The Untold Gospel of the Hallelujahs Versus the Holy Rollers

Logline: Two Church Pastors, who are longtime rivals since kids, upset God so much He combines their churches.

Synopsis:

Two rival pastors, Junior and Anthony, have inherited both their pulpits and their problems from generations past. Their great-grandfathers, Cornelius and Orienthal, co-founded Sussex Street Baptist Church in 1904—but jealousy, betrayal, and ego led to a bitter split. Now, over a century later, Cornelius and Orienthal are still fighting in heaven, and God has had enough. In an act of divine intervention, God demolishes their divided churches and replaces them with a gym—a sacred, neutral ground for healing, transformation, and holy reconciliation.

BIO:

Yucef Mayes is a Screenwriter/Producer/Director. Yucef received a 2022 Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for Film. Yucef wrote, produced, directed 3 Short Films. His award winning film ZAHRA AND THE OIL MAN premiered on African-American Shorts Program on CBS, OnDemand on Comcast Xfinity Black Experience, and Roots Picnic in 2022. Yucef is currently a Community Outreach Coordinator at Express Newark, a 3rd Space designed by Rutgers-Newark, where he is producing numerous community films with local artists.

Project Description:

Title: The Untold Gospel of the Hallelujahs Versus the Holy Rollers at the Sussex Street Baptist Sweet Sweet Swinging Revival

Project Overview:

Shine Black Art & Film presents a staged reading of an original satirical church screenplay that blends slapstick, screwball comedy with deep cultural roots. The Untold Gospel of the Hallelujahs Versus the Holy Rollers is a smart, family-friendly production—no sexual innuendos, no scandals—just clever, heartfelt storytelling inspired by classics like Car Wash, Black Planet, and First Sunday. At its core, it’s a joyful satire exploring the humor and contradictions of Black church culture.

DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT:

The Untold Gospel..... is a Community Engagement Experience as well as a film and play. As part of my practice as a filmmaker, I aim to make socially engaged art that blends community engagement with art-making for non-artists. My team use filmmaking as a vehicle to promote healthier lifestyles, inspiration, and reimagining. I pray that this Art-Making Experience will galvanize Church's to be outside of their building institutions and activate hard to reach spaces that are in desperate need for motivation and fulfillment.