Arts + Entertainment
Holman QuickSource Guide to the Dead Sea Scrolls Now Available
MILW - Just published this month, The Holman QuickSource Guide to the Dead Sea Scrolls provides one of the best overviews of the Dead sea Scrolls and their relative importance for Christianity from Craig A. Evans, Payzant Distinguished Professor of New Testament and director of the graduate program at Acadia Divinity College in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. A widely recognized expert on the Bible and Archaeology, and Jesus and the Dead Sea Scrolls, Evans also authored Jesus, the Final Days (with N. T. Wright) and Fabricating Jesus and is regular guest on Dateline NBC.
New VeggieTales Movie debuts Feb 27th
LA - On the thematic story line of Pinnochio, a lonely toymaker named Gelato and his assistant Cricket decided to carve a little boy out of wood. When Pistachio tries to do things his way, he lands in a “whale” of a situation! Will he decide to listen to the wisdom of a loving father in time to save his whole family from becoming fish food? Find out in this all-new adventure with a lesson about the importance of family and learning to listen.
‘To Save a Life’ – A faith-based film to reach today’s youth
"The real message of this film is to try and offer help to people that are in trouble," says Josh Weigel, who plays a youth pastor. (New Song Productions / January 20, 2010)
Jake (Randy Wayne) and Jonny (Sean Michael Afabel) share an easy laugh in the quad.
LA – On the surface, “To Save a Life” doesn’t sound that different from a host of indie films — a drama involving a teen coping with the aftermath of a student’s suicide who finds solace in a group of outsiders.
The film, which opened last Friday (Jan 22, 2010), deals with myriad real-life issues facing teens such as drugs, sex and social acceptance. The plot focuses on star athlete Jake Taylor, who seemingly has it all; he has a basketball scholarship, good looks, a cheerleader girlfriend and hangs with the in-crowd. But when a loner, an old friend from his past, shoots himself at school, his world is turned upside down and he seeks answers on how he could have made a difference.
“To Save a Life” is meant to be uplifting and appeal to a wide audience. Which is part of the reason that the filmmakers don’t want to make too much of the fact that this is a faith-based film.
“The real message of this film is to try and offer help to people that are in trouble,” said Josh Weigel, who plays the role of a youth pastor in the film. “I don’t know what that kind of movie is called, movie with a purpose, a positive film, inspirational or redemptive film. It doesn’t really matter.”
The film is being distributed by Samuel Goldwyn Films, which had a breakout hit in 2008 with the Christian film “Fireproof.” With a budget well under $1 million, the film, which starred Kirk Cameron, grossed $33 million thanks in large part to grass-roots marketing to church audiences.
Like “Fireproof,” “To Save a Life” is produced by a church-based production company, in this case New Song Pictures, a division of New Song Ministries in Oceanside California. But that’s where the similarities with the more overtly Christian “Fireproof” end. In fact, the new film may have more in common with Fox’s “Glee” than it does with previous Christian films, including a rainbow-colored cast of misfits and a good-looking mentor who guides them through the chaos of high school life.
According to LA Times reporter, Liesl Bradner, screenwriter and producer, Jim Britts, wrote the screenplay after learning that the top influence on teen behavior is not parents, school or even church, but movies.
“I work with troubled teens every day and see the severity of the poor choices they make,” said Britts of his 10 years as a youth pastor at New Hope Church. “Movies are a powerful way to illustrate the consequences of making the wrong choice while reinforcing positive actions. “Not a day goes by without talking to a kid going through some kind of pain.”
Many of those associated with “To Save a Life” are understandably nervous about being typecast as “Christian” filmmakers. It’s not that they are embarrassed by their beliefs, but the track record of faith-based films has been spotty. “To Save a Life” used Hollywood professionals to upgrade the quality of the film, but that was not always an easy task.
“It’s hard to commit to being in a film with any kind of Christian undertones, as most actors don’t want to be pigeonholed,” said casting director Liz Lang. “Christian films can be risky. You can believe in all sorts of things, but when you start talking about God and Jesus, people turn away.”
Initially, Randy Wayne, who plays Jake, passed on auditioning for the role because it was a faith-based movie with a low budget.
“I was afraid it would look really cheesy and I would too,” said Wayne, who changed his mind after reading the script. Jake’s struggles are the heart of the film but the guiding light is Youth Pastor Chris Vaughn, played by actor Weigel. Casting the role of a spiritual leader is crucial especially in faith-based films. “Pastors are depicted as being really preachy,” said Britts. “I knew Chris had been a youth pastor and he came in and nailed it.”
