Tune in to hear exclusive behind the scenes inside scoop, inspiration behind the making of the film, and how you can help someone in need score free tickets with the film’s “Pay it Forward” program.
Now this is the FCB Podcast Network. This is beccage Pass me. Hey, hi everybody, and welcome into another episode of Backstage Pass. It's Victoria Henley here and we have an exciting guest today. This is the writer and director of the film After Death, currently in theaters nationwide, Stephen Gray. Stephen, how are you doing today? You'reing great? Thanks much for having me on. Yes, thank you so much for joining us. So, I actually the how this interview came about is pretty funny. So my dad actually went and saw this movie in the theaters and he just couldn't stop talking about it. He loved it. He told me, you gotta see it, and I said, okay. So I was traveling, I said it sounds really good. I did a little research and went with my family and I was just blown away. I took an Instagram story. Steven you messaged me, you know, thanked me for seeing the film. It was a film that I go to the cinema a lot, but I left feeling really different. It was just very inspiring in a different way. So tell me what, what is the whole purpose behind this because it seems like a very purpose driven film. Yeah, So the reason why I even created the film. In the first place is back in twenty twelve, my brother in law was actually killed in a car wreck and he was thirty six years old. You know, here one moment gone the next and you know, we had no good byes, and it was it was pretty traumatic to go through. But it caused me to kind of really question and you know, ponder, is there something after you know, I saw I was raised in a church, you know, race to believe that there is heaven, but at that time, I wasn't really sure for myself really what I believe. So I started to explore and came across these stories of people who had clinically died and had these experiences and came back and after you know, thirty books. I think it was interesting to kind of here, you know, see this kind of chorus of different people's stories. You know, it's one individual story. Was interesting, but you kind of have to take with a grain of salt. But you know, thirty different people that seem to come from different backgrounds. You know, I don't know that they know each other. When I was reading these books, you know, they seem to have a lot of common experiences, and so that was kind of the story I wanted to tell. I love that. So, you know, one one thing that's noteworthy about this film is that some films that you know, do make reference to heaven, hell, faith, spirituality, they can come off a little bit preachy, a little agenda driven. But this film is different. It's fresh. So do you feel, you know, what would your words be to someone who maybe hasn't grown up in the church, maybe they're an atheist, but they're curious, what would your message be to them to get them into this film? Yeah? I mean, so death affects everyone, you know, and I was asking that question open handily, you know, is there something? And so the film kind of reflects that, you know, openness in terms of the question that I was asking. I didn't really want to go into its preconceived notions that yeah, it does exist. I had it open handed, and so, you know, half the film is kind of exploring the scientific angle, and I think there's a lot of interesting cases out there that kind of point to that, you know, maybe maybe consciousness does, you know, continue on after clinical death. But yeah, so really this film is for everyone. I think for people that have a face. I believe that it's probably going to deepen their faith. But for someone that's not even considered any spiritual reality, it's not preachy. It's very accessible and because again, death affects us all. And we include fourteen different people who clinically die between seconds to an hour and forty five minutes, and you know, they all come from different backgrounds. We interviewed people also from a gentleman from South Korea, three people in India, a lady in Israel, and so just kind of getting a variety, you know, and it just points to this kind of common human thing absolutely. So speaking of the different people that you interviewed in the film, I mean you had everything from scientists to surgeons to people from you know, so many different experiences. Can you give us a little taste of who can we expect to hear from in this film. So one of the interesting things that that we got late in the stage for making the film is doctor Zamar He published a study in twenty twenty two that broke and made headlines all around the world. It's a record, the first ever dying human brain recording. So and it kind of shows that, you know, there's some brain patterns that kind of exist after the heartthead stop which is you know, so it kind of opens the question of, you know, at what point do we clinically die? And there's in the film we also have multiple neurosurgeons and neuroscientists, cardiologists, oncologists, a few surgeons, and they're kind of sharing their perspective of some cases that kind of put into question, you know, that the materialist kind of point of view that our consciousness is just you know, produced by the brain. There's one case in it with Pam Reynolds where she was clinically dead for over an hour and you know, she has no measured brain activity when they're doing they're doing brain surgery and they on purpose, you know, stop her heart and while she's basically her brain is unable to produce new memories or functioned any way. That's when she has this out of body experience and she's seeing things in the operating room that can later be corroborated, and it's just kind of perplexing, like how is she able to create that new memory when her brain is offline? Absolutely, I mean it really, it truly was just fascinating And we'll dive a little deeper into the movie momentarily, but you had accounts from people. You know, some people, and I don't want to spoil this for any of you who are going out to see the film, and you need to see the film, but some people's experiences were great, you know, they felt they said they were in an unlocked new level of consciousness, They felt wonderful. Some people had a little darker experience, and some of the experiences were just truly terrifying. Tell us a little bit about that. What was that like sitting in front of those individuals and hearing those accounts. Yeah, I mean it was difficult, you know, to sit across to them in the interview chair. But we've included three different people in the film who had what they call hellish near death experiences, and so it's not technical, you know, I