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This Is Why I Believe

This Is Why I Believe explores the intersection of faith, doubt, and the human experience in contemporary America. Through personal interviews and expert analysis, it provides a unique view of one of the most significant human characteristics, presented without b-roll or glamour. These are real people telling real stories about why they believe in God.

  • Erik SOULLIARD
    Director
    The Creek, 12 Bells, Diakonia, Interrogation
  • Erik SOULLIARD
    Writer
  • Erik SOULLIARD
    Producer
  • James Hollenbaugh
    Cinematographer
  • Chris Connell
    Camera Operator
  • Danny Connell
    Production Assistant
  • Asher Soulliard
    Production Assistant
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 29 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    March 20, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED, Canon
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.4:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Erik SOULLIARD

Erik Soulliard is a writer/director who has worked on everything from feature films to shorts, music videos, and marketing pieces. His feature film "The Creek" won Best Horror Feature at the Illinois International Film Festival in 2007 and went on to domestic DVD distribution despite being a small, low-budget production.

He helmed music videos such as the “Love in a Bottle” video for the band Shift Seven, which went on to play on FUSE. He worked closely with bands on concept videos that take big ideas and make them a reality despite budgetary constraints, such as Meeka's “Death of Me.”

Erik developed multiple video-focused apps for the iPhone, ranging from the children’s app "Skiddlywags" to the more adult-minded "The Man's Zen." Both of these apps are unique in that they rely on “in-app” video, unlike most apps which merely redirect the user outside of the app.

Working closely with clients, Erik also wrote and directed compelling marketing projects, fast-paced commercials and a promo video for metal artist Matt Kreider's Project X - Black Sunshine.

Internet campaigns and viral videos are timely, and Erik has produced multiple campaigns which combined currently boast over 2.75 million views. One specific marketing video he did for "The Creek" titled "Real Ghost Video in Cemetery" has garnered almost 225K views alone.

Although Erik is constantly working and looking for interesting projects, his main focus remains feature film. He has written over 8 feature scripts and multiple shorts, and has many concepts for film and TV ready for development.

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Director Statement

This project began with a simple phrase. While sitting with my wife in church, the pastor asked, 'Why do you believe in Jesus?' Though it wasn't the focus of his sermon, this seemingly random line sparked a thought: Why do people believe in God?

Intrigued, I looked into it and discovered that fewer people believe in God than I had assumed. A 2023 Gallup poll indicates that only 47% of Americans believe in God with absolute certainty. It was startling to learn that less than half of Americans hold a strong faith in God.

I began conducting interviews and sharing them on social media. I quickly learned from these conversations that people believe in God for a wide variety of deeply personal reasons. I also found that there's a genuine curiosity about why others believe. The interviews themselves are powerful personal experiences that resonate with people.

However, in an age dominated by platforms like TikTok, I was repeatedly told that a documentary without b-roll or other visual distractions wouldn't capture an audience. I couldn't accept that these stories, so powerful and relatable, needed to be diluted to be watched.

I acknowledge that this film is a gamble because it's unconventional. I've known this from the start, but I believe anything worthwhile is worth taking a chance on. This is a small project, but it features real people sharing real stories about how their lives have been transformed by their belief.