“To Save a Life” is co-produced by Outreach Films, which handled the marketing campaigns for “Fireproof.”
“The grass-roots marketing, especially on the Internet, is a significant part of reaching our teen audience,” said Meyer Gottlieb, president and chief operating officer of Samuel Goldwyn Films, which plans to distribute two faith-based films a year. “We want entertaining films that resonant with people, make them feel good and change their life for the better.” Among the marketing strategies is a Facebook page that also offers tools for at-risk kids, such as suicide hotlines, art contests and other creative outlets.
“We want to empower teens to be a messenger of hope by reaching out and befriending someone in trouble,” said Britts.
Synopsis…
Ever since Jake Taylor was a kid, he was the type of guy you couldn’t help but like. For Jake, life is good. He has friends, fame, a basketball scholarship, a future and the hottest girl in the school. Not much to get down about, right? Enter Roger Dawson. He’s Jake’s childhood best friend before Jake’s popularity goes into high gear. Miserable and mad over being on the outside of Jake’s, or anybody’s inner circle, he’s tired of being pushed aside by everyone. He walks onto campus with a gun in his pocket and pain in his heart, and makes a tragic move. Jake is devastated at what Roger has done. And something in him changes. In seeking answers in his own life, one question plagues him the most: Could I have saved him? He is now deeply compelled to reach out to the students who are on the fringe of acceptability by the school’s upper crust. But he finds reaching out to the undesirable threatens his world. He may lose his own friends, his scholarship, his dreams and even his reputation to do it.
Cast and Crew
Produced by Jim Britts, Steve Foster, Nicole Franco
Written by Jim Britts
Directed by Brian Baugh
Starring: Randy Wayne, Robert Bailey Jr., Kim Hidalgo, Deja Kreutzberg, Joshua Weigel
(Source: LA Times, New Song Productions, Internet)
FILM: To Save A Life – Coming Soon…
To Save A Life is a powerful indie movie about the real-life challenges of teens and their choices . But it’s more than just a movie -it’s a feature-length film with follow-up opportunities like a youth group curriculum and a teen devotional centered around the biblical concept that we’re never more like Jesus than when we are reaching out to the hurting and lonely.
At some point, every teen has to decide “What’s my life going to be about?” To Save A Life desires to bring that question into their world, encouraging them to answer it with boldness, honesty and Christ-likeness.
The movie is slated for a January 2010 release. For more information please visit http://www.tosavealifemovie.com
Nelson releases new audio Bible (NKJV): Word of Promise
NASHVILLE/LA - The Word of Promise® Audio Bible features compelling narration by Michael York and the work of over 600 actors. Each beloved book of the Bible comes to life with outstanding performances by Jim Caviezel as Jesus, Richard Dreyfuss as Moses, Gary Sinise as David, Jason Alexander as Joseph, Marisa Tomei as Mary Magdalene, Stacy Keach as Paul, Louis Gossett, Jr. as John, Jon Voight as Abraham, Marcia Gay Harden as Esther, Joan Allen as Deborah, Max Von Sydow as Noah, Malcolm McDowell as Solomon, and many others.
The set is over 90 hours on 79 CDs and includes an interactive Bonus Features DVD that includes actor interviews, worship resources, and a fascinating look at how dramatic audio theater is produced.
The nearly four-year project, released in October,was the inspiration of Carl Amari, a Chicago-area producer of radio programs.
“I always thought it would be cool to do a radio drama of the Bible,” said Amari to an LA Times reporter, who grew up “not real religious.” ”You’re dramatizing the greatest story ever told. It’s God’s word. How can you make God’s word lift off the page? With great actors, great sound effects and music.”
Amari pitched the concept in early 2006 to Thomas Nelson Inc., a Nashville-based publisher of Christian books, software and videos. He was an admirer of the company’s 1982 modern translation of the King James Bible.
Performing the Bible verbatim from Genesis to Revelation was a huge undertaking, involving more than 1,000 actors, technicians and musicians.
JoBe Cerny, a voice-over and character actor perhaps best known as the voice of the Pillsbury Doughboy, directed 175,000 takes over four years, Amari said. Stefano Mainetti, an Italian film and TV composer, wrote the music and conducted a 150-piece orchestra.
