Bridging the Chasm: Phil Stevens on Grief, Healing, and The Chasm

Atlanta Film and TV caught up with Filmmaker and Director Phil Stevens on his latest project, The Chasm. The Chasm is a faith-based film where a heartbroken father convinces his detached daughter to join him on a hike to reconnect. (IMDb)

Atlanta Film and TV: You have daughters of your own. Can you share some of the experiences you pulled on when writing The Chasm?

Phil Stevens: I have two daughters, 31 and 16. I’m very close with my older daughter, and I have a strong relationship with my youngest as well. But during the time we were filming the first half of The Chasm, my youngest was going through a season of change - growing into a young woman and struggling in her school environment. My wife and I experienced a real sense of distance with her, very similar to what you see in the film.

It was honestly heartbreaking. You start to grieve the little girl you once knew, while also trying to embrace this new version of your child. That transition isn’t always smooth. But after a few months and some changes at school, we found our way back to each other, and in many ways, our relationship is even stronger now.

In a unique way, this film helped prepare me for that season. It gave me language and perspective for something I didn’t fully understand at the time.

Atlanta Film and TV: A ‘Chasm’ represents a deep divide. What is your hope for healing and reconnection between fathers and daughters, or people with children working to bridge that gap?

Phil Stevens: As children grow into young adults, there’s a real sense of grief that can hit parents. You find yourself remembering who they used to be - pulling up old photos or videos and realizing that those moments don’t hold the same meaning for them anymore. That can be hard.

My hope is that parents learn to stay flexible, present, and engaged - even when it feels like they’re being pushed away. That season can feel like you don’t belong, or like you don’t recognize your own child anymore. But how you respond during that time matters deeply. Your child will remember it.

If you stay consistent, patient, and open, there’s a beautiful opportunity on the other side for reconciliation. That new relationship built through that difficult season can become even stronger and more meaningful than before.

Atlanta Film and TV: How does trauma reshape the relationship between parents and their children, and what does the journey toward healing that divide look like?

Phil Stevens: Grief and trauma in a family can be incredibly complex. It’s not always one thing, it can be both beautiful and painful at the same time. When people are grieving, they’re often operating from a place of deep loss, and that can sometimes cause them to withdraw, lash out, or unintentionally hurt the people closest to them.

That’s why it’s so important to seek help, whether that’s through counseling, community, or trusted relationships. Grief isn’t something we’re meant to carry alone.

I often think of it like standing in the ocean during high tide. Some waves you can handle, but others can knock you over or pull you under. Having people around you who can steady you when those waves hit is critical.

Healing doesn’t mean the pain disappears. It means learning how to move through it in a healthy way, together.

Watch the trailer below

https://vimeo.com/1151430886

Atlanta Film and TV: How do you hope that The Chasm brings about healing to those dealing with the trauma of losing a parent?

Phil Stevens: I hope this film reminds people that the relationships we still have, especially between a parent and child, are more important than we sometimes realize. When loss enters a family, it can create distance, but it can also be an opportunity to come closer together.

My prayer is that people walk away from this film with the courage to have the conversations they’ve been avoiding, and to seek help if they need it. Healing often starts with honesty and with taking that first step toward one another.

Atlanta Film and TV: What conversations do you hope people will have once they view The Chasm?

Phil Stevens: I hope it encourages parents to intentionally pursue their children, especially during the hard seasons. It’s easy to think it’s the child’s responsibility to open up or make things right, but often they don’t have the tools or understanding to do that yet. They need us to lead.

I also hope it challenges people to appreciate what they have right now. It’s human nature to take things for granted until they’re gone. This film is a reminder to lean in, to be present, and to value the relationships in front of us while we still have them.

Atlanta Film and TV: Is there anything you would like to share in relation to The Chasm?

Phil Stevens: At our premiere, we were surrounded by people who had experienced real loss like losing a spouse, a child, a parent. That wasn’t lost on us.

We felt a responsibility not just to tell a story, but to care for the people experiencing it. Our goal is always to leave people better than we found them. That’s why we made sure to provide resources and support for anyone who needed it at that moment.

This film is about grief and reconciliation, but ultimately, it’s about hope and reminding people that healing is possible, even in the most difficult seasons.

For more on The Chasm, be sure to follow @philstevensfilm and @missiodeifilms on Instagram.