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'Fireproof' Filmmakers Announce Next Movie
'Courageous' about fathers 'rising with courage.' Plus other religious movie news.
At Sunday's service, filmmakers Alex and Steven Kendrick announced that the next film will be called Courageous. Production will begin in March; no release date has been announced.
“The movie is about fatherhood,” Alex Kendrick said at the announcement.
Keep reading for further details about the film . . .
Continue reading "'Fireproof' Filmmakers Announce Next Movie" »
'Your lies and tactics are odious to me'
So said Anne Rice to a producer who was supposed to turn her Jesus story into a movie
Turns out he was wrong. GNH never really got off the ground, and then Kirkpatrick--who had been an exec at Disney, Touchstone, and Paramount--announced he was taking the company to Massachusetts and changing the name to Plymouth Rock Studios. Turns out he was wrong again.
In a recent in-depth story, The Boston Globe reports that Kirkpatrick and the venture never had any legitimate financial backing.
Rice, the former vampire novel writer who became a Christian some time ago, had agreed to let GNH turn Out of Egypt into a film, but withdrew that offer when she never got paid. The Globe obtained a stinging e-mail that Rice sent to Kirkpatrick, voicing her concerns and her disgust with the way he had handled things.
In the 4-page document, Rice tells Kirkpatrick, "You were not paying me as you had agreed to do, and you did not have the funds to make good on your promises, and you did not have the funds to make a film. . . . At no time did you reveal to me that you were having financial problems." Late, after noting her disappointment that Kirkpatrick had threatened legal action to get Rice to cooperate, she writes, "David, you broke my heart" and "Your lies and tactics are odious to me." She notes that she will never relinquish the book's rights to Kirkpatrick.
The Globe story is fascinating, essentially exposing a man for grand promises that he had no means to fulfill, regardless of his optimism, passion, and ambition. But the bottom line is that he had no bottom line, and that is the main reason the studio still essentially is only a thought.
Check out the newspaper's 7-minute video on the situation:
Megachurches Get a Movie!
Also: 'Friends for Life' lauded; 'Love Comes' in a boxed set; and capitalism saves the planet
That's exactly what Morgan Mead, a young Christian filmmaker from Indiana, wanted to know. Why are there so many megachurches, what's the phenomena all about, and just what is their role in American Christendom? Mead pursues answers to these questions, and more, in The Alpha and the Mega, now available on DVD.
In a recent interview, Mead explained why he decided to look into the megachurch mythos . . .
LOTR Producer to Make Biopic on Muhammad
Barry Osborne, who produced The Lord of the Rings films, wants to 'bridge cultures'
The producer who brought us messiah types in The Matrix and The Lord of the Rings films now plans to make a major film about the prophet Muhammad, London's Guardian reports.
Osborne says the $150 million biopic will be "an international epic production aimed at bridging cultures. The film will educate people about the true meaning of Islam."
Qatar-based Alnoor Holdings is footing the bill for the film, to begin shooting in the first quarter of 2011, said Raja Sharif, Alnoor's vice-president for international affairs. Sharif also said the movie will respect Islamic traditions forbidding images of the prophet, so Muhammad himself "will not appear," Sharif said.
According to Islam Online, Ahmed Abdullah Al-Mustafa, chairman of Alnoor Holdings, told the Doha-based Al-Jazeera television that the film "will highlight the humanity of Prophet Muhammad.”
Big Hollywood blogger John Nolte isn't all too thrilled with the news, saying this about the film's respect for Islam by not picturing Muhammad: "If only such respect was extended to every major religion. Which isn’t to say religion, including Christianity, is above satire, but what we have here is another example of the mindset of those who control the most powerful propaganda machine ever created. Think about it: The Passion remains one of the most profitable films ever and yet an industry frequently ridiculed for reproducing ad nauseum anything resembling a hit will have none of it."
Nolte's post prompted this retort from LA Times blogger Patrick Goldstein: "The news has aroused a storm of derision from conservative bloggers, who always find a way to be offended by any high-minded Hollywood project."
Stay tuned.
One for the iPod
In this podcast, Dick Staub speaks with Jeffrey Overstreet, film critic and author of Through a Screen Darkly, Jennie Spohr, producer of The Kindlings Muse, and Gregory Wright, managing editor of Hollywood Jesus.com about the three best movies about God they suspect many people have never seen: Wings of Desire, The Decalogue and Babette’s Feast.
Forgive Someone Who Murdered Your Family?
Yes, it's possible. And it's happening all over Rwanda, as shown in upcoming documentary.
When I met Marc & Felicita, they shared beers and laughter over lunch while telling me their amazing story of how hatred and murder had transformed into forgiveness and reconciliation -- and how they're now sharing their story with others throughout Rwanda, riding a bike together (see picture) from village to village with their incredible true tale.
You'll be able to see their story soon on a new documentary, Wounded Healers, which premieres Dec. 3 at the Seattle International Film Festival. It's a production of Rwanda Partners, which was very helpful in assisting me in my reporting in Rwanda, and introducing me to Marc and Felicita and their incredible story.