The first portion of the project, the New Testament, was released in 2007 and honored as the Christian Book of the Year for 2008 by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Assn. It was the first audio Bible to receive the award and has sold more than 700,000 copies.
The audio Bible, sold in a box about the size of a child’s jack-in-the-box toy, is available at Christian bookstores and online through ProBuColls Christian Literature Cenbter (414-344-7300 // 9733 W Greenfield ave West Allis WI 53214) and other outlets.
Click here to listen to the entire Book of Jonah from The Word of Promise® Audio Bible.
For audio samples, free downloads, and for more information please visit www.thewordofpromise.thomasnelson.com.
CHRIS TOMLIN to perform this Sunday at Oak Creek Assembly
MILWAUKEE – In what is sure to be a highlight for thousands this Christmas season, Chris Tonlin brings his “Glory in the Highest” tour to Milwaukee. The fourth stop (and the fourth SOLD OUT!), Tomlin expresses the joy of believers through music, lyric and stories in person. Additional venues are sold out, including 2 night stand in Atlanta GA.
“The thought I’ve had running through my head is that it’s time to introduce ourselves to love again. People need to be reminded that what we’re here to do is to love God and love people. Worship is a relationship of love. It’s our love of God and our love of people.”
“I want to talk about what’s right now,” says Tomlin, the singer/songwriter/worship leader/Texas native/three-time Gospel Music Association male vocalist of the year/two-time GMA artist of the year/two-time GRAMMY nominee/most sung Christian artist in the United States.
K-LOVE gives away Chris Tomlin tix this Friday!
MILWAUKEE – Friday 11/27 at Something New Christian Outlet (9733 W Greenfield Avenue West Allis Wi 53214) K-Love’s Johnny V will offer 4-pack tix for the sold-out Christmas concert by CHRIS TOMLIN for 105 minutes starting at 10AM. The concert is to be held at Oak Creek Assembly of God on Sunday Dec 6.
Live Nativity – World Harvest – Dec 22 & 23
World Harvest Community Church invites the public to join them as they perform a reenactment of the Christmas Story with actors, narration and live animals!
Performances run every 30 minutes starting at 6:30 PM and ending at 8PM at the World Harvest Community Church 1500 S West Lane in New Berlin.
FILM REVIEW: 2012 – a spectacular speculative
MILWAUKEE – With German director, Roland Emmerich (Day After Tomorrow) at the helm of 2012, one cannot feel anything but overwhelmed by the wide-screen epic of the end of the world in this fictional speculative based loosely on Fingerprints of the Gods by Graham Hancock.
The movie presents a near-term picture of a society faced with global economic and political turmoil, an aristocratic, global oligarchy of world leaders, and global warming caused by excessive neutrinos from the sun microwaving the earth’s core and not from mankind’ over-industrialization.
Danny Glover as President Thomas Wilson (2012)
While the script meted much political and social commentary – including the destructive end to all government and religious institutions, the screenplay, nevertheless, portrays the remnant of civilization based on hope in diversity. Heroic death scenes (Danny Glover as the emotionally resigned president and
Woody Harrelson as doomsdayer radiocaster Charlie Frost (2012)
Woody Harrelson as the radio-broadcasting end-times prophet in Yellowstone), dramatic emotional moments among divorce-torn families (compassionately revealed in John Cusak and Amanda Peet), and an ever-shortening deadline which fuels the crisis and panic (brilliantly embodied in Oliver Platt) combine an orchestral movement from fears to tears over the 2-3/4 hour movie.
The Milwaukee preview audience responded gleefully as three times the state of Wisconsin was mentioned by name – the first as a retired couple lamented their relocating to California, second as global movements shifted the South Pole to the Dells, and in one other scene of humorous relief for the viewer to attend. In the end, however, it is the Horn of Good Hope in South Africa where civilization will reboot as the three arks containing a few protected species, including common folk, billionaires and the Queen of England, dogs in tow.
The special effects were stupendous. Four computer graphic companies served the backbone of production, supplemented by 9 others – perhaps the largest entourage of entertainment geeks gathered for a single movie. Sony Image Effects (and a division of Sony Pictures/Columbia which produced the film) clearly intended to provide an abundance of eye-candy for the film-goer. This goal was a grand achievement for Emmerich, who is often criticised for his “over” reliance on special effects, but he serves to satisfy the needs of the Star Wars generation.
