Radio Interview: Writer/director brings ‘Journey to Bethlehem’ to big screen in movie musical

Click play below to listen to Catholic Review Radio interview with Adam Anders. Full story follows.

Accomplished songwriter and music producer Adam Anders and his wife, Nikki, have been writing music together since their first date two decades ago. 

So when he was visiting his wife’s family in Iowa 17 years ago, trying to find a good Christmas movie to watch, Anders was dismayed when he could not find anything.

And he knows what he’s talking about, having been executive music producer of the TV musical comedy-drama “Glee” and involved in many other television and movie projects.

“Coming from the music side of things, I was like, there’s got to be a musical about the Nativity,” he said. Although it seemed obvious to him, he realized no one had done it.

“I’ve got this brilliant idea that nobody had thought of and I thought honestly, all these years I’ve been trying to make this, I kept thinking somebody’s going to do it before me.” But no one did, so during the COVID shutdown, he finally had time to work only on the project, which became the movie musical, “Journey to Bethlehem.” It opens Nov. 10 in theaters.

Originally, Anders planned to only write the music (which he co-wrote with his wife), but then decided to produce it, too. He figured that was enough, until he completed the work and realized he had to direct it to complete the vision. If that’s not enough, Anders also sings in the choir for some of the songs in the movie.

“I think the initial vision 17 years ago was tattooed on my heart. I couldn’t let it go,” he said in an interview with Catholic Review Radio.

“For some reason, this is one I have not been able to let go of all these years, and I think that was because it wasn’t time to do it yet. But, you know, God wanted to keep this idea fresh and ready to go when it was time,” he said.

Anders is quick to point out that “Journey to Bethlehem” is not a documentary. The opening credits say, “Inspired by a true story – the greatest story ever told.” There are two things to note in that, he said: first that it is inspired by the Nativity stories in Matthew and Luke, but the storytelling is an artist’s interpretation. The second “tells you the filmmaker believes this is true,” he said.

Anders said that having worked in TV and movies for 20 years, he knows that entertainment needs a love story, some lightness, and good actors and singers.

He “invented” two sisters for Mary, as well as an instance in which Mary (played by Fiona Palomo) and Joseph (Milo Mannheim) meet before their formal betrothal. The magi are more like the Three Stooges than wise men, Anders admits, providing comic relief when the story gets too serious. Part of that seriousness comes from King Herod (Antonio Banderas), the natural villain of the story.

Anders said it was perhaps bold to fill in the story outside what Scripture already offers. “What I try to do is live in the in-betweens, as I call it, in between the Scriptures,” he said. “It doesn’t say much. It doesn’t say why Joseph stayed. It doesn’t say how Mary felt, what she said.”

An Oscar-winning director friend told him that no one will remember “Journey to Bethlehem” because the timeline is accurate. “They’re going to remember it if it’s great. Make a great movie,” his friend told him.

“(In) all the great movies, we relate to the characters and that’s what makes you lean in and want to hear more,” Anders said.

“I would pray all the time that God would work through me and that he would guide me in what to fight for and what to let go of, even on set,” when studio executives visited the production and made suggestions. He said he was “hoping to kind of remove myself from it and let God work through me and through this.”

He acknowledged that Christians don’t often agree on everything, hence the many denominations. He realized if he tried to make “Journey to Bethlehem” in a way that satisfied everyone, it would not satisfy anyone. 

“But it’s definitely tricky because I know how sacred this text is and how much it means to so many people, including me. … So, I just did the best I could as a believer and as an artist.”

Anders said he did not necessarily look for believers for the cast and crew, though many are. “I started the first day and I told everyone I don’t know where your faith is, but I can tell you your director is a man of faith. And I’m praying for us and I’m praying for you and this movie every day.”

He cannot say whether the movie will become a holiday classic; only time will tell. “My hope and dream, of course, is that this becomes a part of people’s Christmas routine. You know, every year, ‘Let’s watch “Journey to Bethlehem” and be reminded of what Christmas is.’”

Email Christopher Gunty at editor@CatholicReview.org

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