I can't wait to see this documentary. Watch the trailer here. And while you're waiting for this film to arrive, be sure to check out another great documentary about reconciliation in Rwanda, As We Forgive.
Wanna Be a Movie Producer? Now You Can!
Marchiano seeks 4.5 million 'producers' for Jesus movie . . . and other Christian film news.
For years, Marchiano has wanted to do something similar with the Gospel of John -- a word-for-word adaptation of the book to the big screen. Finding deep-pocketed investors, however, has been another story. So Marchiano has recently changed his strategy: He's now calling the hoped-for film Jesus . . . No Greater Love, still a verbatim adaptation. But how's he going to pay for it? That's where you come into the picture . . .
Continue reading "Wanna Be a Movie Producer? Now You Can!" »
'Letters to God' Gets a Date, Distributor
Directed by Fireproof's David Nixon, film to hit about 800 theaters in March
The film, based on the true story of a 9-year-old boy with cancer who writes his prayer letters to God, was recently picked up by Vivendi Entertainment for U.S. distribution. The movie will open in about 800 theaters on March 12.
Vivendi's Mark Kristol told Variety that Letters can tap into the same market as Fireproof, the Sherwood Productions feature that grossed $33 million for Samuel Goldwyn last fall, after being made for a mere $500,000.
See the Letters to God trailer below:
OMG!
A new documentary ponders the nature of God
The new documentary Oh My God, due out next month, interviews men and women from all walks of life, from atheists to devout believers of a myriad of faiths, in an attempt to get to the bottom of the age old question, "What is God?" Director Peter Rodgers, frustrated over how God is increasingly politicized in our culture, spent more than two years making the film in a journey that crisscrossed 23 different countries.
'The Ten Commandments' to be remade as "300"?!
Fox also to add info not from the Bible, but from Rabbinical Midrash and other historical sources
Variety is reporting that 20th Century Fox is remaking Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments!
Sorta.
But wait, it gets weirder...
Continue reading "'The Ten Commandments' to be remade as "300"?!" »
The Invention of Lying, take two.
As Mark noted in his newsletter last week, my earlier post was flooded with comments after Ricky Gervais, the star and co-writer-director of that film, linked to it from his own blog with the simple comment: "And so it starts..."
The "it" in question was, presumably, the "big controversy" that fellow co-writer-director Matthew Robinson hinted the film would cause in an interview with the MTV Movies Blog. My post was an attempt to track the clues, contained in interviews and official publicity materials, as to what that "big controversy" might be -- and rather than spell everything out, I presented the clues and hoped the reader would be intrigued enough to put the pieces together for themselves.
A Few Films of Note
News on flicks that could be of interest to a Christian audience
> Journey Films (Bonhoeffer, The Power of Forgiveness) has released Albert Schweitzer: Called to Africa , which it is billing as "the compelling story of a theologian, musician and philosopher who abandoned a life of fame and comfort in Europe at the age of 30 to dedicate his life to the medical care of Africans." (See the trailer here.)
> Sherwood Baptist (Fireproof, Facing the Giants) isn't the only church in the movie-making business. Others are also making their own films, including Bethesda Baptist Church of Brownsburg, IN, which recently released The Board to DVD. A press release says the film "captures the elements of life transforming films such as Chariots of Fire and Fireproof, telling the poignant story of how God speaks to each person’s soul. The Board explores the personal conflicts within, as represented by a board of directors, Mind, Emotion, Will, Memory, Conscience and Heart as it introduces difficult questions that lead to eternal consequences, exposing the board’s hypocritical foundation." (See the trailer here.)
> The Biblical Dinner, self-described as "a Last Supper documentary," is now available on DVD.
> Christian music star Rebecca St. James has been doing a bit of acting lately. She plays the lead role in a pro-life film called Sarah's Choice, slated to release in November from PureFlix. She also recently wrapped filming in the comedy Rising Stars, a take-off on American Idol.
> The second in the Nomad Reality Films series, The Great Reverse, will be available Sept. 15 through INO Records/Provident-Integrity. The film follows nine young missionaries in their travels through west Africa. The first in the series was a documentary on Christian musician Sara Groves.
Cliff Clavin, Hercules in Christian flick
John Ratzenberger, Kevin Sorbo in film made by Dallas and Jerry Jenkins
According to a press release, the movie, the sixth film from the father/son duo of Jerry and Dallas Jenkins, "tells the story of Ben Walker (Sorbo) who 15 years ago left the love of his life . . . and ignored his ministry calling in order to pursue a business opportunity. Now, as a high-powered investment banker with a trophy fiancée, he has little or no interest in faith or building a family.
What If ... is the first in a two-picture partnership between Jenkins Entertainment and Pure Flix Entertainment. Jenkins Entertainment is owned by New York Times bestselling author Jerry B. Jenkins and operated by his son Dallas Jenkins.
Blue Like Effing Jazz?
The filmmakers behind 'Blue Like Jazz' ask: How much cussing is too much?
