It’s not impossible to be a Christian in Hollywood, Lee Stanley will tell you. What it does take is guts - the same guts it takes to be a Christian anywhere, he says.
Stanley wasn’t a believer when he moved from New England to California in the 1960s. He was in love with a fantasy – not the idea of making it big on the big screen, but being around the water all the time.
The aspiring baseball player had realized he wasn’t going to make it to the major leagues, so he turned to another passion - diving. He had no idea the trek West would lead him on the road to becoming a filmmaker who tells stories of redemption and faith.
Stanley details his life in “Faith in the Land of Make-Believe,” published this month by Zondervan. He said he wrote the book to “to encourage people that have wandered away or lost the confidence in the things that have been on their heart for years.”
Article continues here.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Third Day Honored with ASCAP Vanguard Award
Third Day was honored with ASCAP’s Vanguard Award recognizing the band for its “extraordinary impact on Christian music.” Third Day is the first Christian music artist to receive the ASCAP Vanguard Award. Past ASCAP Vanguard Award honorees include The Killers, Sara Bareilles, Santigold, All-American Rejects, Arcade Fire, The Mars Volta, Jack Johnson, The Strokes, Modest Mouse, Built To Spill, Beastie Boys, Nine Inch Nails, Beck and Bjork.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Next Narnia Film Will Be 'Magician's Nephew,' Not 'Silver Chair'
Walden Media has confirmed to The Christian Post that the Narnia 4 movie will be "The Magician's Nephew," not "The Silver Chair" as originally speculated by many fans.
"We are starting to talk to Fox and talk to the C.S. Lewis estate now about the Magician's Nephew being our next film," said Michael Flaherty, co-founder and president of Walden Media, during a recent interview with The Christian Post.
"If we can all agree to move forward, then what we would do is find someone to write the script. So, it could still be a couple of years."
For the past several months, many Narnia fans were worried whether "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" could muster the box office numbers needed for Walden to produce another movie installment based on the beloved Chronicles of Narnia series.
"Dawn Treader" had a weak start in the domestic markets, however, it has fared better overseas.
Flaherty attributed "Caspian's" dismal performance to a poorly timed summer release and the story's bent on deeper theological principles like waiting on God's timing. He said that Walden has since learned a Christmas release would probably work best with a Narnia film and not to neglect the faith market.
He also noted that box office performance for Narnia films appears to mimic the amount of people's interest in the books. Looking ahead, Walden Media believes "The Magician's Nephew" has the potential to be a blockbuster hit like "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" because it is the second most popular book in the Narnia series.
"We are starting to talk to Fox and talk to the C.S. Lewis estate now about the Magician's Nephew being our next film," said Michael Flaherty, co-founder and president of Walden Media, during a recent interview with The Christian Post.
"If we can all agree to move forward, then what we would do is find someone to write the script. So, it could still be a couple of years."
For the past several months, many Narnia fans were worried whether "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" could muster the box office numbers needed for Walden to produce another movie installment based on the beloved Chronicles of Narnia series.
"Dawn Treader" had a weak start in the domestic markets, however, it has fared better overseas.
Flaherty attributed "Caspian's" dismal performance to a poorly timed summer release and the story's bent on deeper theological principles like waiting on God's timing. He said that Walden has since learned a Christmas release would probably work best with a Narnia film and not to neglect the faith market.
He also noted that box office performance for Narnia films appears to mimic the amount of people's interest in the books. Looking ahead, Walden Media believes "The Magician's Nephew" has the potential to be a blockbuster hit like "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" because it is the second most popular book in the Narnia series.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Peter Furler Solo CD Delayed to June 21
Peter Furler's new CD titled On Fire has been pushed back until June 21.
EMI's press release states:
Grammy nominated and Dove award winning Peter Furler needs no introduction. His history in our industry has been well documented as the previous iconic lead voice of the Newsboys. He has not only been given our industry’s top songwriter of the year award, but also driven the sales of five Gold records and sales of over seven million albums as the unforgettable front man for Newsboys. He has written, produced and sung over 25 number one hits including classics such as "He Reigns," "Shine," "Something Beautiful," and "It is You."
This June, Peter Furler begins to write a new chapter in his history with his first solo album, which some are calling Peter's greatest work to date. Like any true artist though, Peter is merely finding an outlet after God called him to take some time away.
"There is a fire shut up in my bones that I have not been able to hold in since I was a child," says Furler. "For me, I find its release through melody and testimony." Furler's fans are eagerly anticipating what will be next from one of music’s most inspirational and charismatic artists.
EMI's press release states:
Grammy nominated and Dove award winning Peter Furler needs no introduction. His history in our industry has been well documented as the previous iconic lead voice of the Newsboys. He has not only been given our industry’s top songwriter of the year award, but also driven the sales of five Gold records and sales of over seven million albums as the unforgettable front man for Newsboys. He has written, produced and sung over 25 number one hits including classics such as "He Reigns," "Shine," "Something Beautiful," and "It is You."
