Not Currently Funding | Offering: Reg CF
Testament
*People includes all persons who have submitted subscription materials. Amount raised is an estimate that includes subscriptions, however not all such amounts have been accepted or closed, and some subscriptions may not be accepted.
Overview
THE PLOT: Testament is a modern-day retelling of the Book of Acts. It follows a small group of believers, filled with the Holy Spirit, as they journey through danger and persecution to make the truth known: that He is risen.
THE PURPOSE: This multi-season series will connect people to the stories in the Bible in a way that will excite audiences and teach time-tested truths through a modern-day lens. With this project, we hope to get people eager to dive deeper into the Bible and find the real-life tension within the text depicted in the series.
THE MOVIE: Testament began its journey originally as a feature-length film. This movie, Testament: The Parables Retold, received a lot of interest from many distributors. Eventually, Testament partnered with Angel Studios for its distribution and for the opportunity to expand Testament into a multi-season series.
GLOBAL APPEAL: Many popular films and TV shows are simply modernized classic stories such as BBC's "Sherlock" and Baz Luhrmann's "Romeo & Juliet". Testament fits into a similar category yet combines it with how the greatest story ever told turned the world upside down, embracing the epic nature of the Biblical text and translating it into a truly cinematic experience.
THE EARLY CHURCH TODAY: We believe the Testament series will connect modern audiences with the power and impact the Early Church had on the world in their time, empowered by the Holy Spirit and the testament they carried.
What is Testament?
Testament is to be a multi-season show retelling the Book of Acts account but set in a world that looks very much like our own today.
Starting in Acts 2 on the Day of Pentecost, Testament will follow the journeys of Peter, Stephen, Mary Magdalene, John, Gamaliel, Saul of Tarsus and many more.
The Early Church movement was accused of turning the world upside down, both politically and socially; giving voice to the ignored and hope to the oppressed. Many of these issues are being wrestled with today and we believe the Church still has a role to play; this series will remind viewers of the ground-shaking movement Christians are called to be a part of.
Bible stories are full of excitement, danger, and hope, but sometimes people can find the text hard to engage with or historical adaptations difficult to relate to. By setting Testament in the modern day, we hope to connect audiences to the Bible in a way that’s fresh and highly applicable.
And that’s exactly what it’s doing already! How do we know? Because Testament didn't begin its journey as a series…
The Original Movie
Testament began as a feature film, now called Testament: The Parables Retold.
The film garnered a lot of interest from many distributors but we decided to partner with Angel Studios as our distributor for the global reach they have, and for the opportunity to develop Testament into the upcoming multi-season show.
The movie is out now and can be viewed in various places, including the Angel Studios app and site.
I'm delighted to commend Testament. In his parables, Jesus dressed old truths in new clothes in a way that compelled his hearers to listen and think. Testament, fresh and appealing, engaging and intriguing, does the same today.
What makes this all so compelling is the ingenious way in which everything takes place in a gritty modern-day setting. Suddenly it all comes alive in a new way – the things that Jesus said, the dynamism of the early Church and the extraordinary pressures around at the time. This is fresh, high-energy, full-on Christianity – an absolute ‘must’ to watch.
Testament being set in modern times reinforces the fact that the word of God is not an ancient book with old stories that have nothing to do with us. It is truly alive and active. And the Holy Spirit is just as powerful. Testament helps the people of today relate to stories written thousands of years ago and I truly believe that’s all God asks of us. To spread the gospel to all, and spreading the gospel comes with wisdom and empathy and the ability to see what the current times need and find a way to bring them to the word they think is outdated to show them just how relevant it is to us. Today.
Our Vision
*Success in other projects does not guarantee success in Testament
With Testament, we want people to be excited to open their bibles are read the accounts we are retelling. We also hope to raise awareness of real persecuted church communities around the world. While billions of people world-wide identify as Christians, religious freedom and religious persecution are still very prevalent issues. Through the disciples’ stories, we hope to highlight the extraordinary circumstances these courageous followers of Christ found themselves in.
This series presents themes of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, better known as the fruits of the spirit.
As these characters and stories come to life, we believe this project will showcase God’s light and empower others to do the same.
The Challenge
By setting the Book of Acts in an alternate modern day, we’re hoping Testament will appeal to many; but especially Millennial and Gen-Z Christians. These younger generations are hungry for compelling, impactful stories, and they are very open to exploring their faith in every direction possible. This show will meet this target audience exactly where they’re at: desiring a connection to the true stories of the Bible in a way that feels real and applicable.
This project will positively portray how the outworking of our spiritual faith can benefit others in the world today. The Good News of Jesus changed the world over 2,000 years ago and continues to do the same today. Testament will remind audiences that the Church still has a role to play in the world and a commission to fulfill.
Testament will journey with Christians at all stages of their walk; those who are struggling, thriving, or even just beginning. Therefore, we anticipate that many Christian young adults, parents, friends, and colleagues will enjoy this portrayal of Bible stories, no matter their age.
