Cobb County Among Nation's 1st Chosen For 'Small Group The Movie'

ATHENS, GA -- 'Small Group The Movie' premieres in Cobb County on October 19 as one of the first markets in the U.S. to show the movie. The film examines the dynamics of the small group movement within mega-church culture.

The film centers around R. Scott Cooper, played by Sterling Hurst, a filmmaker who moves across the country to make a documentary about the diminishing impact of Christianity. After learning his producer’s true intention to create a hit piece rather than an objective documentary, Cooper starts to back away from the project, but due to financial hardship is forced to take the job. The undercover filmmaker infiltrates a small group full of skepticism, curiosity, tragedy and a challenge to his own beliefs.

Writer/director Matt Chastain’s approach to the script was to avoid some of the cheesy tropes typically associated with faith-based films while maintaining a Biblically-sound story.

“I’m offering a no-cheese guarantee,” said Chastain. “I often hear Christian movies labeled as ‘sermon films’—because viewers’ experience is similar to attending a worship service. In a small group, however, you crack jokes you wouldn’t tell in church. You laugh together, pray together and even cry together. That’s the experience I want viewers to have with Small Group the Movie.”

The film was produced by Christos Hines and Dale Wheatley in Athens. “Our goal was to preserve Matt’s vision of creating a film for groups of any kind to go out and enjoy in theaters across the country,” said producer Christos Hines.

“The idea for the movie came from my personal experience in a small group,” said Chastain, who also acts in the film. “I was drawn to the authenticity and candor of real friendships. A small group is such a rich environment for storytelling.”

Small Group The Movie is set to premiere in nearly 100 theaters. View the full list of theaters or request a screening at smallgroupmovie.com.