00:06 Salam alaikum and howdy. My name is Defonzee Dunn-Norman, director of "Pastor Prime," a 10-minute fantasy romance written by Carolyn Purnell and premiering at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
00:18 Our story follows Shirley, a widow who falls for a younger man she meets at the cowboy church.
00:22 A Western-themed church that's a little more Garth Brooks and less Conway Twitty.
00:27 It's where Shirley, against all odds, indulges in a state of truth that's less filtered, punk rock, outlaw, and if I may, exceptionally Texan.
00:36 I first read Carolyn's script at a time where I was obsessed with screen adaptations of Larry McMurtry and the Bridges of Madison County.
00:43 We just moved to East Texas, and as a Malaysian-Iranian Angeleno, I was totally seduced by the pastoral terrain of pine trees, Muslim truck stops, and the sweet and sour smell of burning compost.
00:54 More than anything, Carolyn's story possessed a sensuality that reflected the surreal atmosphere.
00:59 Insidious, sexy, and sincere in ways that inspired me to rethink my own preconceived ideas of Southern life.
01:06 This is our third film at Sundance, and it wouldn't have been possible without the generous support of the Austin Film Society, MPS Studios, and more than a hundred crowdfunders from six different countries.
01:16 Our collaborators included Kuala Lumpur-based cinematographer Saifuddin Musa, composer Lucas Lachowski, and our new family of filmmakers in Shreveport, Louisiana.
01:25 Here's our cast, here we are knocking out a scene in the pastor's office, and here's our crew surprising Saifuddin with a birthday cake on the last day of our shoot.
01:33 We hope you enjoy the film and look forward to seeing you in the rain or in the snow.
01:38 Got to find the funky flow.
01:41 Thank you so much for your time and checking us out.
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