This June, Peter Furler begins to write a new chapter in his history with his first solo album, which some are calling Peter's greatest work to date. Like any true artist though, Peter is merely finding an outlet after God called him to take some time away.
"There is a fire shut up in my bones that I have not been able to hold in since I was a child," says Furler. "For me, I find its release through melody and testimony." Furler's fans are eagerly anticipating what will be next from one of music’s most inspirational and charismatic artists.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Stephen Baldwin Makes Directorial Debut With Cory Lamb Music Video
Outspoken Christian actor, Stephen Baldwin, added a new item to his resume when he directed the music video for Cory Lamb’s song, “Break The Cycle.”
“If you want to reach today’s youth you’ve gotta be relevant,” Baldwin said. “Cory Lamb, his music and his message are that very thing. I believe in Cory’s passion to deliver a positive message to today’s youth.”
“If you want to reach today’s youth you’ve gotta be relevant,” Baldwin said. “Cory Lamb, his music and his message are that very thing. I believe in Cory’s passion to deliver a positive message to today’s youth.”
Skillet Bangs Its Way to #1
“Awake & Alive,” the latest single from Skillet, is #1 at Mainstream Active Rock Radio outlets nationwide. Their gold certified album, “AWAKE,” now features a trio of Active Rock and Christian radio blockbusters including the current hit “Awake and Alive,” the RIAA gold certified, top 5 Active Rock and Christian Rock smash, “Monster,” and the just certified RIAA gold hit “Hero” – with digital single sales from the album now exceeding 1.5 million.
“Hero” has been used extensively on TV including the NFL’s Sunday Night Football, NFL Weekend Kickoff promos, ESPN, and more. It was most recently featured on FOX Sports’ “The Daytona 500: The American Dream,” a one-hour documentary special delivering fresh and never-before-seen footage from self-professed Skillet fan, Trevor Bayne’s historic run to Victory Lane.
“Hero” has been used extensively on TV including the NFL’s Sunday Night Football, NFL Weekend Kickoff promos, ESPN, and more. It was most recently featured on FOX Sports’ “The Daytona 500: The American Dream,” a one-hour documentary special delivering fresh and never-before-seen footage from self-professed Skillet fan, Trevor Bayne’s historic run to Victory Lane.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Peter Furler Signs New Record Deal
Peter Furler, former lead singer of the Newsboys, announced today that he has signed a new record deal with EMI.
He retired from the Newsboys last year so he could take a break from the nonstop touring he had experienced with the Newsboys.
The new CD or first single will be titled Reach.
He retired from the Newsboys last year so he could take a break from the nonstop touring he had experienced with the Newsboys.
The new CD or first single will be titled Reach.
"The Grace Card" Opens in Top 20
The Grace Card is a dramatic film that intends to illustrate the everyday opportunities that people have have to rebuild relationships and heal deep wounds by extending and receiving God’s grace. The film stars Louis Gossett, Jr. and Michael Joiner. It was released on February 25, 2011 to 363 theaters, grossing $1,010,299 on opening weekend - good enough to land in the 16th position.
"The Grace Card" was conceived by its first-time director, Dr. David Evans, a Memphis optometrist making the leap into filmmaking with the support of his congregation, the Calvary Church of the Nazarene in Cordova TN, the film's "sponsoring church."
The success of "Fireproof" with Kirk Cameron, a low-budget 2008 movie produced by Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga., that earned $33 million at the box office, provided inspiration for Evans and his supporters.
A self-described "modern evangelical" and "20-year pro" in Hollywood who co-wrote Clint Eastwood's "Space Cowboys," among other films, screenwriter and producer Howie Klausner, rewrote Evans' original script and joined the production after deciding he wanted to help Christian films "grow up." He describes "The Grace Card" as a cop movie with a spiritual twist.
Academy Award winning actor Louis Gossett Jr., who earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 1983 for his role as a tough Marine sergeant in "An Officer and a Gentleman," said he was attracted to "The Grace Card" because he's interested in "nourishing stories" that complement his faith in God and his work as the founder of The Eracism Foundation.
"The Grace Card" was conceived by its first-time director, Dr. David Evans, a Memphis optometrist making the leap into filmmaking with the support of his congregation, the Calvary Church of the Nazarene in Cordova TN, the film's "sponsoring church."
The success of "Fireproof" with Kirk Cameron, a low-budget 2008 movie produced by Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga., that earned $33 million at the box office, provided inspiration for Evans and his supporters.
A self-described "modern evangelical" and "20-year pro" in Hollywood who co-wrote Clint Eastwood's "Space Cowboys," among other films, screenwriter and producer Howie Klausner, rewrote Evans' original script and joined the production after deciding he wanted to help Christian films "grow up." He describes "The Grace Card" as a cop movie with a spiritual twist.
Academy Award winning actor Louis Gossett Jr., who earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 1983 for his role as a tough Marine sergeant in "An Officer and a Gentleman," said he was attracted to "The Grace Card" because he's interested in "nourishing stories" that complement his faith in God and his work as the founder of The Eracism Foundation.
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