Justin Bieber's mother, Pattie Mallette, produced a pro-life film, "Crescendo," which she hopes will help raise millions of dollars to support pregnancy centers.
In her book Nowhere But Up: The Story of Justin Bieber's Mom, Mallette explains how she became a Christian in a health center. Once released, she fell back into old habits until she became pregnant with the child of then-boyfriend Jeremy Bieber. Though faced with tough circumstances, she decided to have the baby instead of having an abortion.
"I knew that I had to do what it took. I just couldn't abort him," she wrote in her book, referring to Justin. "My hope through this involvement is to encourage young women all over the world, just like me, to let them know that there is a place to go, people who will take care of you and a safe home to live in if you are pregnant and think you have nowhere else to turn," Mallette, who received help from a pregnancy center as teenager, said in a statement about the film
More recently The Chicago Sun-Times interviewed a "longtime Bieber associate," who suggested that Bieber is uncomfortable with the attention his mother is receiving because of her film.
"Justin just is very uncomfortable about political issues – especially ones like abortion that are very divisive," the anonymous associate stated. "He's all about entertaining his fans with his music and not interested in pushing a political agenda. ... Furthermore, I don't believe he agrees with his mom on this issue."
"Crescendo" has won over a dozen film festival awards. Mallette plans to make appearances at several screenings of the film, where she will share her story in person.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
Jenn Gotzon and John Schneider Ask Who is Sam Doonby?
Actress Jenn Gotzon, whose breakthrough was in the film "Frost/Nixon" portraying the president's daughter, Tricia Nixon, is in Washington, D.C., this week screening the movie "Doonby." The screenings of the mystery film with an underlying message about life's choices are intentionally timed to coincide with the March for Life and the 40th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade case.
Gotzon explains:
Gotzon explains:
"Doonby is a psychological mystery thriller that has a touch of romance, which is where my character and John Schneider's character come in. It's a story about this man that no one knows who mysteriously appears in a small town in Texas. He starts to change the lives of those around him in a positive way. Due to conflict of life, with things like jealousy and suspicion and all these interesting human things that we deal with, the circumstances of this beautiful human being named Sam Doonby, played by John Schneider, life turns up on its head. The audience is left to figure out, "Who is Sam Doonby?"
It's a mystery and in the climax of the movie this beautiful mystery is revealed. It's a story that really impacts and has a proactive message to it that can really challenge all audiences on their beliefs and becoming aware of the choices they make in life and how they may impact another human being."
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Chariots of Fire! Ben-Hur Remake in the Works
"Ben-Hur" is going to be remade by MGM studios, with sources telling Deadline that the focus of the storyline will feature more heavily on Jesus Christ.
The 1959 movie, based on the Lew Wallace novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, won 11 Oscars and is considered one of the most successful Christian movies ever made. The 1880 Lew Wallace novel Ben-Hur: A Tale Of The Christ outsold every book but The Bible until it was eclipsed by Gone With The Wind. The story focuses on the Jewish prince Ben-Hur who is forced to live for many years as a Roman slave, before he rises to power and meets Christ, witnessing a number of miracles along the way. The planned remake will reportedly be more faithful to Wallace's novel and focus more on Jesus' life, while at the same time interjecting Ben-Hur's account.
Deadline reported that MGM has emerged from bankruptcy following the massive success of the 2012 James Bond movie "Skyfall" and the "Lord of the Rings" prequel "The Hobbit," both of which have made around $1 billion worldwide in terms of box office success. This has provided the ability for MGM to buy the "Ben-Hur" script from screenwriter Keith Clarke.
Sean Daniel and Joni Levin have been chosen as the producers for the remake. Levin has been behind a number of big Hollywood projects, including the "Mummy" franchise.
"It's one of the great stories of friendship and betrayal, and faith, that works in the context of a big onscreen action thriller for a global audience," Daniel has said of Wallace's novel.
No release date has yet been set for the project, and producers will only now begin to look at casting choices.
Movie fans are preparing for a number of major biblical movies that will be hitting the big screen in the next few years, with Darren Aronofsky's "Noah" starring Russel Crowe, "Pontius Pilate" starring Brad Pitt, and no less than two movies about Moses, directed by Steven Spielberg and Ridley Scott respectively, all in the works.
Deadline reported that MGM has emerged from bankruptcy following the massive success of the 2012 James Bond movie "Skyfall" and the "Lord of the Rings" prequel "The Hobbit," both of which have made around $1 billion worldwide in terms of box office success. This has provided the ability for MGM to buy the "Ben-Hur" script from screenwriter Keith Clarke.
