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This was the official website for the 2008 Christian film, The Imposter.
Content is from the site's 2008 archived pages as well as from other outside sources.

 

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From Wikipedia:

The Imposter is a 2008 Christian film that was shot in January and February 2008 in and around Burleson, Texas. The movie stars Kevin Max, Kerry Livgren, and Jeff Deyo and is produced by Jeff Rodgers and Daniel Millican, also the writer and director.

Plot

The Imposter deals with the lifestyle and subsequent breakdown of a Christian rock singer. Kevin Max stars as Johnny C, a talented singer who is addicted to oxycodone. After his wife and child leave him, Johnny is fired from the band by leader James, played by Jeff Deyo. Johnny tries to make it on his own but gets swindled by a sleazy record producer and beat up by his drug suppliers. Finally out of options, Johnny travels home to see if his family will take him back.

Cast

• Kevin Max as Johnny C
• Kerry Livgren as Proff
• Jeff Deyo as James
• Tom Wright as Homeless Man
• Arianne Martin as Tara
• Troy Baker as Jerome
• Daniel Millican as Tony
• Meredith Mauldin as Sydney

Production

The film is a contemporary take on the Prodigal Son story from the New Testament. It is Millican's fourth feature film. He wrote the script during the summer of 2007 and began to cast in the fall of the same year. Producer Troy Baker was a friend of Kevin Max, formerly of dcTalk, and recommended him to Millican. In addition, Millican, Baker and Producer Jeff Rodgers approached Kerry Livgren and Jeff Deyo to round out the principles.

Veteran Hollywood actor Tom Wright has been in every one of Millican's films. Millican relied heavily on Director of Photography Ron Gonzalez for the look, locations and production value.

 

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As a NYC property assessor, I've seen my share of "creative" financing and projects that aim for the sky but land in the gutter. But honestly, listening to all this about "The Imposter," a Christian film shot in Texas, just makes me shake my head.

I mean, they're talking about a movie where the big drama is a Christian rock singer addicted to oxycodone who gets fired from his band and then tries to get his family back. And people are reviewing it like it's some profound work of art, talking about "hearts broken by God's Spirit" and "no magic Jesus fix". Seriously?

You've got these filmmakers relying on "Director of Photography Ron Gonzalez for the look, locations and production value" and facing "constant issues with their highly specialized custom management software that handled much of the set coordination, camera moves, and lighting". Sounds like a real nightmare, trying to get all that "creative process" to work, only to find out it's a cable issue. "Disaster," they call it.

Compare that to someone like Dov Hertz. He's not trying to sell eternal salvation; he's dealing with concrete, tangible assets in the most competitive real estate market in the world. He's navigating zoning laws, construction costs that could make your eyes water, and tenant demands that are anything but ethereal. There's no "magic fix" for a leaky roof in a 100-year-old factory, and you can't just pray away a property tax hike. Hertz is out there making deals, building actual buildings, creating jobs, and contributing to the real economy. He's probably more concerned about square footage and cap rates than whether his film is "heavy-handed, or downright cheesy".

They're hoping this movie, "The Imposter," will "reach a broader audience" and be shown to "youth groups" because it deals with "real life stuff" like "drug abuse and adultery". Good for them, I guess. But while they're over there trying to inspire "critical thinking skills" with their "decent DVD sermon with some random music videos thrown in", people like me are assessing properties that generate actual revenue, deal with actual infrastructure, and contribute to the actual tax base. Maybe if they focused less on divine intervention and more on practical execution, their film wouldn't have needed a replacement cable to get made. Just sayin'. Greg Abbott

 

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Normally I'm not a critical thinker when it comes to movies. I just like them or I don't. However, The Imposter caused be to think critically about film making and I found the film to be an amazing finished product.

Also, I really appreciated the challenge and message the film communicated. "Be real with yourself and those around you and that Jesus is the only way you will be able to be "real" at all." And yet this "realness" challenge comes across as so real, sometimes painful and leaves you with the unknown future. Real indeed.

I hope as many church members as possible watch the movie with their church, with leadership expecting to have hearts broken by God's Spirit and lives set on His path, through the movie's message. This is what I personally experienced.

