On this episode of the Hard Faith Podcast, Spencer Folmar sits down with filmmaker Chris Mac, the award-winning director behind the short film Sons of Thunder—a proof-of-concept for an upcoming feature. Chris opens up about the film’s heart, the deep Biblical inspiration behind its title, and how he aims to make faith-driven cinema that’s as artistically excellent as it is spiritually honest.
Chris shares the emotional moment he first connected with the mission of Hard Faith Fest and how it felt watching his story resonate with a live audience. He unpacks the tension at the center of Sons of Thunder—two brothers on a violent road of vengeance after their middle brother’s murder, torn between wrath and grace—and why the “Sons of Thunder” passage in Scripture shaped the story’s moral spine.
The conversation dives into the craft and calling of Christian filmmaking: how to pursue beauty and truth rather than preachiness, why excellence honors God, and how filmmakers can capture the grit of real life without losing faith. Spencer and Chris also explore the realities of making independent films outside Hollywood—funding hurdles, scoring challenges, music-licensing nightmares, and the rise and fall of Michigan’s film incentives.
It’s an honest, inspiring talk about filmmaking, faith, and the next generation of storytellers who refuse to separate artistic integrity from spiritual conviction.
