Ashante PT Stokes "Praise The Maker" Film - Review


Two men take different approaches to their hardscrabble neighbourhood until life's vagaries intervene.

Director:

 Ashante P.T. Stokes

Writer:

 Ashante P.T. Stokes

Stars:

 JP Valenti, Ashante P.T. Stokes, Neil Carr 

JP ValentiJP Valenti...Young Distributor 1 / Voice on the Phone (voice)
Ashante P.T. StokesAshante P.T. Stokes...PTtheGospelSpitter (voice)
Neil CarrNeil Carr...Young Distributor 3 / Fiend (voice)
James Arthur WilliamsJames Arthur Williams...Slim (voice)
Ace Cross CrookAce Cross Crook...Distributor 2 / Slim's girlfriend (voice)


Ashante "PT" Stokes' film "Praise The Maker" is a wonderful example of the everyday life of a believer in Christ. In essence, it is about how hearing one song or watching one program that is filled with the spirit of God can instantly change someone's heart and mind. 

Personally speaking, I know that this is possible, because I am one of the people who first heard the Gospel through a TV program, and felt a pure and total transformation begin to happen deep within me. It was the beginning of my walk with Christ!

The bible says we are in the world but not of the world, (Romans 12) so sometimes believers can be misunderstood, because their focus is not on the world, but on saving souls. Souls are the only thing we can bring with us when we leave this world!

As believers and followers of Christ, we are consistently being led by Him to speak on His behalf and do our best to be an example, showing the world who He is, while trying not to sound "preachy." It's sometimes a fine line. 

In our speech with unbelievers, we are careful not to overstep any boundaries, while showing them the heart and mind of Christ which those who are saved now have. (1 Corinthians 2:16) Showing them the love that is in our hearts, the love that He gave us, is the most important thing we can do in this fallen world.
 
The bible says "in the last days the hearts of many will wax cold" (Matthew 24:12) and only God Himself can change those cold and hardened hearts.


In the "Praise The Maker" animated film storyline, PT The Gospel Spitter runs into his old friend, Slim (played by James Arthur Williams) on the street, and realizes right away that Slim hasn't changed at all since he last saw him. Still highly focused on worldly things, with no growth having occurred within him spiritually. 

PT, as a man who has been transformed by the power of the Word of God, and like all people who are in Ministry/Evangelism, talks to Slim a bit about his life, while encouraging him to listen to his latest music video release "Praise The Maker." 

PT knows that the power of God works through his music, and has high hopes that his Christian Hip-Hop song will resonate with his friend musically, while working on his inner man spiritually. Biblical message: Music is SPIRITUAL. (1 Samuel 16)


As the film continues, and as Slim hears the song "Praise The Maker," you see him, as well as others around him, start to soften up a little bit from the hard shell they presented in the beginning. The power of God comes on them and they begin to praise dance. This is a sign that God is working in this situation! He can take any situation and turn it around for His good! 

All God needs is someone who is a vessel, who is willing to allow Him to do His work through them. PT is one of those mighty vessels. As PT said in his previous song release - Salvation - God is perfecting him in his boldness and speech. 


The Lord gives us the right words to say in these situations that will lead others to Him! All we have to do is be who God called us to be. Transformations do occur before our eyes when we walk in obedience to what God wants us to do.

Music has the power to transform! I know a few people who have heard Christian music on the radio and were saved, transformed and delivered from many things (drugs, alcohol, etc) That's how you KNOW God is in it...and that, my friends is the true POWER of music, and why God created it.

Thank you PT for this amazing film. It made me laugh, and it also made me cry at the goodness of God!

I loved the animation!

I give this film 4.8/5.

** Note that this film is rated PG-13, for one word that is in it.

I pray that this film will BLESS THE MASSES! In Jesus name!

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"Praise The Maker" is an animated musical mini film that has won five awards while on the film festival run. 
  • The 2019 Anaheim Film Festival award
  • The 2019 NYC Indie Film Award 
  • The 2020 Best Shorts Competition
  • The 2020 9th Bangalore Shorts Film Festival
  • and The 2020 Winner Award of Recognition



The film link where you can stream "Praise The Maker" on Christian Cinema, Shortly.film and Gumroads is https://www.filmepk.com/ .

"Praise The Maker" the soundtrack single had a phenomenal 2020. It topped the Internet BDS Gospel radio charts at #1, hit #9 on the Top 150 Global Independent Airplay DRT (Digital Radio Tracker) charts and finally #85 on the Top 200 Global Artist Airplay DRT charts. 

Produced by 

Ashante P.T. Stokes...creative executive/storyboard artist
Thomas Stokes...executive producer
Quenton Stokes-Brown...producer

Film Editing by 

Mark Drum

Casting By 

Ashante P.T. Stokes

Art Direction by 

Aaron Archie

Sound Department 

Kevis Mays...voice acting recording engineer

Camera and Electrical Department 

Carnell Rashun Hayes...still photographer
Kemaya Mays...digital camera operator

Animation Department 

Aaron Archie...character designer
Mark Drum...animation director

Music Department 

Kevis Mays...score and mix engineer

Thanks 

Pat Sito...very special thanks
Tom Sito...grateful acknowledgment
Quest Young...very special thanks

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