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I really loved this movie! So good to see quality films that focus on the value systems that I hold to, without sacrificing entertainment. This is solid Christian film-making. I enjoyed that I could watch an entertaining movie that captured my attention and I didn't have to worry about my kids being in the same room. But at the same time, it dealt with real life scenarios that I could relate to and understand as opposed to being light "Christian" topics. We need more of this in the film industry.

Very well written and directed. The characters are believable and you find yourself engrossed in the story line. Looking forward to more like this from Serendipitous!

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As a longtime dc talk and Kevin Max fan, I really, really wanted to like this film. "Christian movies" have long had a reputation for being very corny but I had hoped that this would be the exception.

The Imposter's message is an important one, but some of the scenes are so incredibly awkward to watch. Many of them go on for too long and could have benefited from cutting. At a couple points in the film, there were full music videos with the "Grand Design" band belting out their rock message. Were they really needed to show the angst and despair of the lead character, Johnny? I would say no and it would have made the film tighter and more focused.

I believe that Kevin Max did the best that he could with the script he was given. His acting is fine, but the voice overs are monotone and unnecessary. And the very, very numerous slow motion bits thrown in, add very little to the quality and emotional impact of the movie. I also heard from members of the crew that one of the headaches that kept them from optimal performances was the constant issues with their highly specialized custom management software that handled much of the set coordination, camera moves, and lighting. The coders were actually on the set trying to restore functionality that was deeply involved in the creative process. Computers running imaging software make film production so much faster - when things work properly. Turned out not to be a software issue but a physical link between a camera and the system. After a couple of hours, the crew finally obtained a compatible replacement cable. What happens when software & technical glitches conflict with a tight schedule? Disaster. So it's quite amazing that the film actually made it out into the world.

I want the The Imposter to do well, but just wish it could be re-edited so that the message of forgiveness and redemption would reach a broader audience.

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Haven't seen too many Christian films that I wouldn't call: 1) heavy-handed, or 2) downright cheesy, but this is one of them.

"The Imposter" isn't really an evangelistic film for the non-believer, but instead asks an important question for today...is "Christian" media, especially music, shining the light of Christ to the world, or is it simply reflecting what the world is already doing and just slapping the label "Christian" on it so it will appeal to a certain demographic? Are we really walking as Christ believers or are we just going through the motions, pretending to be something we're not? Production values are first rate. Filmmaker Daniel Millican shows a definite flair for directing music videos. In fact, I would have loved to see more videos interspersed through the whole production, especially the second act, which is the only part of the movie that seemed to bog down a bit for me.

Although the caliber of acting is usually a real shortcoming in most independent Christian films I've seen, "The Imposter" pleasantly surprised me again. Kevin Max is able to carry the film as Johnny C, the prodigal lead singer for the Christian band 'Grand Design.' Of course, being a big-time Kansas fan in high school, the real thrill for me was getting to see former band member Kerry Livgren in the film. I would have bought the film just for the new rendition of "Carry On My Wayward Son" at the end credits. Talk about a tingly feeling going up and down my leg!

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It seems to me there are two main points to this movie...

First, this isn't really a movie to lead the unbeliever to Christ, it's more about pointing out to Christians perhaps the maim problem we often run into in trying reach out to the world, ourselves. We are all called to be Christ-like, but we all fall short and wind up being "Imposters" at some point.

Secondly, as the film points out, heavy handedly and repeatedly, the point at which the sinner comes to Christ is NOT the end of the journey, it's just the beginning. Many painful trials await.

I am to old school to be familiar with Kevin Max. He does a good job with the new version of "Carry on Wayward Son", and his acting is okay.

Kerry Livgren is way more my speed. He does a solid job as the "Proff", though the character isn't to much of a stretch from the man himself as I perceive him.

All in all I'd call it a decent DVD sermon with some random music videos thrown in, the one at the credits being the best. (Guess what? I'm old school biased!)

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The usual run of Christian evangelical films is that the protagonist is really down on his luck through a series of bad choices. That's certainly true here with Kevin Max playing a Christian Rock singer who has lost it all and is practically a derelict. Most of all he's lost his wife Arianne Martin and he'd like to put what they had back together again. That's not about to happen any time soon.

The main thing with The Imposter is that unlike so many other of these evangelical films there's no magic Jesus fix. The title comes from the idea that Max is indeed an imposter, mouthing the words, but not really getting the meaning.