Sean Daniel and Joni Levin have been chosen as the producers for the remake. Levin has been behind a number of big Hollywood projects, including the "Mummy" franchise.
"It's one of the great stories of friendship and betrayal, and faith, that works in the context of a big onscreen action thriller for a global audience," Daniel has said of Wallace's novel.
No release date has yet been set for the project, and producers will only now begin to look at casting choices.
Movie fans are preparing for a number of major biblical movies that will be hitting the big screen in the next few years, with Darren Aronofsky's "Noah" starring Russel Crowe, "Pontius Pilate" starring Brad Pitt, and no less than two movies about Moses, directed by Steven Spielberg and Ridley Scott respectively, all in the works.
Skillet's Awake Certified Platinum
Skillet was in the studio putting the finishing touches on the new album when they received the news that their most recent release, Awake, has just been certified platinum for sales in excess of one million copies in the US. It's worth noting that Skillet was the only active rock band to achieve platinum certification in 2012, and were one of only three rock bands (the other two being Mumford & Sons and the Black Keys) to strike platinum in 2012.
Awake was a blockbuster release for Skillet, debuting at No. 2 on Billboard's Top 200 Album Chart and No. 1 on the magazine's Top Modern Rock/Alternative Albums Chart. In addition, the record hit No. 1 on iTunes' Top Album Chart, garnered 3 Billboard Music Awards and spawned four hit singles including the No. 1 Active Rock smash "Awake & Alive," as well as "Hero," "It's Not Me It's You" and "Monster." "Monster" lived up to its name, selling more than a million copies and hitting Top 5 at Active Rock radio, while its companion video has generated over 47 million YouTube views. The hook-happy "Hero" was featured in season-long spots for NBC's NFL Sunday Night Football and served as the official theme song for WWE's Royal Rumble Pay-Per-View.
The band toured endlessly in support, playing to sold-out crowds across the country, which earned them a spot on Pollstar's Concert Pulse Chart of the Top 50 Tours for fall of 2010. Awake followed the band's 2006's gold-selling album, Comatose.
Over the course of the past few years the group has sold more than two million units in the U.S. alone, racked up more than 150 million YouTube views and amassed a diehard following (dubbed Panheads) whose members number in the millions.
Awake was a blockbuster release for Skillet, debuting at No. 2 on Billboard's Top 200 Album Chart and No. 1 on the magazine's Top Modern Rock/Alternative Albums Chart. In addition, the record hit No. 1 on iTunes' Top Album Chart, garnered 3 Billboard Music Awards and spawned four hit singles including the No. 1 Active Rock smash "Awake & Alive," as well as "Hero," "It's Not Me It's You" and "Monster." "Monster" lived up to its name, selling more than a million copies and hitting Top 5 at Active Rock radio, while its companion video has generated over 47 million YouTube views. The hook-happy "Hero" was featured in season-long spots for NBC's NFL Sunday Night Football and served as the official theme song for WWE's Royal Rumble Pay-Per-View.
The band toured endlessly in support, playing to sold-out crowds across the country, which earned them a spot on Pollstar's Concert Pulse Chart of the Top 50 Tours for fall of 2010. Awake followed the band's 2006's gold-selling album, Comatose.
Over the course of the past few years the group has sold more than two million units in the U.S. alone, racked up more than 150 million YouTube views and amassed a diehard following (dubbed Panheads) whose members number in the millions.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Deception's Meagan Good Opens Up on Personal Life
Meagan Good has been promoting her new show "Deception" recently, but does not shy away from speaking about her recent marriage and how she believes God ordained it to happen.
Good, 31-year-old actress who is married to Hollywood film executive and preacher DeVon Franklin, recently appeared on "The Wendy Williams Show" where she opened up about her husband.
"DeVon is a preacher but he doesn't have a congregation. He does speaking engagements. We met six years before on a Christian film and he called me into his office and told me if I needed anything to definitely let him know," Good told Williams. "Then we met again when he executive produced 'Jumping The Broom.' And here we are."
The actress has been vocal about many details of their marriage that took place last June. While she wanted to keep some details private, Good spoke about panicking when her husband asked for her hand in marriage.
While Good said she dated Franklin for 10 months before exchanging vows, she also spoke about remaining celibate before they officially became husband and wife.
Good, 31-year-old actress who is married to Hollywood film executive and preacher DeVon Franklin, recently appeared on "The Wendy Williams Show" where she opened up about her husband.
