BreatheCast caught up writer and producer, Michael Allen, of the upcoming film Believe Me for an exclusive interview about his controversial film slated to hit theaters September 26^th. The young movie-maker discussed working with Lecrae, how they hope the church and the world receive their film, and the power of a platform.

Believe Me is filled with comedy, satire, and heist. This film is Allen and his partner's at Riot Studios' debut feature film and they are looking to target millennial. With audiences from the age 18 to 24 years of age in mind, Allen said they would like to reach both "Christian and non Christian groups."

Allen and his partners at Riot studios are known for their bold documentaries One Nation Under God and Beware of Christians. The young men are not relenting on the shock factor for their first feature film. Believe me is about four college friends who prey on church people and they use it for their own gain by starting a fake charity.

Allen said, "A lot of the humor comes from church culture. We've seen though that even if you're not very wrapped up in church culture you can really relate to a lot of the jokes, just from having gone to one church service."

The film producer admitted that a lot of the actors with the exception of one in particular do not "name themselves as belonging to any particular faith." The "one actor" perhaps, is Christian hip-hop star Lecrae, who makes his acting debut in the film.

The movie also features well-known rising actors Alex Russell-who shot to fame in "CHRONICLE" and (Happy Endings), Johanna Braddy (EASY A), Miles Fisher (FINAL DESTINATION 5), Sinqua Walls (Teen Wolf) and Max Adler (Glee), with Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) and Christopher McDonald (Boardwalk Empire).

"The whole culture on set with the cast and crew was one of openness, critical thinking, and asking questions, but in a positive way," Allen said. When asked about how it was working with Lecrae, he said it was great to partner with a guy that had a voice kind of similar theirs. "He's engaging secular culture and Christian culture because he's just making good music that's honest to him," Allen said, "and I think that's what he saw in our story that made him want to be apart of it."

He went on to say, "No matter where they are in there religious views people that relate to the mind set of asking questions about what our purpose is and who God is, I think are going to relate to the story we're telling."

"The movie is about the power of platforms," Allen stated.

When asked about what prompted the idea for the film Allen candidly responded, "We got even just a little taste of that because as we were touring the documentary 'Beware of Christians' we had the opportunity to speak to a lot of people and get up on stages."

"We did our best to never take advantage of that or be dishonest with that," he confessed, "but the thought did come to mind if you didn't have the world view that we have and you saw an opportunity like this, what would you do?"

"When you have a stage and a microphone there's sometimes large masses of people that will buy into what ever you say," Allen declared.

"It's a serious issue but we prefer to do it with comedy so that it's easy to interact with but honestly makes you think when you walk away," he continued.

The film is definitely not your typical faith based film and certainly speaks with bold 'in your face' language that their target audience can understand. Allen acknowledges that was intentional, "We didn't want to make it too vulgar where people were put off by the content" he said, but added, "we couldn't make it a G or PG rated movie and have honesty with these characters that we're trying to portray."

"We had to make them believable as college frat guys that would have the moral integrity to go out and steal from people," the young movie writer affirmed.

"We just wanna tell God stories that are compelling to us. We don't try and wear the Christian label in our movies," he said, "If people are offended by it we get it. I would hope that we believers wouldn't judge each other's intentions."

Instead Allen said, "But pray that while it is getting out there, the people that are relating to it will see what's behind it."

Allen ended his interview by saying, "It's important to us that people know that our heart behind the film is as believers trying to tell a good story, but that we're also focused on letting believers and unbelievers come together in sort of a common ground in this story."

Believe Me will have a nation wide theatrical release as well as premiere on demand starting September 26th.

To learn more about the movie visit their website here. Watch the trailer below: