Brandon Lake, Phil Wickham's 'For the One' the Concert Film We Have Been Waiting For
There are concert experiences and then there are CONCERT experiences.
For decades, concert goers have been captivated by the thrill of live music due to its transcending musicianship, dazzling lighting, and thunderous backbeat.
From the recent Taylor Swift Eras Tour to U2’s Rattle and Hum to Woodstock from long ago, filmmakers have consistently sought to remake those magical moments on film to be enjoyed over and over again. Unfortunately, not many have been able to recreate what the fortunate few were able to experience in person.
For first time director Noah Taher, the thought of recreating a music spectacle for the masses is a challenge but not one he is afraid of. He is fortunate to have been blessed with working with well-known worship artists Brandon Lake and Phil Wickham on their first concert movie, For the One. Coming to theaters nationwide, October 27 through October 29th, the movie follows Lake and Wickham on an intimate, unforgettable journey into the heart of worship and tour life.
I recently sat down with the engaging Taher to discuss what sets Lake and Wickham apart from other worship artists, why their Summer Worship Nights tour was so impactful, and how he sought to bring the unashamed, simple Gospel to the big screen.
If you were trying to convince a friend to take the time to get out to the theater to watch For the One what would you say to encourage them? What would your sales pitch be?
I have been traveling with Phil Wickham and Brandon Lake for close to four years, transitioning from a tour photographer to a music video director, to a featured documentary director. And through all these years, I have always grown in my faith and in my own inspiration as a man who follows Jesus. I have learned so much by watching the leadership that's exuded by these two guys. Their music is phenomenal and it speaks for itself. Their songwriting is super amazing and you'll hear all of the amazing songs in the film. You'll also be able to witness some really cool behind the scenes looks at how they lead their teams, their lives, and their families with their wives. It's really a beautiful thing and has impacted me deeply. I stepped into creating this documentary so that others walk away feeling kind of inspired and maybe even led into some new ideas on how they might want to lead or how they might want to carry out their own faith with the Lord. So, by watching this, it's really just me sharing the best that I can, what I've experienced in my own inspiration of their lives over the last four years.
For the sake of our conversation, there are lots and lots of well-known worship artists out there. What is so special about Brandon Lake and Phil Wickham? What sets them apart?
It's funny you ask me this. For whatever reason, through the trust of the guys I’ve had the opportunity to work with a lot of Christian artists. In fact, I have probably worked with a majority of the ones that are active in worship songwriting right now. I have gotten a chance to spend time with either their management teams or themselves personally, whether they're on the road or in a studio, for a music video, or a promotional piece.
But the real thing that I've dug out of Brandon and Phil is finding a sense of deep desire to be themselves. Brandon is this east coast rock and roll, country guy that loves the Lord and his life exudes faithfulness. He lives a story that's so filled with gratitude. Phil is beautifully solidified. There's this doctrine that lives within him that he exudes the Bible. His faith stems from a rich past with his parents being part of the Jesus Revolution in southern California. There's this sense of self where neither of them are very much alike. There is no we live in Nashville and we do the thing. But there's something about the personality that's so unashamedly East Coast in Brandon's life and West Coast in Phil's life, and who they are as humans that I love. And I think as a storyteller, it's the character of the two guys that gets me most excited. And I love that they are unique like that.
Over the summer, it seemed like every other day my Facebook feed was being filled up by a friend of mine who had been to the Summer Worship Nights tour. And each one was glowing, effusive, and raving about it and how much it meant to their faith to be in the presence of that concert. Why do you think the Summer Worship Nights tour was so impacting and successful?
There's just like a really raw view of Brandon and Phil in worship with their buddies, their bros, and the guys on stage. You can feel it and they own what they believe. There's a beautiful moment where the guys preach the Gospel unashamed. It's like a 15 minute segment every night. That's something to keep in mind when people are paying to come to an arena that we had to pay to be at. There's a lot happening. What do we do to honor people's time? But what is more honoring than preaching the message that really inspired why the guys write the songs they write? It’s their belief in Jesus. That's what I saw being the most obvious to people, that being the heart behind the guys, and how unashamed they are about sharing the message of Jesus and letting people know that, hey, you might rededicate your life or you might give your life to the Lord for the first time. It's a really beautiful thing to capture, to see, and to be a part of. So I think that's a huge part. It's just their honesty and rawness towards the real mission of why they write the songs that they do.
As a director of a live music event, what types of moments and things are you looking for to bring that concert experience come alive to the movie viewer?
They sing so well and they're actually so insanely talented. That's a huge gift from the Lord and the excellence that they've worked at for years. But I was so happy with the room of people, the comradery of the band, the transitions, the way there was just a joy of presence in the room. We wanted to capture the room from all different angles and get closeups of people and worship and be alive in the space so that when you go to the theaters, you're kind of witnessing a really interesting, every seat in the room type view. You get some front row, you get some nosebleed seats, you get everything in between, and I love that. And so, from the camera way up in the top that we set up so you can see every single seat in the room on an extreme wide angle that looks beautiful in the theaters, down to the closeups of Phil and Brandon at the edge of tears singing a chorus. What a beautiful image of that mixed in with all the crowd, all the people that enjoyed themselves that night.
Do you have a favorite moment that you feel captures the essence of who Brandon and Phil truly are? What creates the special bond that they seem to share?
In a lot of ways they have a lot of differences. Maybe more differences than similarities. But what a never ending enjoyment of getting to know someone and having fun together under the same belief that they both prioritize touring for the one person in the room that might need that night just to get away and just worship. They might need that night because they don't know Jesus. And then touring for the one who's the breath behind the songs that are written for Jesus, and touring for the Lord as an offering. Worshiping Him.
In the film, there's kind of this revisited room of the guys in a prayer. And without spoiling too much, I think what you see is an interaction of leadership where Phil leads the guys in communion and Brandon leads the guys in a prayer. And you see this passion in both of their lives and both of their eyes in what they say. Brandon reminds the band and the people in the room in this prayer moment before they head out to the stage. He says, ‘This is why we do this.’ That's my favorite part of the film because it is the aha moment if you're watching it. There's the title and there's the purpose. That's the point of it. My hope would be that's what inspires people. I might just see it again with a friend who doesn't know the Lord. What a palatable moment and an experience for someone who might need that push to experience God for the first time.
After people have had a chance to see For the One, from your perspective, what would you like to see your audience get out of that viewing experience? What is your greatest hope for the film?
My greatest hope for this film is that worship leaders, creatives, filmmakers, musicians, and other leaders or influencers in the Christian space might just be inspired by the excellence on display. Not from the fact that the film's that good because there's a lot of reasons to point to this being my first film. But I do think that what is on display, whether it's a perfect representation or not, it's is a very beautiful operation of excellence. I hope that leaders and creatives around the world are inspired based on the way Brandon and Phil lead. I hope people see that. And I hope people might be inspired to lead from a similar place or something that impacts them to lead from a new place or a new perspective. I think that's the biggest thing to take away. Other than that, if you are coming to the film and maybe you don't have your life right with the Lord or it's a new thing for you and you're not a person of faith, I think the film can help free you. Whether or not the decision is made in a theater or later on in your life, there is a very positive outlook of what Christianity in the heart of Brandon and Phil looks like. I think that it speaks volumes of truth and just the unashamed, simple Gospel. And that's a message that's powerful for anyone.
For more information on where to see For the One, please visit:
WATCH A TRAILER FOR BRANDON LAKE AND PHIL WICKHAM'S FOR THE ONE:
