Film ‘The Undershepherd’ Pushes For Accountability Among Spiritual Leaders

Russell D. Parr started his career in the media industry about 20 years ago. His journey has taken him from behind the scenes of ABC TV as a production services director to his own syndicated radio show Russ Parr Morning Show which reaches millions of listeners weekly from his Radio-One studio in downtown Silver Spring.

Over the past few years, Parr has started to work towards his true passion— creating films.

It started with the debut of his first film, The Last Stand, in 2006. The movie followed the lives of four people striving for success in Hollywood comedy clubs. Since then, Parr has constantly strived towards working on his craft with the release of Love for Sale, Something Like a Business, and 35 and Ticking.

His most recent film, The Undershepherd, is set to debut in Silver Spring on Tuesday, March 27 at the (AFI) located at 8633 Colesville Rd. with the proceeds from the film being donated to

The movie is a controversial tale of two ministers, LC played by Isaiah Washington and Roland played by Lamman Rucker who are best friends and brothers in Christ.  LC—a mild-mannered man—is overcome by his access to power, money earned through his ministry, and slowly transforms into a ruthless business man.

This movie isn’t only a labor of love but also delves into issues that are personal to Parr. He shared his inspiration for the film with Patch.

PATCH: What was your motivation for writing this film? It doesn’t fit the mold of the previous films you have created?

RUSS PARR: I have always been suspicious not of the churches, but the pastors, ministers. I find it fascinating that you go to a church and someone can read the same passage out the bible and have a totally different interpretation. It depends on the personality. Ultimately, I started watching how all of these pastors were up on charges. I thought, you know what, there is a story here. There are pastors who are true to the word but I wanted to point out the rotten apples.

PATCH: Was there a specific event in your life that caused you to have these feelings that lead to make this film?

PARR: I remember I was a member of a church with my mom. I was about 12 years old. It hit me one day that the pastor’s daughters, who my age, they were having sex and I was shocked to know that. I started to look at the pastor and the first lady up there [at the pulpit] preaching about giving $200 and getting $200 worth of blessings, you give $50 and only get $50. I thought ‘woah this is about money,’ guilting people out of money.

PATCH: Do you think this film is showing only one side of the church?

PARR: I’m not painting a broad brush on all the pastors out there and saying they are doing this because a lot of them are not but enough of them are.

PATCH: Can you talk about the new techniques that you used in this film that you have learned from your past experience with the previous films?

PARR: From a financial point of view,  I lost money on almost all of my films because initially we were spending too much on the films and taking too long to shoot them. So this film, The Under Shepherd, I shot in 15 days. Interestingly enough, I actually wrote it in 15 days. 15 is the lucky number here, I guess. I have always been fascinated with watching my work come to life. It’s an incredible experience.

PATCH: What is the message you want the audience to take away after they watch this film?

PARR: I want people to basically hold these people [their religious leaders] accountable that you give your dollars to. It’s amazing how some of these pastors will sit up and take your money, [and] violate everything that you believe in.

In an earlier version, we posted a film screening at Duke Ellington School of the Arts. The screening isn't open to the public.