Paul Syrstad
Director and Creator
Founder of Roarlight, a UK faith-based production company, Paul directed and helmed The Parables Retold series of short films for which he was nominated on several occasions for Best Director at the International Christian Film Festival, as well as writing and directing the Testament feature film. Paul originally trained to be an actor at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama before he felt the call from God to step out from in front of the camera to behind it.
Faith Syrstad
Writer
As well as an accomplished award-winning actor on stage and screen, Faith has written award-nominated theatre plays and TV pilots as well as writing the adaptation of “The Rich Fool” in The Parables Retold series. She is also currently working with Executive Producers from the BBC on her original TV series.
Kenneth Omole
Actor and Writer
Kenneth worked as much behind the cameras of Testament as he did in front of them as his portrayal of John Mark. Other than being an award-nominated actor, Kenneth is also a skilled writer of spoken word poetry which has been featured on UK National Television and written multiple screenplays.
Andy Toovey
Director of Photography
Having worked as a DoP for over ten years in the industry, Andy has honed his craft to a beautifully cinematic style of working and has worked on countless award-winning projects. In 2016 Andy worked with the Bible Society to produce his short film after winning “The Pitch” competition.
Ed Watkins
Composer
A skilled music programmer, Ed is also an accomplished composer having done the music, orchestration, and arrangements for many high-end feature films, documentaries and video games.
Previous Works
The production company, roarlight, was founded by Paul Syrstad in 2017 with the purpose of producing films and TV shows that would "roar the light of Christ" on and off the screen.
This small company began work on retelling some of Jesus' most famous parables in modern-day settings and called the series of short films "The Parables Retold". These short films have not only gone on to win awards in various international film festivals but also were woven together into a larger storyline to create the feature film Testament: The Parables Retold.
Angel Studios Model
Angel Studios is the distributor of the phenomenal series The Chosen. In 2021 alone, The Chosen earned more than $100 million in revenue*, which is extraordinary for a faith series, and even more incredible when one considers the ground-breaking Pay-it-Forward model pioneered by Angel Studios.
Right now, you can back the Testament project by investing. If we raise the full $5 million, we plan to use the funds to make the first 8 episode season. This isn't a regular crowdfund where you give money and get a t-shirt. Instead, you would be investing. So, if the show makes enough money, you could earn a return.** Own a part of the Testament series by investing now.
*Success of The Chosen is determined on views and revenue, not on profit. There is no guarantee of any return. The success of other projects does not guarantee the success of this project.
**There is no guarantee of any return. The success of other projects does not guarantee the success of this project. Revenue generated by Angel Studios does not indicate profits earned by Testament Pictures, LLC or its investors.
How It Works
Invest
Invest in Testament now by purchasing Class A Preferred Units at $1.00 per unit.
Creation
We will use funds to produce Testament Season 1.
Returns
If we earn enough from distribution revenue, you would receive 120% of your investment before the founders take a profit distribution, and then we split profits by ownership.
FAQ
Testament began its journey as a movie (now called Testament: The Parables Retold) but is now being developed into a multi-season TV series retelling the Book of Acts narrative. The already completed movie is included in this offering.
It's early stages but we are currently planning five seasons of eight episodes each for Testament.
Testament will initially be made available on the Angel Studios platform. Our hope is that it will then be made available on other streaming platforms and TV stations. The original film, Testament: The Parables Retold which serves as the inspiration for the series is already available on the Angel Studios app as well as other TVOD sites.
Shows and films generate income from distribution, whether it’s from customers of streaming sites, theatrical ticket sales, DVD rentals and sales, fees from TV stations, and international distributors purchasing the rights. Testament is currently distributed globally through Angel Studios' streaming service. Down the road, it will potentially be distributed on television through multiple channels, other streaming platforms, and DVDs as well as generating revenue through other ancillary products.
Yes. Testament may be a reimagining of the narrative of the Book of Acts but it seeks to stay true and faithful to the spirit of the text. Every person involved in the core team creating this show is a believer in Christ and is committed to biblical truth found in the Old and New Testament. We also have a team of Bible-believing experts consulting on the project.
Angel Studios is our distribution partner. They are the studio platform responsible for bringing you The Chosen, Dry Bar Comedy, The Tuttle Twins, and more.
We believe Testament will appeal to believers and non-believers alike. The tone and style of the show will likely particularly resonate with those in the Millenial and Gen-Z generations.
No. The Testament series will focus on the accounts in the Book of Acts and the Epistles starting from the Day of Pentecost. The retellings of the parables (The Parables Retold) were for use solely in the original feature film and will not feature in the series.
Testament will be tonally similar to the original feature film (excluding the parables short films), a mixture of Action/Adventure filled with Drama.
Testament Pictures LLC is selling up to 5,000,000 Preferred Units in this crowdfunding round for $1.00/Unit.
Yes. Testament Pictures LLC already has a revenue-generating product in the original movie Testament: The Parables Retold. As an investor of Testament, you will also be entitled to the profits generated from the movie. Please see the offering documents for more information about specific rights for this production.
