*It may be time for a little Blockbuster intervention, so to speak. Indie filmmaker Van Elder presents "Divine Intervention," a romantic comedy about a new pastor and a new love.

      The film stars Wesley Jonathan ("Roll Bounce") as the hip, new pastor, Robert Gibbs, set to takeover the pulpit at a prominent church. (Scroll down to see trailer.)

      At the same time, parishioner Divine Matthews, played by Jazsmin Lewis ("Barbershop") is losing her faith in the church and the elder pastor, her father Rev. Clarence Matthews, played by James Avery ("Fresh Prince of Bel Air") is struggling to let go. Sounds like an interesting love triangle.

      "I was enlisted to write this project for another production company," Elder said of coming up with the theme for the story. "What they told me is that they wanted a spiritual film and I came up with the concept about the changing of the guard at a church and ushering in a new Pastor. But it's a concept that's applicable in a lot of different ways."

      Elder talked about his days in Corporate America where his company was involved in a takeover and said that his experience helped shape the concept of the film.

     "Then came the character Divine. She was a buffer between the two pastors - the elder and the younger one - and then it just kind of evolved," he told EUR's Lee Bailey.

      Apparently, the company that originally wanted the film couldn't "get its act together," according to Elder, and he decided to produce the project himself.

      As a church-based "spiritual" film, Elder took to the task of making sure that the film's theme also made sense in a church setting. He said that that was one of the greater challenges of making the film.

      "I had to continuously talk to Van about where this young man was going, being a young minister and yet having that naturally human imperfection of having this love for this woman," Jonathan said of maintaining his character's credibility.

      "I grew up in a Pentecostal Church so I know the rules," Lewis claimed, saying that she was careful to walk the thin line between spiritual and secular. "It was about how we were going to touch this in this movie without crossing the line and offending every other spiritual person that watches it. There was a lot that we adjusted as we were making this movie."

      "This movie could have taken place anywhere," Elder added. "The church just so happens to be where all these folks are connected. I had my own reservations about alienating the church-going audience - the primary demographic, but it does not alienate your everyday general audience. I spoke with a lot of pastors and they said that is essentially the reality. I wanted to not go overboard, but I wanted to keep that reality as well."

      The title of the film focuses on the character Divine, mostly, in that she is struggling with her faith and needs some intervention to recover her relationship with God.

      "Divine has lost a lot," Lewis said. "The death of her mother has taken away her spiritual beliefs. I think that's where Wesley's character comes in. He brings her back around to her roots in the church. When you lose your faith, you can go really astray. She needed an intervention to bring her back."

      "Divine Intervention," also stars Laz Alonzo, Cynda Williams, Luenell, Carl Gilliard, Reynaldo Rey, James Avery and Shang Forbes.

      The film will open in limited theaters, today, November 30 in Los Angeles with St. Louis, Houston Atlanta, Washington, DC and Dallas set to follow.  "Divine" will have an exclusive 1-week engagement at the Laemmle's Grande 4-Plex at 345 S. Figueroa St. in downtown Los Angeles.

      "This movie will appeal to both audiences; both spiritual and secular," Lewis agreed. "You can look at it as romantic comedy. It just takes place in a church. The theme is wrapped around a church. It will definitely appeal to both audiences."

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