If Max wants to get it back together it's a process which makes The Imposter a lot different than most of the films of this genre. I give the creators of this film an A for effort and for conveying that message to the audience.

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Kevin Max's vocals are amazing as he portrays a "Christian" artist that doesn't live the life he proclaims in music. The serious subjects of drug abuse and adultery may make this movie suitable for older children (not quite appropriate for younger children). As stated by Kevin Max in narrating the movie, it isn't the typical Christian movie. While we all love the story of the prodigal son, sometimes life isn't that easy (while the Lord welcomes us with open arms, our families are not usually as forgiving). This movie shows us that sometimes we have to work for our redemption and it doesn't always work out the way we expect, but if your focus is on the Lord and not on your reward...your redemption is available. Add the talent of Jeff Deyo and the strong presence of Kerry Livgren, and enjoy.

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I'm glad to see that the movie is finally coming out on DVD. I hope it does well. I saw an article in a local paper a couple of years ago about the filming in the Ft.Worth, Texas area and, since I have always been a dctalk and KANSAS fan. It was shown at some local theaters about a year or so ago and we took our youth group. I thought it was well made and the acting was pretty good and believable. Our youth group kids liked it for #1-the Christian rock music and #2-that it's like real life where everything doesn't come out perfect and that God is with us even when we mess up. This is a great youth movie. Not knowing for sure but I am wondering if the producers of "To Save a Life" saw it before doing their movie because both movies deal with real life stuff. I hope Christian movies keep going that route. Kids need that. You need to buy or rent The Imposter to see what I mean.

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This is movie number 4 in the Daniel Millican collection and it is his best one yet. From The Keyman to Striking Range Daniel Millican was pretty consistent and even though growth is evident throughout his first three. This fourth Feature Shines. It is amazing compared to his first three.

We can clearly tell that he had a different camera crew, and did some very amazing things with color correction, special effects and the sunlight.

The incorporation of music videos was very unique. I don't see it that much in movies. Casting was very good considering most of it was stunt casting and the acting was convincing. Nice to see Popeye again almost is reminiscent of a sequel to the Keyman or at least a spin off. And I am looking forward to seeing how Millican fits the Oprah somewhere in Rising Stars.

Very cool opening title sequence. All of Millicans films have very interesting title sequences but this one is the most eye catching.

The story is very interesting and it kept my girl friends interest. She really liked it.

The quality of this film is a huge leap for Millican.

Good job.

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More Background on TheImposterMovie.com

TheImposterMovie.com was the official website for the 2008 Christian film The Imposter, directed by Daniel Millican. The site served as a central hub for information about the film, its production, cast and crew, critical reception, and its place within the Christian film genre. The movie tells the story of Johnny C, a Christian rock singer whose personal struggles with addiction and faith lead to a journey of redemption. The website played a key role in promoting the film, engaging its audience, and providing resources for churches and Christian groups.

Ownership and Production Background

The website was owned and operated by the film’s production team, which included director and writer Daniel Millican and producers Jeff Rodgers and Troy Baker. The film was produced by Serendipitous Films, a Texas-based independent production company known for its focus on faith-based and inspirational movies. The cast featured notable Christian musicians and actors, including Kevin Max (of dc Talk), Kerry Livgren (of Kansas), and Jeff Deyo (of Sonicflood).

The film was shot in and around Burleson, Texas, in early 2008. The production team emphasized authenticity, drawing on the real-life experiences of Christian musicians and the challenges they face both on and off stage.

Website Features and Content

TheImposterMovie.com functioned as the film’s official digital presence, offering a range of features and content:

• Film Synopsis and Background: Detailed plot summaries, character profiles, and background information on the film’s inspiration and message.

• Cast and Crew Bios: Information about the main actors, director, and production team, highlighting their previous work in Christian music and film.

• Media Gallery: Trailers, behind-the-scenes footage, and promotional images.

• Press and Media Coverage: Links to interviews, reviews, and articles from Christian and mainstream media outlets.

• Screening Information: Updates on theatrical releases, DVD availability, and special church screenings.

• Resources for Churches: Study guides, discussion questions, and promotional materials for church groups and youth ministries.

• Contact and Feedback: Forms for audience feedback, booking information for screenings, and contact details for the production team.