Writes Taylor on the BLJ website: "While the CussCount for Blue Like Jazz is lower than Al Pacino's shootout scene in Scarface, it is considerably higher than all the Pixar movies combined.
"For most of you reading this – No Big Deal. . . . [You] expect, in a movie like ours, to hear a certain number of ****s, ****s, ***es, and possibly even the judicious use of ******* when spoken solely as an adjective."
Taylor went on to write that his posting was an "olive branch" to fans who want the language "scrubbed," adding, "We're open to your suggestions. Really. Please post a reply with your favorite non-curse word or phrase, use it in a sentence, and we'll try out the best ones as alternate takes."
Taking another look at Knowing
There's not a whole lot that can be said about the film without getting into serious spoiler territory, but suffice it to say that the film concerns prophecy, on some level, and it uses biblical imagery at key points, in a way that some critics found awe-inspiring and other critics found cheesy beyond belief. Sonny Bunch of the Washington Times wondered at the time if the film got so many negative reviews because of the religious content itself -- though it should be noted that the film takes these images in directions that are quite different from what the Bible itself does with them.
God in a Rom-Com?
'Never the Bride,' by 'Ultimate Gift' screenwriter Cheryl McKay, now in development
Cheryl McKay, the screenwriter of that film, has written her next screenplay, Never the Bride, which has also been turned into a novel just released by WaterBrook Press. The film adaptation is scheduled to release sometime in 2010.
'Stoning' Actress Gets It Wrong
Aghdashloo makes false claims about stoning: 'nothing to do with Islam'
Spencer cites of few of Aghdashloo's comments in an interview with the Staten Island Advance, in which she says that stoning "has been happening since the Stone Age, in Judaism, Christianity, Islam." Spencer replies, "In fact, no," and goes on to state his case, showing where Aghdashloo gets it wrong.
Jesus, Spartacus, and Monty Python
The story of Spartacus reverses the Jesus myth: instead of getting sold out by his followers and dying a terrible death on the cross, Spartacus is protected by his troops, who are prepared to endure crucifixion rather than reveal the leader hidden in their ranks.And then Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) came along and put the two stories together. At the end of that film, Brian is crucified along with dozens of other Jews (and at least one Samaritan), but then a soldier comes along, asking who Brian is so that Brian can be taken down from the cross. And whereas the extras in one movie all yelled "I'm Spartacus!" as a sign of self-sacrificial solidarity with their leader, the extras in the other movie all yell "I'm Brian!" as a way of selfishly trying to save their own skins, at the expense of the genuine Brian's life.
Genesis at the movies
Alas, time does not permit any deep analysis here. But at the very least, we can say that Genesis-themed movies have been all over the map: the list includes edgy arthouse movies and bloated Hollywood epics, films that offer compelling insights into the characters and cultures that lie behind these stories and films that have sometimes been downright dopey.
Personally, I am drawn to the movies that go beyond the neat-and-tidy Sunday-school versions of these stories, and that sometimes means I am drawn to the movies that explore some of the darker and more neglected elements of the biblical narrative. But even here, it can be fascinating to see just how different the treatments are, at times. Just compare, for example, how Roger Young's Joseph (1995) and Cheick Oumar Sissoko's Genesis (1999) -- both of which are very good, in their own ways -- handle the rape of Jacob's daughter Dinah and the sacking of Shechem by her brothers (as described in Genesis 34).
'Dogma,' 'Life of Brian': Best Movies for Christians!
At least that's what one online list would have you believe
If you were making a list titled "100 All-Time Best Movies for Christians," where would you start?
Probably not with the blasphemous Dogma, in which one character, a woman working at an abortion clinic, is allegedly the last living descendant of Christ. And probably not with the scathingly satirical (some would say heretical) Life of Brian.
And yet ChristianColleges.com has posted a list with those two films--and many more head-scratchers--at its site. The posting goes on to say that its list includes movies that "are a great way to affirm faith," going so far as to call the films in its list "Christian movies."
Huh? Dead Poet's Society, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and The Last Temptation of Christ are "Christian movies"? Yowza.
Check out the whole list here.
A Newt, a Pope, and a Doc
Gingrich making a documentary about Pope John Paul II's role in bringing down Soviet Union
Nine Days That Changed the World will release this fall under Gingrich Productions. Gingrich also discussed his conversion to Christianity with Gilgoff, saying the influence of popes JPII and Benedict affected him deeply.
Ben-Hur, Jesus, and water bottles
Today Vaughan posted this picture of a crew member lighting the actors who play Judah Ben-Hur and Jesus. I don't recognize the actor playing Jesus, but I wonder if this version of the story will show his face, or if it will merely show the back of his head, like the films made in 1925 and 1959 did.
Note also that the actor playing Jesus is holding a water bottle. That's kind of funny, since it looks like the scene they are working on is the one in which Jesus gives Judah a drink of water -- but presumably out of a gourd or some similar vessel, and not a plastic bottle!
Although, come to think of it, this wouldn't be the first film to show Jesus offering someone a water bottle ...