2012 - Release November 13, 2009. (All photos coyrighted Sony Entertainment/Columbia Pictures)
However, 2012 unfolds the complexities of life in the 21st century for all to see, drawing the viewer deeper into the lives of the characters throughout the epic. Even as certain scenes of suspense are cliche, such as the pregnant anxiety before Cusak floats to the surface after saving the ark from head-on collision with the North face of Mount Everest, the audience shared gasps of relief, belts of laughter, and swells of anticipation as they traversed the plot from scene-to-scene.
Danny Glover gives one of the most memorable performances of his career as the president, a widower who seeks the counsel of God in the White House chapel instead of escaping to the ark, and he quotes Psalm 23 as he delivers his final address to the nation of ‘many religions.’ Lead scientist, Chiiwetel Ejiofer (Amistad, Trust, Children of Men, American Gangster) offers an impassioned plea for all to act civilized and not with cruelty, realizing the destructive end from the very beginning but demonstrating a love and respect for people throughout.
SUMMARY: 2012 is more than an imaginative, ficitonal prediction of the end of the world, disappointingly weaved in a predictable plot. (At one point the political power-broker played by Platt admits that the ‘cardboard toting nutbags were right afterall,’ referring to the extremist street-evangelists of today.) The visual carousel depicts the uplifting tale of human spirit in the face of daunting challenges – from within and from without — with most of the population utterly destroyed.
Hollywood writers might learn to challenge, and therein raise, the literacy of future generations through better screenwriting, who use (and abuse) a limited set of words, rather than developing the all-to-important-and-neglected skill of commanding a vocabulary worth sharing. For these reasons, given the profanity and blasphemy employed in a PG-13 production and the secular humanism and religious universalism espoused without differentiating destinies, we cannot recommend the film for Christian viewing, but we are encouraged by the few positive references to God and the pictures of human need relying on faith while submerged in abysmal valleys of life – an experience shared by all with desperately different destinations for each according to God’s Word based in whom one places that faith.
Vie wthe trailer here: 2012 Trailer (HD)
Gospel Music Channel :: fastest-growing cable channel with 46.7 million
GA - From his little studio and offices here, the son of one of America’s early televangelists launched the squeaky clean Gospel Music Channel, potentially reaching more than 1 million homes with its first broadcast in October 2004.
In the years since, Charley Humbard and his investors can claim that what’s been called “MTV for Christians’’ has been the fastest-growing cable channel, now with 46.7 million subscribers, according to SNL Kagan, a media research and analysis firm.
The channel, privately owned by investors Humbard spent two years assembling after he walked away from a career at the Discovery Channel, does not release earnings. But it’s no secret that since its earliest days, television has provided a living for the Humbard family.
Humbard’s father was the guitar-strumming, singing preacher Rex Humbard, who started his TV show in 1952. He added his four children as singers and musicians and then his grandchildren by the mid 1960s. At the height of its popularity in the 1970s, more than 1,000 US and foreign stations carried the “Cathedral of Tomorrow’’ broadcast.
“As Dad said, ‘If you don’t sing, you don’t eat,’ ’’ Humbard said. “He said that lightly, but we got it.’’
Humbard, now 48, worked his way to a senior vice president position at Discovery Channel before the appeal of music led to Gospel Music Channel.
“It is very deep in all of us,’’ Humbard said.
As a kid, young Charley hung around Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, Mahalia Jackson, and Andre Crouch. He met Elvis, a family friend. By 7, he was teaching himself guitar.
Mike Privette, the road manager for Rex Humbard’s show, recalls young Humbard asking Privette if he would bang on a piano in a recording studio so Humbard could practice manipulating the slides, dials, and switches on a recording board.
Much later, he mentioned to Charley Humbard a little Tennessee cable channel for sale that was devoted to gospel music.
One big thing stood between him and the channel – the average $100 million it would take to start and fund a new cable operation with top-notch production, Humbard said.
Humbard called contacts, seeking advice and potential investors who would view the channel not as a ministry but as a profit-driven business. In two years, they had enough investors – Humbard declines to say how much they put up – to start their own channel from scratch and start broadcasting.
For fans, the music on GMC is more than just entertainment, according to media economist Jack Myers. “The content of the music has relevance and importance in their lives,’’ he said.
(Source: Globe Newspaper Company)
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