Spiritworks: A God Story

By Rick Greene

Starring Curtis Williams

Directed and Shot by Savant

Introduction

Spiritworks: A God Story is an autobiographical film about Rick Greene, created by Rick Greene himself. It follows his battle for life as he confronts the scars of a troubled childhood and the addictions that took root in his youth. In his desperate search for redemption, Greene’s turning point comes through faith and a remarkable act of sacrifice: donating a kidney to Marvin Gaye III, the son of the legendary soul singer.

If there’s one word that describes this film, it’s potential. To explore why, I’ll break this review into four parts: cinematography, sound, acting, and story/writing.

Cinematography

This film had me asking a lot of questions. How was it made? Who was on set? How much crew was there? At times, I found myself yelling at the screen because there was so much potential.

About 40% of the shots looked professional and well-planned, showing solid composition, visual framing, and direction; an easy 8 out of 10. The remaining 60% looked like someone handed the Director of Photography a nice camera without teaching them how to use it. After some digging, I realized the Director and the DP are the same person: Savant.

That’s likely where the inconsistency stems from. It’s possible the project had a tight budget, and Savant had to juggle both directing and cinematography. That’s a heavy lift, especially without formal training or support. The biggest technical issue is color correction. It’s clear a basic filter was thrown on in post-production. Skin tones were often red, orange suits turned pink, and some scenes were completely blown out.

Still, if this was Savant’s first film, I want to shout it from the rooftops: you have potential. The ambition is there. Despite the flaws, this is a strong start for someone new behind the camera.

Sound

Most of the film is voiceover, which was a smart choice given the limited resources. It helps maintain a sense of polish and consistency in the audio. However, a few sound effects came out of nowhere, making me wonder if they were misplaced or accidental.

The soundtracks runs throughout, which helps keep the film moving. While not every song fits the scene it’s paired with, I actually enjoyed the tracks themselves. They’re good songs; just not always the right ones for the tone or moment.

Acting

The acting is where Spiritworks struggles most. It’s clear that many of the cast members are likely friends or family. Performances felt rigid, unnatural, and sometimes lifeless. Several times, actors broke character or looked directly at the camera, which pulled me out of the moment.

This was particularly confusing because the film’s visual quality and location choices sometimes suggested a higher level of professionalism than what was happening within the performances. The imbalance made it difficult to stay immersed.

Story & Writing

The story itself isn’t the problem, it’s there, and it has promise. The issue lies in how it’s told. The dialogue feels forced, the pacing uneven, and the emotional beats don’t always land. You can sense the heart they wanted behind it, but it’s not actually there.

The strongest emotional part of this film was the end when Rick Greene appears on screen after the credits. Ironically, that unscripted segment felt like the most genuine and moving part of the entire film.

Final Thoughts

Spiritworks: A God Story left me both frustrated and hopeful. I could see the spark of something real behind every rough edge. The inconsistency was so dramatic that I couldn’t even gauge the true capabilities of the team.

If this was a first film for the crew involved, I’ll say this: you have talent, 10 out of 10. Take the time to learn, fine-tune, and grow; because the foundation is there. The potential is undeniable.

For this particular piece, though, there wasn’t enough to keep me engaged.

Rating: 5/10

I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend Spiritworks unless you’re someone who enjoys dissecting the filmmaking process, learning from mistakes, or are genuinely interested in Rick Greene’s story. This film isn’t there yet; but it could be, and I sincerely hope this team keeps creating.