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Damon Pfaff as Zak

Sigamony hopes that Jesus People breaks down evangelical stereotypes in a way that invites outsiders to look at Christians and Christianity in a new light.

"I want Jesus People to be the Christian Monsoon Wedding—something that explores a community's faults, but also what is beautiful about them," he says. "It's a very self-reflexive film. Each character is about a different fault that needs to be examined."

Director Naumann, who previously worked with Ewald and Sigamony on the short film Happy Wednesday, was drawn to the Jesus People project because he felt like it would strengthen his faith to critically and humorously lampoon it.

 "I love these people; I grew up with these people; I'm being true to my background," says Naumann, who was raised in an Evangelical Free church.

Sigamony's path from a Christian high school to creating Jesus People is appropriately unconventional. He spent five years working as an engineer in Maryland after getting his master's degree at Johns Hopkins, and then dropped everything to move to LA to work in film. "The world had enough Indian engineers," he says. "They needed more Indian comedy writers."

Director Jason Naumann

In his church growing up, Sigamony wrote and produced short dramas, often parodies of pop culture—like "The True-Man Show." Even then, he loved to push the congregation to look at themselves and their faith in new and critical ways—like producing a play at his conservative church that subtly pushed the idea of female pastors.

Sigamony believes comedy can be an effective way to change the world, but also believes it's just good to make people laugh. Laughter, he believes, is one way to worship God—and he's sure there will be laughter in heaven, too.

For Sigamony and Ewald, Jesus People is an important project that brings together their faith and filmmaking talents in an exciting, challenging way.

Both graduates of LA's Act One screenwriting program, Sigamony and Ewald have been writing partners since 2003, creating and pitching several sitcoms, reality shows, and films, including one that went to pilot in 2004 called "The Room," featuring Tony Hale (Arrested Development), Debra Jo Rupp (That 70s Show), and Victoria Jackson (Saturday Night Live).

They hope Jesus People will be a turning point in their careers, but also a chance to show Hollywood that Christians can make funny, entertaining, edgy material that is neither too kind nor too cynical. The audience should be both annoyed and endeared by the characters in Jesus People, said Rajeev. But that is how Christianity is, after all: imperfect.

Ewald (left) and Sigamoney (2nd from right) with actor Bagley and director Naumann

If nothing else, Jesus People sets out to demystify the notion of "Christian film." This is not your typical Christian movie, but is thoroughly Christian, even with its irreverence. It's brutally honest about where evangelical Christianity has gone wrong, but it's also ardently hopeful that maybe—if we can look ourselves in the mirror and let comedy expose our ridiculousness—we can work through our faults to advance the cause of Christ in bold, new, creative ways.

Writer Ewald, who got his start as an entertainment journalist, says he's not trying to be a part of any "movement" to change or Christianize Hollywood.

"I'm just a guy who writes comedy with a guy named Rajeev," said Ewald. "We tell stories that amuse us, excite us, challenge us, move us in some way."

The film, he says, is not about the audience's religious or non-religious beliefs, but rather what they find funny. If audiences like Christopher Guest, Larry David, Garry Shandling, and Ricky Gervais, Ewald is confident that they'll also like Jesus People.

It's a film meant primarily to entertain, not preach, say Ewald and Sigamony. But if audiences come away feeling fascinated by or more sympathetic to Christianity, that's icing on the cake.  

Watch the trailer and keep track of the film's updates here.

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