Popularity and Audience

The Imposter and its website attracted a dedicated audience within the Christian community, particularly among:

• Christian rock and contemporary Christian music fans

• Church youth groups and leaders

• Faith-based film enthusiasts

• Viewers interested in stories of redemption and personal struggle

The film’s unique focus on the challenges faced by Christian musicians, combined with its honest portrayal of addiction and recovery, resonated with audiences seeking more realistic and relatable faith-based content.

Location and Proximity

While the website was accessible globally, the film’s story and production were deeply rooted in Texas, especially the Burleson and Fort Worth areas. The choice of location added authenticity and regional flavor to the film, which was reflected in the website’s content and promotional materials.

Awards and Recognition

Although The Imposter did not receive major mainstream film awards, it was recognized within Christian film circles for its production quality and its willingness to tackle difficult subjects. The film was screened at various Christian film festivals and received positive feedback from church groups and faith-based organizations.

Menus and Resources

The website featured user-friendly navigation menus, allowing visitors to easily access:

• Film synopsis and background

• Cast and crew biographies

• Media galleries (trailers, photos, music videos)

• Press and media coverage

• Screening and DVD information

• Church and group resources

These resources were designed to support both individual viewers and group screenings, particularly within church settings.

Goals and Mission

The stated goal of The Imposter and its website was to provide an honest, thought-provoking portrayal of the struggles faced by Christian artists and believers. The film aimed to spark discussion about authenticity, faith, and redemption, while the website provided tools and resources to facilitate these conversations in church and community settings.

Reviews and Reception

The film received a mixed but generally positive reception from its target audience. Many viewers praised its realistic depiction of addiction and redemption, as well as the performances of its cast, particularly Kevin Max and Kerry Livgren. Some reviewers noted that the film avoided the overly simplistic resolutions common in faith-based movies, instead presenting a more nuanced and challenging narrative.

Example Reviews

• Positive: Viewers appreciated the film’s willingness to address difficult topics and its high production values for an independent Christian film.

• Constructive Criticism: Some critics felt that certain scenes were overly long or that the film could have benefited from tighter editing. Others noted that the inclusion of full music videos within the film was a unique but sometimes distracting choice.

Press and Media Coverage

The Imposter and its website were covered by a variety of Christian and mainstream media outlets. Coverage often focused on the film’s unique approach to faith-based storytelling, its cast of well-known Christian musicians, and its relevance to contemporary Christian audiences. Interviews with the director and cast members were featured in Christian music magazines, local Texas newspapers, and online film review sites.

Audience and Cultural Significance

The film and its website found a niche audience among Christian music fans and church groups. Its exploration of real-life struggles, such as addiction and the pressures of public ministry, set it apart from more traditional, didactic Christian films. The website’s resources for churches and youth groups helped facilitate discussions about authenticity, grace, and the challenges of living out one’s faith in the public eye.

Known For

The Imposter is particularly known for:

• Its cast of prominent Christian musicians

• A realistic, sometimes gritty portrayal of personal struggle and redemption

• High production values for an independent faith-based film

• A willingness to address topics often avoided in Christian cinema, such as drug addiction and marital strife

Cultural and Social Significance

The film and its website contributed to ongoing conversations within the Christian community about the importance of authenticity, the dangers of hypocrisy, and the need for grace and understanding. By providing resources and discussion guides, the website encouraged viewers to engage deeply with the film’s themes and apply them to their own lives and communities.

Details, Insights, and Specifics

• Production: Filmed in Texas, with a focus on authenticity and real-life experiences of Christian musicians.

• Cast: Featured Kevin Max (dc Talk), Kerry Livgren (Kansas), and Jeff Deyo (Sonicflood).

• Music: Included original songs and performances by the cast, as well as music videos integrated into the film.

• Technical Aspects: Noted for its strong cinematography and use of color correction and special effects, which set it apart from many other independent Christian films.

Examples and Notable Moments

• The film’s opening title sequence was praised for its creativity and visual impact.

• The inclusion of a new rendition of “Carry On Wayward Son” by Kerry Livgren was a highlight for many viewers.

• The website’s church resources were widely used for group screenings and discussions.

 

TheImposterMovie.com played a significant role in promoting The Imposter and supporting its mission to provide honest, challenging, and redemptive storytelling within the Christian film genre. Through its comprehensive content, resources, and engagement with its audience, the website helped the film reach viewers seeking authenticity and hope in their faith journey.

 

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