"DeVon is a preacher but he doesn't have a congregation. He does speaking engagements. We met six years before on a Christian film and he called me into his office and told me if I needed anything to definitely let him know," Good told Williams. "Then we met again when he executive produced 'Jumping The Broom.' And here we are."
The actress has been vocal about many details of their marriage that took place last June. While she wanted to keep some details private, Good spoke about panicking when her husband asked for her hand in marriage.
While Good said she dated Franklin for 10 months before exchanging vows, she also spoke about remaining celibate before they officially became husband and wife.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
P.O.D. To Perform During NFC Championship Game
P.O.D. will perform during the halftime show at this weekend’s Falcons vs. 49ers NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Catch P.O.D. performing their hit song, “Higher” this Sunday, January 20th on FOX (game start time: 3PM ET/PT).
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Chris Tomlin Burning Light at Top of Billboard Charts
Singer/songwriter Chris Tomlin claims his first Number 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart as his "Burning Lights" opens atop the list with 73,000 sold according to Nielsen SoundScan. The Christian music veteran's new set also arrives at No. 1 on the Christian Albums chart, giving Tomlin his fourth leader on that tally.
Tomlin's debut earns the largest sales week for any Christian or gospel set since Casting Crowns' "Come to the Well" debuted at No. 2 on the Nov. 5, 2011 chart with 99,000.
It's also Tomlin's best sales frame yet, passing up the 63,000 he moved over the Thanksgiving frame of 2010 with "Glory in the Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship." While it's the best week for Tomlin, it's the smallest the No. 1 slot on the Billboard 200 has seen since the Sept. 15, 2012 tally, when fellow Christian act tobyMac bowed atop the list with "Eye On It" (69,000).
That said, "Burning Lights" is only the fourth Christian album to ever hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200. "Eye On It" became the third just last year -- and the first in 15 years.
Before that, you have to scroll back to the fall of 1997, when LeAnn Rimes' "You Light Up My Life -- Inspirational Songs" led the list for three nonconsecutive weeks. A few months earlier, our first Christian No. 1 came from Bob Carlisle's fluke hit album "Butterfly Kisses (Shades of Grace)." It spent two straight frames at No. 1 in late June and early July.
Aiding Tomlin's first-week are non-traditional sales generated at churches, this month's huge Passion Conference in Atlanta and via pre-orders. The annual Passion Christian gathering drew 60,000 college-aged attendees this year and, according to label sources, was watched by more than 100,000 viewers online.
Collectively, all sales from Passion-related purchases, church sales and the like amounted to 40% of "Burning Lights'" bow. Another 30% came from digital downloads.
Last week's No. 1 album, the "Les Miserables" soundtrack, slips to No. 3 with 52,000 (down 44%). Rounding out the top five is the "Pitch Perfect" soundtrack at a new high of No. 5 (up two slots) with 45,000 (down 13%).
This week marks the first time since 1999 that there have been two non-concert theatrical film soundtracks (that weren't born from a TV series) in the top five. The last time the feat occurred was on the July 17, 1999 chart, when "Wild Wild West" was at No. 4 and "Tarzan" was No. 5
Tomlin's debut earns the largest sales week for any Christian or gospel set since Casting Crowns' "Come to the Well" debuted at No. 2 on the Nov. 5, 2011 chart with 99,000.
It's also Tomlin's best sales frame yet, passing up the 63,000 he moved over the Thanksgiving frame of 2010 with "Glory in the Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship." While it's the best week for Tomlin, it's the smallest the No. 1 slot on the Billboard 200 has seen since the Sept. 15, 2012 tally, when fellow Christian act tobyMac bowed atop the list with "Eye On It" (69,000).
That said, "Burning Lights" is only the fourth Christian album to ever hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200. "Eye On It" became the third just last year -- and the first in 15 years.
Aiding Tomlin's first-week are non-traditional sales generated at churches, this month's huge Passion Conference in Atlanta and via pre-orders. The annual Passion Christian gathering drew 60,000 college-aged attendees this year and, according to label sources, was watched by more than 100,000 viewers online.
Collectively, all sales from Passion-related purchases, church sales and the like amounted to 40% of "Burning Lights'" bow. Another 30% came from digital downloads.
Last week's No. 1 album, the "Les Miserables" soundtrack, slips to No. 3 with 52,000 (down 44%). Rounding out the top five is the "Pitch Perfect" soundtrack at a new high of No. 5 (up two slots) with 45,000 (down 13%).