Vatican Newspaper: 'Angels & Demons' Harmless
L'Osservatore Romano calls upcoming film 'harmless entertainment'
It's not quite an endorsement from The Vatican itself, but Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano says Angels & Demons, which releases next week, is inaccurate in areas but otherwise "harmless" and not a danger to the church.
The movie, which had its world premiere in Rome on Monday, offers "more than two hours of harmless entertainment, which hardly affects the genius and mystery of Christianity," L'Osservatore's reviewer wrote. It's "a videogame that first of all sparks curiosity and is also, maybe, a bit of fun."
In a reference to Dan Brown's books, The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, the L'Osservatore writer continued, "The theme is always the same in both novels: a sect versus the church, even though the parts of the good and the bad are distributed differently. This time, with 'Angels & Demons,' the church is on the side of the good guys."
A Hollywood publicist working the film to the religious press sent an e-mail Thursday noting the differences between some Christian responses to the film and what the Vatican paper is saying now. Here's the entire body of that publicist's e-mail:
Ted Baehr of Movieguide in a fundraising letter on Angels & Demons: "A clear anti-Christian message that not only are Christians evil and murderers but also that science has proven faith in Jesus Christ to be outdated! In the end, it is the highest echelon of the Catholic Church who is the villain!"
The official Vatican newspaper review of Angels & Demons:
"Two hours of harmless entertainment, which hardly affects the genius and mystery of Christianity."
There's an old Irish saying, "when everyone tells you you're drunk, you better sit down."
I'm not familiar with that Irish saying, or even exactly sure what it means, but I'll simply reiterate what's been said by many: Angels & Demons is fiction -- no more true than Wolverine or Star Trek or Terminator Salvation, the other big fiction flicks releasing this month -- and as Christians, there's really no need to join the angry mob and yell that it's a "smear" campaign or that Tom Hanks is a "pawn of Satan." Nobody's forcing anybody to watch the movie, or even believe anything that's being portrayed. If it's not your thing, skip it. If it is, then enjoy it for what the Vatican's newspaper is calling it: "harmless entertainment."
Jesus is still standing strong. The Rock ain't gonna budge.
Angels & Demons & Prelates, Oh My!
Controversy escalates over the upcoming prequel to 'The Da Vinci Code'
We've already had plenty of lively banter between Ron Howard and Bill Donohue. Then we had some shmoe calling Tom Hanks a "pawn of Satan."
Now the Vatican has joined the fray, ironically without commenting.
Howard is saying that Vatican officials obstructed his efforts to shoot the film in Rome, saying he couldn't shoot scenes anywhere in the city with churches in the background.
"Was I surprised? No. Am I a little frustrated at times? Sure," said Howard.
A Vatican spokesman wouldn't comment, but apparently said enough to imply that Howard was just spouting off to "drum up publicity," according to the AP. That's a pretty feisty "no comment."
CNN would disagree, noting that the film is not drawing the Vatican's "ire," while quoting an Opus Dei priest as saying, "I don't think that anyone at the Vatican is paying much attention to the premier of 'Angels & Demons.' . . . I think the church's attitude has been, from the beginning, 'hands off.'"
Meanwhile, Tom "I'm Not the Pawn of Satan" Hanks told the German publication Bild, "I am a very spiritual guy. I do believe in God. We go to Church. My children are baptised. But I don’t know a lot about the condom ban. I have been happily married for 21 years!" Of Angels & Demons, he said, "It’s fiction but has amusing facts."
In India, Christian protests have resulted in a decision to show the film only after certain parts have been deleted, according to the Hindu News Update: "The Censor Board has assured them of deletion of some of the portions before release of the movie, which will also have a disclaimer saying that it is a work of fiction."
A work of fiction. Good to remember that, and not get too worked up about it. Eh?
Tom Hanks: Pawn of Satan?
So says author in reference to 'Angels & Demons.' And the Donohue-Howard feud continues.
So says Mark Dice, author of The Illuminati: Facts & Fiction, of the movie star's role in the upcoming film version of Angels & Demons, based on Brown's book of the same title. A&D is a prequel to The Da Vinci Code.
Dice went on to say that "Brown's book, as well as the film, serves only as disinformation and a whitewash of the real Illuminati."
Dice is founder of something called The Resistance, which on its website calls itself "a conservative political and media watchdog and activist organization focused on preserving family values and upholding the Constitution of the United States."
Take Dice's words with a grain of salt. A loose cannon who also goes by the pseudonym "John Conner" (a la the Terminator saga), Dice has called the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. "an inside job" by the U.S. government. He has also demanded that demanded that Duke University change the school nickname of "Blue Devils" because it's "offensive to the Christian community." (No report on whether he has a problem with Wake Forest's "Demon Deacons" or Arizona State's "Sun Devils" or . . . Oh, nevermind.)
It's not the first attack on Angels & Demons. The Catholic League's William Donohue dissed the film, prompting director Ron Howard to respond last week. And now Donohue has responded to Howard's response:
"Ron Howard must be delusional if he thinks Vatican officials are going to like his propaganda - they denied him the right to film on their grounds," says Donohue. "Moreover, we know from a Canadian priest who hung out with Howard's crew last summer in Rome (dressed in civilian clothes) just how much they hate Catholicism. It's time to stop the lies and come clean."
