From Youth Group to the Galaxy
A Community Story of Faith, Friendship, and Filmmaking
What started as “I want to make a movie with my friends” has become something much bigger — a project built on community, creativity, and faith.
For Alexander Persidis, filmmaking isn’t just a hobby — it’s something he’s been drawn to for years. After being inspired by Star Wars, he set out to create something of his own… and invited others along for the journey. I had a chance to sit down with Alexander, his uber-supportive Mother and Father, and his cast-slash-school-slash youth-group friends, and they are doing like right (even if it’s just about the craft services catering table.
We sat down with some of the crew and talked about the project, you can listen to that right here:
“Our kid wants to make movies. So we started with that.”
-Rhonda Persidis
A Movie Built on Friendship
What began during COVID as a way to reconnect with friends quickly turned into a growing project involving youth group members, church families, and a tight-knit community of young creators. At a time when our kids were largely kept out of schools, friendship found a way; Alexander and his friends began making short movies.
What they found was a wonderfully tight-knit community group and a hobby that can make a difference for the rest of their lives. The group started small, but later this month, Alexander’s film The Elsina Solution is premiering at a private event at the Alamo Drafthouse. So what started as a way to bond with friends and family is picking up real steam!
“I just wanted to see my friends… so I made a movie with them.”
— Alexander Persidis
Faith at the Center
Every filming day begins with prayer. For the families involved, this isn’t just about making something impressive — it’s about doing it together, grounded in faith. From there, the team lets the set breathe, taking tips and ideas from the cast, bonding over the craft services table, and creating their own homegrown props and elements to the movies.
Watch the Trailer
Creativity Without Limits
This isn’t a rigid production — it’s collaborative. Cast members contribute ideas, improvise scenes, and even shape the story itself.
“We all have input… even down to fighting a Stormtrooper with a frying pan.”
-James Wilson
A Year and a Half of Commitment
Filming began in June of 2024 and has continued for over a year and a half. Families, friends, and church members have shown up again and again to bring this vision to life.
Why This Story Matters
They don’t just follow stories — they start creating their own.
More Photos from the Production
