Christians in Cinema

Have you noticed how many film-making families there are? There are a lot in Hollywood, and as time goes on I meet more Christian families in film-making. The majority seem to be brothers working together, but I’m sure there’s an even greater variety than that. Here’s a starter list - how many more exist?

The Crouch […]

Phil Cooke recently posted some advice for filmmakers that everyone wanting to make movies should read. Here’s an overview of his list of 10 Really Bad Ideas About Making Movies. Warning: some of these statements may turn your preconceived perceptions upside-down.

You think having a star connected means you have a great movie.
You try to network […]

Writer/Director - “Wall-E”

Andrew Stanton was one of the first Pixar animators, and had a part in most of Pixar’s mega-hits from the last several years. His roles have included writing, voicing, and character design, as well as directing and executive-producing.

After the story idea first surfaced 14 years ago, “Wall-E” became his first solo writing/directing credit. With it he created a few Pixar “firsts,” including using a live person (Fred Willard) as a major supporting character.

One great thing about summer rerun season is finding a new show to watch. You can use the summer to catch up on past episodes and learn more about the characters. For example, I really enjoy “NCIS,” so prior to the advent of a DVR in my life, I had to make a choice between […]

Actor - “Kit Kittredge: An American Girl”

As a father of 5 children and a resident of Chicago (home of the American Girl Doll company), Chris O’Donnell is very familiar with the American Girl Dolls. As an actor whose roles range from superhero to veterinarian, Musketeer to millionaire, he can obtain a seat in almost any restaurant, no matter how long the waiting list. The one exception? The American Girl tea room.

In “Kit Kittredge: An American Girl,” Chris plays Mr. Kittredge, the father of Kit (Abigail Breslin). When his automobile dealership goes out of business during the early days of the Great Depression, he goes to Chicago to try and find work to support his family.

Producer/Lead Actor - Bella

Spend just a few moments talking with Eduardo Verastegui and you quickly learn that he’s a man with a mission: to make films that shed light on humanity, that educate, engage and inspire people. Bella is the first step in that mission.

Eduardo was kind enough to talk with me in the middle of a busy day promoting Bella. He had just flown to New York City from Mexico, where the film just premiered.

Female Lead - “Kit Kittredge: An American Girl”
Though only 12 years old, Abigail Breslin has already taken Hollywood, and the rest of us, by storm. Her roles reveal her comic ability (Definitely, Maybe), a dramatic flair (The Ultimate Gift), and an ability to take command of a complex role within an adult story (Little Miss Sunshine).

Her leading men have ranged from Mel Gibson (Signs) to Gerard Butler (Nim’s Island), and she’s carried her weight with actresses like Catharine Zeta-Jones (No Reservations) and Kate Hudson (Raising Helen).

Her most recent role, Kit Kittredge, is one that millions of girls around the country can relate to, for she is one of the “American Girl” dolls come to life.

Actress - The List

Born and raised in Virginia, Hilarie Burton is one of four children in a tight-knit family. Early on, she developed a passion for acting, so when she grew up, she went to New York to pursue her dreams. She got her start as a VJ on MTV, which lead to a guest role on an episode of “Dawson’s Creek.”

Quickly after, she landed the role of Peyton Sawyer on “One Tree Hill,” which lead to movies in films like “Our Very Own,” “Normal Adolescent Behavior,” and “Solstice.” Now she’s back in the South, living and working in Wilmington, North Carolina, renovating her home and learning to use power tools.

WiFi Wilmington is inviting screenwriters (or those who want to be) to submit entries for their “First Ten” contest. You send in the first ten pages of your best script, and have the chance to win:

A script-writing consultation with WGA Award-Winner Ken Rotcop, who has 39 years of experience as the head of 4 different […]

I read a fascinating article by Anthony Sacramone on the First Things site. Called A Christian at the Movies, it’s a look at the ratings applied to films by critics.
He focuses primarily on Dr. Ted Baehr of MovieGuide®,  a prominent film critic and reviewer. His argument with Dr. Baehr is that while he awards a […]

Producers/Writers/Directors - C2 Series

Son of Christian music’s Michael W. Smith, Ryan Smith is setting his own course in the entertainment field. Ryan founded Seabourne Pictures with producing partner Mark Cowart with the objective of creating thought-provoking and engaging feature films. (Ryan, left, and Mark, right, work on a scene from C2: Relapse in Nashville, TN)

Since the beginning of the company in 2005, Seabourne has produced various music videos and short films, while developing several feature film projects. On a busy summer afternoon, I had a conversation with Ryan and Mark about starting a film company, being the son of a music legend, and where the name “Seabourne Pictures” came from.

Worship leader, songwriter, and modern worship pioneer Jeff Deyo can now add “actor” to his resume. The former member (and founder) of the band SONICFLOOd joins other music greats Kerry Livgren (Kansas) and Kevin Max (dcTalk) in the independent Christian film “The Imposter.”

I just heard about a fascinating website. It’s called “Famous Locations,” and based on production notes, it maps out locations for thousands of movies.
You can see the locations pinpointed on a map and then see pictures from the film at those locations. For example, go here  to see the location map for The Passion of […]