Somehow, I don't think Howard is waiting in the batter's box to step up and take the next swing. But I also bet we haven't heard the last of this, either.
WWJD: The Movie
Upcoming film based on classic Charles Sheldon book, In His Steps
Production by Nasser Entertainment begins in May, but no potential release date was given. The company specializes in made-for-TV programming.
The film will feature John Schneieder (Nip/Tuck, CSI, Bo Duke in TV's Dukes of Hazzard), country singer Adam Gregory, and Maxine Bahns (The Mentalist, The Lost Tribe).
The film will closely follow the story of In His Steps, following four individuals -- a singer, a newspaper editor, a wealthy philanthropist, and a minister who lost his faith - all vowing to walk in the steps of Jesus, with every decision based on the one question, "What would Jesus do?"
Joe Nasser of Nasser Entertainment said that when he was fighting cancer some time ago, the Bible and In His Steps brought him comfort.
Nasser writes, "I promised God if he thought he should heal me I would make the movie and spread the question WWJD? to as many people as possible. Well God healed me and I intended to keep my promise."
Ron Howard Fights Back
Producer responds to Catholic League's William Donohue re: 'Angels & Demons'
No longer. In a measured but strongly-worded op-ed today in The Huffington Post, A&D director Ron Howard responds by saying that Donohue should essentially zip it till he sees the movie.
Howard writes that Donohue "is on a mission . . . to paint me and the movie I directed, Angels & Demons, as anti-Catholic . . .
"Let me be clear," Howard continues. "Neither I nor Angels & Demons are anti-Catholic. And let me be a little controversial: I believe Catholics, including most in the hierarchy of the Church, will enjoy the movie for what it is: an exciting mystery, set in the awe-inspiring beauty of Rome. After all, in Angels & Demons, Professor Robert Langdon teams up with the Catholic Church to thwart a vicious attack against the Vatican. What, exactly, is anti-Catholic about that?"
Donohue has written a booklet, Angels & Demons: More Demonic Than Angelic (available for a $5 donation to the Catholic League), which he said that A&D "details the myths, lies and smears that are made against the Catholic Church [in A&D]. It also provides evidence of the anti-Catholic animus harbored by those associated with the film.
"Author Dan Brown and director Ron Howard are . . . obsessed with Catholicism. It is not enough to criticize it - they are hell bent on demonizing it. It is not enough to drag out dirty laundry - they invent it. And the fact that they pay absolutely no price for their propaganda shows beyond dispute that anti-Catholicism is the one bigotry Hollywood likes."
"Mr. Donohue's booklet accuses us of lying when our movie trailer says the Catholic Church ordered a brutal massacre to silence the Illuminati centuries ago," Howard writes. "It would be a lie if we had ever suggested our movie is anything other than a work of fiction (if it were a documentary, our talk of massacres would have referenced the Inquisition or the Crusades). And if fictional movies could never take liberties with reality, then there would have been no Ben-Hur, no Barabbas, The Robe, Gone With The Wind, or Titanic. Not to mention Splash!
"I guess Mr. Donohue and I do have one thing in common: we both like to create fictional tales, as he has done with his silly and mean-spirited work of propaganda. "
Howard concludes with these words: "I know faith is believing without seeing (and a boycott would be disbelieving without seeing). But I don't expect William Donohue to have faith in me, so I encourage him to see Angels & Demons for himself. Then he will finally witness, and perhaps believe, that what I say is true."
Film Premiere Hits Home
American Violet, out in limited release today, faced protests from the KKK when it recently premiered at a church in the small Texas town where the movie is set. The NPR reporter who broke the true story the movie is based on covered the event and you can listen to his report here.
The backstory: filmmaker Bill Haney was listening to the radio during his commute in Boston when a story on NPR caught his attention. The story focused on a poor young woman in Hearne, Texas, who was charged with drug possession. She faced intense pressure to plead guilty despite a lack of solid evidence. And she decided to fight back. That young woman's name was Regina Kelly and her story became American Violet, a movie Haney wrote.
Kelly's story shines the light on the racially tense environment in Hearne and on the untold numbers of innocent casualties of the war on drugs. Kelly's faith played a big role in her ability to go up against the local legal establishment and my interview with Kelly and Haney was posted on Tuesday.
Herod the Great and his Cleopatra cameo.
I happened to watch Cleopatra for the first time a few months ago, and I was surprised when, a little more than an hour into the movie, Herod the Great showed up. In his first scene, he says that he has come directly from Rome, and that he is on his way back to his kingdom in Judea, but while he is in Egypt, he has a message for Cleopatra: namely, Octavian wants her to kill Mark Antony.
In the next scene, Herod and Mark Antony share some drinks and some laughs, and then Herod, still laughing, tells Antony that Octavian wants Cleopatra to poison him -- a message that Antony himself laughs off, until a later scene in which he discovers that Cleopatra is testing different kinds of poison on her prisoners.