No. Testament Pictures LLC is a legal entity that is a separate and distinct company from Angel Studios, Inc. Investments made are in Testament Pictures LLC, not Angel Studios, Inc.
No. Investment in early-stage companies/shows is extremely risky, and you should consult with your independent financial advisor before making a decision on whether you want to invest. In any case, you should never invest more than you could afford to lose!
Unlike securities purchased on a stock market, such as the NYSE or Nasdaq, there is no public market for units in Testament. Therefore, it is highly unlikely you will be able to SELL your investment. However, you may receive distributions of cash from Testament if Testament has earned enough profit both to create future episodes and make distributions of available funds as determined by the Manager of Testament in his sole discretion. NOTE: as a Preferred Unit holder, you are eligible to earn up to 120% of your initial capital contribution before the Common Unit holders receive a distribution of available funds.
Investments will be on a first come, first serve basis. We cannot guarantee that there will be opportunities to purchase additional units in the future.
In the event that happens, all the money invested will be returned to the investors.
Every country has its own securities laws. We are offering this Regulation CF round under the laws of the US and so we know what we need to do to allow US citizens to invest and be compliant with those laws. We don't have the resources to be able to identify and comply with the securities laws in other jurisdictions, so we limit investments to US citizens.
There is no subscription plan to buy securities and all purchases of our securities are a one time payment. Subscribers are simply other investors that have purchased the securities. A "subscription agreement" is a legal term for the contract between an investor (you) and the issuer (us), it details the offering of securities and explains your rights and responsibilities when deciding to purchase our securities.
Because you’re making an investment and not a donation. The escrow agent is subject to banking regulations when they hold your money, and ownership is tracked by social security number.
Our ability to offer our Shares to the public is possible due to legislation known as the Jobs Act. This law limits the amount that investors can purchase based on your annual revenue and net worth. There is no limit, however, if you are an accredited investor. If you have additional questions regarding this limit, feel free to ask in our Q&A tool at the bottom of the main page of this offering.
Yes, you can now invest from one of these entities. Just select that option when moving through the checkout process.
Yes, but only for those investors investing larger amounts (due to the higher processing fee) of over $50,000.
Yes, we are happy to accept ACH transactions.
As part of Regulation CF, we are required to file annual reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We also intend to send regular investor updates via email to let you know all the latest news of the company.
You may invest as many times as you would like until you reach your investment limit under the crowdfunding regulations. (However, please know that if you invest multiple times in the same crowdfunding offering, your multiple investments may not help the "number of investors" ticker move.)
Perks
Invest $250 or more
Pre-Screening Pass to watch Online Season 1 Episodes Early
Get exclusive access to watch Season 1 Episodes before general release.
Invest $500 or more
Your name in the credits as an investor + Digital BTS Photo Album
Your name is listed in the credits of Season 1 as an investor and exclusive digital access to a behind-the-scenes photo album at the conclusion of production (plus all previous perks).
Invest $1,000 or more
Invited to be an extra on set (shooting in London)
You can be on screen in the background of Season 1 as an extra in the series! We'll update you with filming times, locations, and availability as soon as details are finalized. Remember, you have the full responsibility of travel and lodging to get to the film location (plus all previous perks).
Invest $2,500 or more
VIP Virtual Meet & Greet
Hop on a 20-minute video call with Creator/Director, Paul Syrstad. Ask him anything and get a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process (plus all previous perks).
Invest $5,000 or more
1-Day VIP Set Pass for Two
Spend a day seeing it all happen on a real set as Testament is filmed right in front of you. We'll give times and locations for the possible dates when the details become available. Remember, you have the full responsibility of travel and lodging to get to the film location (plus all previous perks).
Invest $10,000 or more
Invitation as a VIP Guest to the London Red Carpet Premiere of the first two episodes of Season 1
Receive an invitation to the World Premiere of the first two episodes of Testament, back to back, in London, UK. Remember, you have the full responsibility of travel and lodging to get to the event (plus all previous perks).
Invest $25,000 or more
Investor's Lunch in London with Director/Creator Paul Syrstad
Come along to the exclusive Investor’s lunch with the Creator/Director, Paul Syrstad, for some good food and proper English tea. We'll give times and locations for the possible dates when the details are available. Remember, you have the full responsibility of travel and lodging to get to the film location (plus all previous perks).
Invest $50,000 or more
The Director’s Gift Box
Receive a Season 1 Poster signed by Paul and the team, a Coffee Table Style BTS Photo Album, a signed Episode 1 Script, and early access to the Director’s Cut of the Season One Trailer (plus all previous perks).
Invest $100,000 or more
Become an Associate Producer of Season One
Receive an associate producer credit that will be included in listings on IMDB (plus all previous perks).
Invest $250,000 or more
Become a Co-Executive Producer of Season One
Receive an executive producer credit that will be included in listings on IMDB (plus all previous perks, except the associate producer credit).
*People includes all persons who have submitted subscription materials. Amount raised is an estimate that includes subscriptions, however not all such amounts have been accepted or closed, and some subscriptions may not be accepted.