Christians in Cinema

Yesterday afternoon I broke down and went to see Avatar. I have been going back and forth about seeing it, and decided to accompany a friend to a matinee. I’m really glad I didn’t pay full evening price PLUS the cost of 3-D glasses.
I tried to like the film, really I did. I thought the […]

Denzel Washington, one of Hollywood’s most successful and highly respected figures, stars in The Book of Eli, the story of a man of faith on a mission to protect the last copy of the Bible. America has suffered a catastrophic destruction and civilization and law have disappeared. Described as “a warrior by necessity,” Eli seeks peace. But if the book he carries, the hope for the future, is challenged, he will protect it fiercely. He’s a man who does what he must to survive and continue on his mission.

I know it’s kind of an oxymoron to mention “seeing” and “Blind Side” in the same sentence, but when it refers to the blockbuster Sandra Bullock movie, it all makes sense. This weekend, she made box office history with her role in The Blind Side. The film passed the $200 million mark (its running total […]

It’s the day before Thanksgiving and I’m in a mellow mood looking forward to an extra long weekend. I have a copy of The Mysterious Islands on my desk and decided to pop it into my DVD player. I heard about it a few weeks ago from my friend Jon Erwin, who directed and co-write the film.
From the […]

Last night during their Sunday evening service Sherwood Baptist (home of Sherwood Pictures) announced their next film title and theme. The leadership team of Senior Pastor Michael Catt, Executive Pastor Jim McBride, and Media Pastors Alex Kendrick and Stephen Kendrick all stood on the platform to make the announcement.
Who would you want to see in […]

I spent a few minutes on the phone the other day with Jeff Martin, executive producer of Lord, Save Us From Your Followers. They had a great run with a limited theatrical release, and are seeing a tremendous response at church screenings, and are now deciding what next steps to take.
We’ve talked about marketing before […]

In two weeks The Blind Side, a powerful film based on a true story, is coming to theaters near you. It hits so many perfect notes in all the right places that it is sure to win audiences around the country.
You’ve probably already seen the trailers, and perhaps, like me, you wonder if all the […]

You know you’ve made it if your film or show is spoofed by others. Actor Gary Moore regularly spoofs films made by Christian producers by inserting himself into the main character’s role and turning dramatic moments into comic ones.
Watch his take on Fireproof (called In-Law Proof), and Facing the Giants on YouTube. If you’re familiar […]

To some, the utterance of that phrase is blasphemy. To others, a prayer. Still others it’s a curse.This fall, it’s the name of a documentary by filmmaker Peter Rodger. He traveled the globe with a camera, examining the idea of God through various religions, cultures, spiritual leaders and celebrities. He also captures thoughts from ordinary […]

This gem of a film is currently in theaters in select cities around the country. If you’re like me, the title immediately caught your attention right away. Maybe it even made you say, “What? That doesn’t sound like something I want to watch.”
Well, you should watch it if you have the chance. Rather than being […]

Acting coach, director and film producer Clay Banks (The Azusa Street Project) is sponsoring a 1-Minute Monologue contest for actors in Los Angeles on Saturday, October 10. Actors have the opportunity to showcase their work for a panel that includes agents, directors, managers, filmmakers, and casting directors.
Melissa Disney, the 2008 winner, was cast as the […]

Big Idea is releasing Saint Nicholas: A Story of Joyful Giving this October. It’s their first Christmas release for a while, and centers on the origins of the Santa Claus story. This delightful story introduces a couple of new characters, one of which is a nun. Now what kind of vegetable do you think would […]

…Goes to a Christian movie (or faith-based film). Any guesses? It’s The Passion of the Christ.
I’ve been providing information about box office and DVD income for faith-based films to someone working on an article about the impact of faith-based films in the marketplace and dug up this piece of information on Box Office Mojo. I […]

Christian filmmaker Jeff Peterson recently undertook a daunting task: filming back to back movies (Garage Dwellers and Great Gain). Even though the two films were done in different locations (Phoenix for Garage Dwellers and Austin and Denver for Great Gain), he did some cross-filming by using some footage in both movies.
You can read about Jeff’s […]

Well, if you don’t own one, it might be pretty difficult. So filmmaker Ryan Dunlap (Daros Films) created a blog called Things I Learned in Monochrome while filming his new movie Greyscale, and it’s full of helpful hints for filmmakers. Just a few I saw at first glance were:

Burn your film critic’s hat before yelling […]

20th Century Fox announced that production is underway in Queensland, Australia, for The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, the third installment in the Chronicles of Narnia series. Early reports are that references to World War II and its effect on England include English soldiers and nurses saying farewell to each other.
Fans of the original C.S. […]

In the “What were they thinking?” category, Warner Brothers Pictures announced recently that they’re considering the addition of a pro-adoption message at the end of their movie Orphan when it releases on DVD. Too bad they didn’t think of that before the nationwide release of the film this weekend stirred up protests.
Or did they make […]

If you’ve been to the theater at all this summer, you’ve probably seen an advertisement about how it takes many phone calls to make a movie, but only one to ruin it. I can attest to the truth of both statements.
The producers I know are constantly networking to put together their next project, or promote […]

Looking for a way into film? How about putting your car into a film? I just came across a notice from Boston Casting, a company that is casting for the next Mark Wahlberg film The Fighter.
They are looking for pre-1993 cars, especially ones that look old and rusty looking. They consider cars from the 1980s […]

This afternoon I dove out of 90+ degree weather into a cool movie theater to see Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. It was a fun, if long, way to while away the mid afternoon.
Like any sequel, it has to have something new or extend the story in a compelling way to really […]