Continue reading "Herod the Great and his Cleopatra cameo." »
'Blue Like Jazz' moving forward
Movie based on Donald Miller's book to film soon in Portland, Nashville
Donald Miller, author of the book on which the movie is based, blogged recently that director Steve Taylor (The Second Chance) is moving forward on shooting Blue Like Jazz the movie. He’s set to shoot in Mid May through June. We will be shooting in Portland and Nashville through the end of June. I couldn’t be more excited."
Miller and Taylor had hoped to get the movie rolling last year, but had to put the project on hold due to a lack of funding.
They've apparently got enough money to move forward now, though they're still seeking "associate producers" (at $99.95 a pop) to help defray costs.
Back to Miller's blog entry: "I’m skyping today with the actor who will likely play me. Unfortunately I can’t tell you who it is until we sign contracts, but we are both stoked on the choice." Miller and Taylor joke on the "from the director" video that Brad Pitt was the No. 1 choice.
Or was it a joke? If Pitt can age backwards in a movie, certainly he's got the acting chops to play a curious case like Mr. Miller. ;-)
Young, Gay, and Christian . . .
A new documentary includes interviews with those who fall into the demographic
According to its website, Through My Eyes, a new DVD documentary, "provides an unflinchingly honest look at the role of today's young Christians in the gay debate: what they really think, how they perceive the church, and what they wish other Christians knew."
I was moved by the words of the teens and young adults in the trailer. The film was apparently "created for Christians by Christians" to help promote discussion in the church on this important topic. The website says the DVD "tackles one of the most controversial topics today with compassion and sensitivity, shining new light on the debate for people on both sides. It's unlike anything you've seen before."
The film was produced by The Gay Christian Network, "a nonprofit ministry serving Christians who happen to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, and those who care about them."
Here's the trailer:
Christian films short on Christian substance
So says the AFN about two new church-produced movies
The One Lamb and C Me Dance, two new films made by churches and hoping to follow in the footsteps of church-produced box-office hits Fireproof and Facing the Giants, both fall short in delivering the goods, according to a recent story by American Family News.
AFN says it "appreciates the efforts of these films but believes both fall far short of fulfilling what a film can do to illustrate the gospel to a non-believer and at the same time be family-friendly for Christian viewers. Both goals can be accomplished, as illustrated by films from Sherwood Productions [the production arm of the Georgia Baptist church that made Fireproof and Facing the Giants].
AFN notes that The One Lamb, unrated by the MPAA, "is flawed primarily by its frequent profanity. In the first 30 minutes, God’s name is used in vain twice and nine other profanities occur. Occasional profanities occur throughout the rest of the film."
FWIW, I personally don't have much of a problem with profanity in a film IF it's realistic in its portrayal. If a character isn't a Christian and has a foul mouth, I would expect him/her to be portrayed that way; of all people, Christians -- including Christian filmmakers -- should tell the truth, even in depicting reality. If that makes the film less "family-friendly," so be it. But the truth should be told.
Now, I haven't seen The One Lamb (I saw the trailer and wasn't impressed), but the profanity criticism alone wouldn't "disqualify" it for me. But the AFN goes on to say, "One other questionable scene, clearly intended as comic relief, has a group of African-American women at a Bible study at Earl’s kitchen table. They ogle, leer, and make suggestive remarks to a shirtless Jack, begging him to take it all off. It is an unfortunate, disrespectful caricature of the African-American Christian."
Wow. That's astounding, and totally uncalled for. The fact that the film was made in the South -- at a church in Charlotte, NC -- won't help when critics note this instance of what can certainly be perceived as racism.
Meanwhile, C Me Dance, made by a church in Pennsylvania, has serious theological issues, according to the AFN. The film is about Sheri, a "Christian teen who wants to reach her friends and community with the gospel after she is diagnosed with terminal cancer. The only problem is that she doesn’t actually preach the gospel, which raises theological concerns.
"While Sheri is said to have been granted special powers by God for winning the lost, the manifestation of that power seems akin to occult practices. Standing behind the pulpit, she communicates by telepathy with the congregation; then, people are shown apparently coming to Christ."
The story goes on to note that Sheri "is also able to communicate the reality of the crucifixion of Jesus merely by touching people on the hand, at which time they see an image of Christ being nailed to the cross. In at least one instance, Sheri merely stares into the eyes of hostile classmates and causes them to leave her alone. . . . [Evangelism] must somehow articulate the message of the gospel clearly. And it certainly cannot be done by means that approach the forbidden line of the occult."
From where I sit, such concerns sound legit.
Newsbites: The historical and biblical edition!
