen starring in the indie feature The Mentor. Brandi serves as a proud member of RAINN'S Speakers Bureau and her goal as a writer, filmmaker and actor is to use story to bring together community and transform pain into power.
Rod Kirby, Writer/Director/Producer
Rod Kirby is a screenwriter and director known for Sodom (2013), Love in Dark Places (2014), and Joy (2016). He is the owner of Kirby Media Studios, an indie film production and marketing studio based in Memphis,
TN. Rod is also a professional photographer. His work has displayed, twice, at CrossTown Arts in Memphis.
Rod recently graduated, as a Salutatorian, from Full Sail University with a Bachelor of Science in Media Communications. He is currently enrolled in Full Sail’s Master of Science in Entertainment Business program, anticipating graduation in December 2019.
Antonio Tarrell, Director of Photography
Cinematographer Antonio Tarrell is a professional producer, director, and film editor living in Oxford, MS. After graduating as Salutatorian from Full Sail University with a Bachelor of Science in Digital Cinematography, he created Antonio Tarrell Films. Tarrell Films’ accomplishments include contributions to Pilot Episode: Bluff City Law for NBC, Dateline Crime with Tamron Hall for Investigation Discovery, Unspeakable Crime: The Killing of Jessica Chambers (2017/2018) for Oxygen TV, Stories Under the Rainbow (2018), and LGBTQ+ Community Fights for Parade After City Tries to Ban Pride (2018) for NowThis News and more.
Kimberly Kirby, Producer/Script Supervisor
Kim Kirby is an author, songwriter, and filmmaker. She’s the author of the “Joy” book series and “What to do Until He Finds You”. Her latest book, “Mrs. Virginia’s Trust” is scheduled for release in the spring of 2020. In 2015 she wrote and directed her first short film, “Love Like This.” Kimberly graduated from UT Martin with a Bachelor of Science in Human Services.