David Evans, OD, ’94 has a new venture under his belt. The owner and President of Total Eye Care, PA in Memphis, TN is also a stage producer, film director and owner of his production company, Graceworks Pictures, LLC. His second feature film, Indivisible, will open nationwide October 26.
The faith-based film is based on a captivating true story about Army Chaplain Darren Turner and his wife Heather and how they prepare to follow their calling: serving God, family, and country.
“I was very intrigued by the role that chaplains play in the military. Chaplains are like the pastors to the troops,” said Dr. Evans. “Indivisible highlights and increase the awareness of challenges faced in marriages in the times of deployment and the role that chaplains play in the military.”
Indivisible took 6 years to be developed. It was filmed in Memphis during the entire month of May 2017 in Memphis followed by two weeks of filming in Santa Clarita, CA. It also stars Sarah Drew (Grey’s Anatomy), Justin Bruening (Grey’s Anatomy), Jason George (Station 19, Grey’s Anatomy), Tia Mowry (Sister, Sister, The Game) and Madeline Carroll (I Can Only Imagine).
The film received assistance from the Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission in providing local resources and assisting the production team with crew and locations. Dr. Evans also worked with the TN Entertainment Commission to obtain approval for the production incentive offered by the state.
More than 250 volunteers from the Memphis area worked on the project alongside many professional crew members from Shelby County and throughout the state. Indivisible has also already received numerous endorsements from distinguished members of the faith-based community.
Dr. Evans grew up making home movies and short films with his brother. He always loved watching movies and thought that the idea of making movies was incredible. After graduating from SCO in 1994, Dr. Evans wrote, produced, and directed an annual, original Passion Play at Calvary Church with a cast and crew topping 250.
After seeing the movie Fireproof seven years ago, Dr. Evans was inspired to produce and directed the feature film The Grace Card starring Academy Award winner Louis Gossett Jr. Shot entirely in Memphis, the film opened in theaters February 2011and has been distributed in over 400 theaters throughout the country.
“Fireproof let me know that a church can make a box office film,” said Dr. Evans.
It’s evident that optometry and filmmaking are Dr. Evans’ biggest passions.
“As being an optometrist for over 20 years, I love taking care of patients and impacting the lives of people that will have a great impact on families,” said Dr. Evans.
At Total Eye Care, Dr. Evans has a dependable staff and doctors that work alongside him and that are focused on providing the best eye care and understand his passion for filmmaking. “Our three ODs and three MDs are able to sustain our clinic and research trials and practice while I’m away,” said Dr. Evans. “Our patients are our # 1 fans when comes to the films and we promote the film in the office.”
“I’m ready to focus on eyecare now, and I’m praying about the next steps and waiting to see what God wants us to do next,” said Dr. Evans.
Indivisible will open nationwide on October 26th and there will also be a screening Thursday, October 25 at 6:45 PM at Malco Paradiso, located at 584 S Mendenhall Rd, Memphis, TN 38117. The screening is open to the SCO community for people at SCO and admission is $11.50. Please call 901.761.4620 to purchase your tickets.
For more information about Indivisible, visit www.indivisiblemovie.com.