don't know if there's other films that really kind of covered this, but it is an experience that people have, and I think there's twenty three percent of those who come forward and talk about having a near death experience report having a hellish experience. So it's something that exists out there and we just kind of want to give voice to the people that, you know, there's a lot of shame and things that are kind of connected to that experience, and we wanted to give them a voice and let them know that, you know, this is something that happens as well of course, of course, So kind of moving into another element of the film, one of the things I noticed, I loved how the film just seamlessly kind of goes from one story to the next, so everything stays fresh. You know, you're just you're really immersed in it. And the cinematography is just amazing. You know, there are angles that you feel like you're a soul out of your body kind of So kind of what what was your inspiration artistically? Were those your ideas? Did you have a whole creative team working together? Oh yeah, for sure. I mean the filmmaking is a collaborative effort. I would say it's really the result of many different people. So our cu producers from Cipher Studios were a big part of that. Our director photography Austen did it wonderful job. We had an incredible VFX artist that we worked with a team from all around the world, and then Hannah Parrot who created this beautiful original score for the film as well. So it's a team effort to bring something like that to screen. But I want to say, Yeah, I was going to say, like, you know, heaven and hell and any kind of spiritual experiences, it's something it's really difficult to put on screen. You know, it's not something that you can go and shoot, you know, VI roll of so, and we kind of took an approach kind of grounded in something that we we can you know, we can see, uh observe ourselves. So we were inspired by sort of like the cosmic world around us. You know, you look up at night and you see the stars and you kind of wonder, you know, what is space and how big is that? And and you know, where does it go? And so we kind of grunted some of the some of the visuals in that in that heaven, the experience was was kind of galaxies and things that were based off of NASA imagery is what what we were inspired by. And then people often talked about when they go to heaven, you know, meeting a god of light, and they say it's like a man that would be equivalent equivalent to like a thousand burning suns, you know, you just it's just this profound kind of image that we had, and so we were kind of bringing that into into the film, but it's you know they talk about it's this unconditional love that's that you know, coming from this god of light. And yeah, so we just kind of mix those visuals together and the sound and the music and creating a cinematic experience. Well it's it's just a beautiful film. And not only is it beautiful, but you know, there's scientific research, there's just so many elements. This film really is in a league of its own. Now when we come back, we're going to talk a little bit more about, you know, where you can find this film, how you can follow along on social media, and a little bit more on the process. So we're going to take a quick break and we're going to be right back. Steven, thank you so much for joining us, of course, all right, and we'll be right back on backstage pass. It's Victoria Henley here again with backstage pass and we are still speaking with Stephen Gray. He is the writer, director, and producer of After Death the movie. So we've been having a great conversation about you know, just what inspired him, the tragic story behind the film, you know, kind of diving a little deeper into the process. Stephen, tell me a little bit about out how you felt after making the film. Was it a Catharsis for you? Did you get a little bit of closure about losing your brother in law kind of walk us through that? Yeah, it was, it was. I mean, so I made this film over the course of seven years, so you know, it took a long time to create something that you know ends up on screen. But yeah, for me, it was. It was. You know, there's multiple people's stories that they talk about dying in a similar way that my brother in law experienced, and I couldn't help but think about, you know, is this what he saw? This is what he experienced. And I have that hope that that I'm going to see him again, and I want to bring that to other people as well, just to share that. You know. My hope is that people kind of take away from the film what I took away over the course of seven years. Of course, of course, so you're one thing I like about you, and I was a little taken aback to, you know, see your message on Instagram, because some writers and directors, you know, they're doing their junket, they're too busy too. But you're very interactive with your fans and you seem to really care about the people who have taken time to see the film. So I assume you must have gotten some feedback so far. What what's the most what's a standout fan interaction that you've had of someone who was touched by after death. Yeah, I mean it sounds funny to even say fan, because you know, I'm an audience member of myself, you know, just the things anyone else. I love one of the movies. And but you know, I made this film really for other people. Like I said it was, it was helpful for me, and I'm hoping that it's helpful for brothers. But we've heard, you know, lots of stories so far of you know, parents who've lost their kids, or siblings that have lost you know, the their their sibling and you know, just really traumatic kind of losses and how this film has kind of helped them in that greeting process, you know, given that, given that help, that they're going to see them again. And then also just we've heard from a lot of people that hadn't considered any kind of spiritual reality at all that that have have watched this film and then come away you know, thinking about it. You know, and I say, this song is gonna last in terms of like, you know, it'll stay in people's minds, it will stay in people's hearts because and it's not my doing, it's it's it's the stories, you know. I think these stories are profound. I think it all kind of points to a loving God and basically this ultimate reality that there is there is a heaven, and yeah, I just think it just gives a lot of a lot of hope. So I'm excited for people to watch it, you know, and I want to engage with as many people as I can. Of course, so seven years in the making, I mean that's a long time to stick with something and you're putting all the elements together. Was there a moment, you know, like they call the aha moment during the making of it where you were like, Okay, this is really coming together. But there's lots up and up and ups and downs over the course of seven years. You know. It's yeah, it was, yeah, it was. It was quite the journey. There was many times, even you know, two months into after doing the first round of the interviews, interviews I think was a highlight. You know, it's just sitting across from these people, you know, some there's one individual that was dead for an hour forty five minutes, another guy to car wreck those dead for ninety minutes, and it's it's like, how how on earth are they even alive? Never mind that they don't have brain damage, right, you know. And doctor Mary Neil, she's she was underwater for thirty minutes without oxygen and in warm water, and it's like, it's just incredible that they're even you know, alive, sitting across from me and talking to me. And so I think that was that was a highlight. But it's it was small, small things along the way, you know, Like I said, filmmaking, it's a team sport, it's a team effort. And there's so many pieces that kind of started to come together, you know, between the score, the sound designed done by an incredible team in Saint Louis, the edit also done in Saint Louis, and the team is just you know, amazing, wonderful. You you have something, you speak a little bit, you have a special message after the film. So this is one thing too that I want to tell everybody listening in. I know sometimes people get up as soon as the film is over, don't go anywhere, because he has a message for you after the movie, and I really love this. You have a pay it forward program that you want people to be able to see this, so people can get free tickets or maybe they can pay it forward for other people. Kind of walk us through that. How can we pay it forward for people to see After Death? Yeah? So I mean you can go and find like where it's playing. It's playing at twenty seven hundred theaters, which is amazing for a documentary. It actually puts us in a list. I think we're number four on the list in terms of documentaries. And it's all time right now for box office opening was it was a twelfth all time you know opening, and so it's it's in history, which is you know, profound. Yeah. But people can go to angel dot com slash After Death to see where it's playing in their local theater. It's playing in all major cities across the United States, also across Canada. But you can also go to angel dot com slash Life after and there there's a paid forward program like you mentioned, and the reason for it is we just want to make the film accessible. You know, not everyone can afford a ticket to be able to watch the film, and this film is really bad for everyone. So there are those who have paid it forward. And if you can't, if you can't pay for a ticket, you can go there and claim a free ticket. And you know, and then if this film inspires you and you want others to see it, you can also pay it forward for others to see it. That's wonderful. And you know, one of the reasons that you mentioned, I'm sure one of the myriad of reasons that you mentioned the pay it Forward program. I know many people affected by suicide, and statistically, I mean, suicide rates are through the roof, they're at an all time high. You do have a suicide hotline at the end as well for people who may be struggling. So, how do you feel like this film could really resonate with somebody who's thinking, you know what, I just want to end this, I want to get out. How do you feel like this film could pull them out of that well. I mean, I think we did dressed it head on. There's two people in the film that you know, they died as a result of an attempted suicide. Yeah, and I mean for them their experiences that it can hes on. I think people are you know, they're searching for answers. And I know there's a lot of people hurting in the world. You know, I know a lot of friends and family that are going through deep depression and in those states, you know, they're not they're not thinking straight. You know, it's it's it's it's it's definitely hard to walk through and hard heart even for other people to come alongside them, to see them, you know, you want to take that pain away. But I think this film helps kind of highlight purpose. You know, everyone has a purpose and we kind of see that in the film through these stories. And I think that's a big takeaway is is that you know, depression is not forever. It is temporary. It's not going to last forever, and you know life does go on after death, and so yeah, I think I think it's going to offer people a lot of help and purpose for this life. Because another another thing that happens commonly neared with experiences is they have what's called a life review, and so they're they're showing their life that you know, sort of replaying in a in a three sixty kind of experience. They're also seeing lives of people around them, Yeah, and how they sort of influence and interactive with them. So it kind of makes you think about, you know, how we're living this life here and so even thinking about people that are struggling with that, I hope that inspires people more people to be empathetic and come around those people to lift them up. Of course. Well, like I said again, it's a beautiful, beautiful film. I'm a big fan, and you know, I know so many people already from all kinds of different backgrounds that are really really enjoying this. So how can we how long is the film going to be in theaters? How can we follow along on social media and support? Yeah, so you can hit us up on social media. It's just the handles after Death Movie everywhere except for Twitter it's after Deak film, But everywhere it is just after Desk movie. You can find us on basically every social media platform. And yeah, it's going to be playing for you know, two weeks right now is what we're looking at. And you know, we're hopeful that this weekend that more people show up for an independent face. You know, it's it's a really big deal for people to show up in the theater and it just helps you know that the film continues to play and Our hope is that it plays for a while and that more and more people can see it absolutely well. We will be posting all of those links so you can follow on all social media platforms. Be sure to go and see it only in the theaters for two more weeks. Tell your friends, pay it forward. Stephen, thank you so much for joining us, Thank you so much for having me on yes of course, and thank you as always for joining us on backstage pass. We'll see you next time. This has been a presentation of the FCB podcast network, where Real Talk lives. Visitors online at fcbpodcasts dot com.