1. Columbia Pictures has released a new trailer for the quasi-biblical comedy Year One, which opens June 19. (Slight warning: the trailer has just a wee touch of innuendo.) -- ComingSoon.net2. The first episode of Kings, the quasi-modernized version of the story of Saul and David, turned out to have even lower ratings than expected when it aired last Sunday, even after NBC moved it from its originally-intended Thursday-night slot. The rest of the first season has already been shot, so the network might as well air the remaining episodes, but it is open to question whether the show will be renewed for a second season. -- Variety, Hollywood Reporter, Nikki Finke
3. Rome star Ray Stevenson says the prospect of a big-screen follow-up to that TV series is "no longer a smoke and mirrors rumor. . . . From what I have heard, they are nearing the end of script development. We shall see." When series creator Bruno Heller discussed the possibility of a big-screen spin-off in November, he mentioned that the show would have dealt with "the rise of the messiah in Palestine" if it had not been cancelled, though he did not say whether the movie would go in that direction. -- MovieWeb
Continue reading "Newsbites: The historical and biblical edition!" »
Another Church Movie
'The One Lamb,' opening in 100 theaters, was produced by a small NC church
Other churches are following suit, making films of their own, including University City United Methodist Church of Charlotte, NC. The One Lamb, in production for three years, opens in 100 theaters and in 34 states on March 30. (Yes, that's a Monday, and not the typical Friday theatrical release. Perhaps they didn't want to compete with big budget blockbusters that open on the weekend.)
For what it's worth, the press release promises a film that depicts "an inspirational story of hope and redemption . . . [capturing] the elements of life transforming films such as Chariots of Fire and the recent Fireproof, telling the poignant story of the rise and fall of a promising campaign manager/lawyer . . . who is battling cancer and competes in the New York City Marathon as part of a personal spiritual rebirth. Although [he] is facing an enormous battle against the cancer rapidly destroying his life, his biggest struggle is the fight against the mistakes of his past. He is befriended by a cranky, retired pastor who helps find redemption for his past failures and hope for his future."
To see if it's playing near you, click here.
C Me in the NYT
Barnes proceeds to say that the film is "opening in about 200 theaters nationwide on April 3 and produced by Pennsylvania-based Uplifting Entertainment, is about a teenage girl who achieves her dream – joining the Pittsburgh Ballet – only to discover she has a rare blood disease. The girl and her father then embark on a spiritual adventure to bring revival to America."
The total cost of the film-- including marketing-- is noted to be half a million dollars, the same cost as Fireproof, which went on to make $33.5 million.
By the way, I'm pretty sure I can already spot the pun in C Me Dance's title, film unseen, and if I'm right, the filmmakers deserve either a special award or a scolding; I can't decide which.
But even if the film turns out to be as cheesy as its title sorta is, it's still worth noting that it has apparently had quite an effect on those who have seen it; the Leukemia Society, for example, is already endorsing it as a a meaningful and eye-opening movie.
Kings -- the interview's up!
The first episode airs Sunday night, and it's interesting on a number of levels, especially if you're a Bible-movie buff like me. (The show is basically a modernized version of the story of Saul and David.) I'm not reviewing the episode, per se, but here are four extra points that occurred to me while watching it, which I couldn't fit into the article linked above:
First: The way the film depicts David's battlefield heroism, and his reluctance to be feted and exploited by the powerful and influential people back home, is reminiscent of Flags of Our Fathers (2006) -- but when I mentioned this to Green, he said he had never seen that film, so he couldn't comment on that.
Kingdom Come -- this week's update
Last week, it looked like the film was a goner: motel bookings were cancelled, construction crews were on standby, and some crew members had lost patience with the producers and begun taking other jobs.
Since then, the Dominion Post has reported that the filmmakers are still insisting that their movie will go ahead; they expect to secure bridge financing within two weeks, and they plan to resume pre-production in March for a start date in April.
But will anyone still be waiting for them by then? In addition to the crew members who have already bailed on the project, the Nelson Mail reported Thursday that some of the extras -- who were hired last year and have been letting their hair and beards grow long for the movie -- have given up hope and begun to visit their barbers.
Darryl Ware (pictured), who has worked as an extra in other movies, said he had never seen filmmakers be so bad at communicating with their cast and crew: "It's like waiting for the second coming."
Kings makers discuss their series
Kings, the TV series that quasi-modernizes the biblical story of Saul and David, premieres March 15. ComingSoon.net attended a screening of the pilot episode a few weeks ago and has a handy summary of some of the key characters and narrative details.
The screening was followed by the Q&A below, in which, among other things, series creator Michael Green and a few of the actors discuss the show's real-life political inspiration, the reality of God and the role of religion within the storyline, the sexuality of the Jonathan figure, and whether the network ever censored story elements that happened to come straight from the Bible:
Scorsese Plans Japanese Martyr Flick
Tells story of a Portuguese missionary in Japan in early 17th century
Zenit reports that Academy Award-winning director Martin Scorsese is planning a movie on Japanese Christians martyred in the 17th century, to be released in 2010. Daniel Day-Lewis, Gael García Bernal, and Benicio Del Toro have been linked to the project, based on the book Chinmoku (Silence), by the Catholic Japanese author Shusaku Endo. The novel tells the story of a Portuguese missionary in Japan at the beginnings of the 17th century.
Religion Crashes the Oscar Party
'Boston Globe' religion writer notes the films' faith themes
Michael Paulson, who covers religion for The Boston Globe, writes that this year's Oscar nominees "include multiple films with a faith angle -- from the Holocaust to Hinduism, with clergy sexual abuse and all sorts of good vs. evil thrown in."
Obviously he includes Doubt in the discussion, but also includes Slumdog Millionaire, The Reader, and Milk with his observations.
God and the Oscars
ReligionLink takes a brief look at spiritually-infused films
ReligionLink, which helps to keep journalists aware of stories with spiritual angles, writes:
"The 81st annual Academy Awards ceremony is this Sunday, and as always there are plenty of religious issues to provide a substantive backdrop to the red-carpet glam.
"Films have long grappled with questions of ultimate meaning, and this year's crop is no exception. Whether it's the more overtly religious Doubt, based on John Patrick Shanley's Broadway production, or the "life is beautiful" fantasy, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, there's a lot of potential here for out-of-the-box stories. Frost/Nixon explores moral ambiguity, and The Wrestler is a redemption tale both for the main character and for its real-life actor, Mickey Rourke."
CT Movies plans to blog away on Oscar night, so please come join the party!
Did We Miss the Religion of 'The Wrestler'?
S. Brent Plate of 'Religion Dispatches' apparently thinks so
"How did reviewers from the New York Times to Christianity Today miss the obvious religious references in this Oscar-nominated hit? Did they blink and reach for popcorn at the images of a tattooed Jesus Christ on Randy's back, or was it more about the myth of modern individualism and body-soul dualism?"
But Plate's not done yet. He's just getting started.
Continue reading "Did We Miss the Religion of 'The Wrestler'?" »
Another Church, Another Movie
Tulsa congregation pitches in for 'Treasure Blind'
Brian Shoop doesn't know if his church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, will ever have the same success making movies as Georgia's Sherwood Baptist (Fireproof, Facing the Giants), but you've got to start somewhere.
Shoop, 57, had seen Sherwood's first film, Flywheel, and said it "wasn't awful," according to The Tulsa World. When his pastor asked him if he thought they could do the same thing at Tulsa Bible Church, Shoop--who played a role in The Rookie with Dennis Quaid--thought, why not?
"(Sherwood's success) sort of pushed me off dead-center," Shoop said. "So I collected all of my favors and all of my friends, and we set out on it. I started writing, and for a year I was writing and rewriting. In 2006, we started shooting."
The result is Treasure Blind, which released to DVD this week. The film is about a Tulsa cab driver, part-time amateur treasure hunter (played by Shoop) whose life is enriched when he meets the blind grandson he never knew existed. The film is released by Cloud Ten Pictures, which did the Left Behind trilogy of movies.
Here's the Treasure Blind trailer:
Scandalous Preachers in Film
Haggard the only 'real' one in a list of rotten reverends
Haggard is the only real preacher in the slideshow; the other 10 are fictional characters from film over a number of decades -- including Rev. Henry Kane in Poltergeist II (pictured here), Silas in The Da Vinci Code, and Pentecostal preacher Eulis 'Sonny' Dewey in The Apostle.
(Hat tip to Sarah Pulliam.)
The Biblical Origin of Movie Posters
Betcha didn't know that a flick about Jesus sparked the first one-sheet. (We didn't either.)
There's a cool new exhibit at New York's Museum of Biblical Art called "Reel Religion: A Century of the Bible and Film."
MOBIA's official website says that the exhibition "probes the fascination the Bible has exerted over filmmakers as different and distinct as Cecil B. deMille, Mel Gibson, John Huston, Pier Paolo Pasolini and Martin Scorsese. The exhibition features 80 rare vintage movie posters reaching back to the dawn of film in 1898."
That 1898 film was The Passion Play of Oberammergau, which actually sparked the very first movie poster. After a small flier proved ineffective for promoting the film, the promoters created a poster measuring 27" × 41" that became the template for the one-sheet promo we see in theaters everywhere today--with those very same dimensions.
A couple of interesting things about this first poster: It notes that the image is an "actual scene" from the movie, and makes a big deal that the film itself is "reproduced by means of 2554 feet of LIFE MOTION PICTURE FILM."
"Film is a recognized art form that has developed relatively recently," says Paul Tabor, MOBIA's Director of Exhibitions. "Not unlike painters, filmmakers from the outset turned to the Bible for emotionally powerful source material. The posters made to promote these films were often works of arts themselves."
We agree.
No 'Doubt' About This Talent
Two Oscar nominees in a stunning scene
It doesn't take long to see why Meryl Streep and Viola Davis were both nominated for Oscars in this clip from Doubt at the NY Times site.
Jesus Christ, Movie Star
Hollywood meets the Holy in these messiah movies
The list spans almost a century, from 1912's From the Manger to the Cross to 2004's The Passion of the Christ. There are a few differences between theirs list and our Top 10 Jesus Movies, most notably their inclusion of the blasphemous Last Temptation of Christ and the somewhat irreverent Jesus Christ Superstar.
Of course, our list--compiled by our own Peter Chattaway--is better!
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