This week marks the first time since 1999 that there have been two non-concert theatrical film soundtracks (that weren't born from a TV series) in the top five. The last time the feat occurred was on the July 17, 1999 chart, when "Wild Wild West" was at No. 4 and "Tarzan" was No. 5
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Katherine Webb vs. the Kardashians
Webb, 23-year-old Miss Alabama USA 2012, gained popularity when sports announcers complimented her appearance during the college football championship game last week.
The beauty queen will appear in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue scheduled to hit newsstands on Feb 11.
While she recognizes that people are noticing her beauty, Webb said many are respecting the fact that she is nothing like Kardashian.
"I have morals and I have class." Webb told SI. "A lot of people have said I'm the anti-Kim Kardashian and I'm all right with that."
Although Webb recognized that Kardashian is a success in her own right, she told the publication that she wants to approach her career differently.
"She made herself into who she is and that's fine and all that. But I guess the way I want to go about all this is, I just want to have a positive image for myself," Webb told SI. "I want girls to be able to look up to me and to say, 'I want to be just like her one day.' That's what I did as Miss Alabama and I loved that."
The Christian beauty queen recognizes that she has been blessed with her recent rise to fame.
"I was completely dumbfounded. It was so shocking to me because literally overnight I go from being AJ's girlfriend and going to support him in the championship game to being on every major media news outlet," Webb told SI. "It's just so surprising to me. I don't know what God has planned, but obviously He's working on something. When Sports Illustrated called it just became even more real that this is happening. Every single model wants to be in Sports Illustrated, and I feel extremely blessed to have that opportunity."
McCarron seems to feel just as blessed to have her as a part of his life.
"Loving my life like no other! Beautiful family, great girl beside me and a small circle of great friends and my teammates," McCarron tweeted recently. "#blessedfromabove."
Chris Tomlin's 'Burning Lights' to Top Billboard Chart
Well-established worship leader Chris Tomlin looks to be on his way to break into the very top of next week's Billboard 200 chart, with his new album, "Burning Lights."
If "Burning Lights" arrives atop the list, it would mark the second No. 1 debut from a Christian album in less than a year and only the fourth Christian set to ever be No. 1. Last September, tobyMac started at No. 1 with "Eye On It."
The new Billboard 200 chart's top 10 will be revealed on the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 16.
"Burning Lights," released on Jan. 8, is Tomlin's eighth studio album, but it would be his very first one to reach the top of the Billboard 200, The Associated Press reported. His last studio album, "And If Our God Is For Us . . . " debuted and peaked at No. 17 in 2010 off a start of 45,000, according to Nielsen SoundScan. He's reached the top 10 once, when 2008's "Hello Love" bowed and peaked at No. 8. Tomlin's best sales week so far was registered when "Glory in the Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship," moved 63,000 over Thanksgiving week in 2010.
The "Les Miserables" Motion Picture soundtrack currently holds the top spot with 92,000 copies, but not many major albums are released in the first half of January, which will give "Burning Lights" the chance to take the top spot. The album's main competition next week will be "Notes From the Underground" by Hollywood Undead and "Wretched and Divine: The Story of The Wild Ones" by the Black Veil Brides.
If "Burning Lights" arrives atop the list, it would mark the second No. 1 debut from a Christian album in less than a year and only the fourth Christian set to ever be No. 1. Last September, tobyMac started at No. 1 with "Eye On It."
The new Billboard 200 chart's top 10 will be revealed on the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 16.
"Burning Lights," released on Jan. 8, is Tomlin's eighth studio album, but it would be his very first one to reach the top of the Billboard 200, The Associated Press reported. His last studio album, "And If Our God Is For Us . . . " debuted and peaked at No. 17 in 2010 off a start of 45,000, according to Nielsen SoundScan. He's reached the top 10 once, when 2008's "Hello Love" bowed and peaked at No. 8. Tomlin's best sales week so far was registered when "Glory in the Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship," moved 63,000 over Thanksgiving week in 2010.
The "Les Miserables" Motion Picture soundtrack currently holds the top spot with 92,000 copies, but not many major albums are released in the first half of January, which will give "Burning Lights" the chance to take the top spot. The album's main competition next week will be "Notes From the Underground" by Hollywood Undead and "Wretched and Divine: The Story of The Wild Ones" by the Black Veil Brides.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Christian Filmmaker Makes Short List for Superbowl Commercial Competition
The director of one of five commercials short listed for this year’s “Crash the Super Bowl” contest hosted by Doritos hopes the Christian community will support his family-friendly TV ad by voting for it on Facebook.
Mark Freiburger made the 30-second “Fashionista Daddy” video in Los Angeles with the help of some friends and is vying for a $1 million prize and the chance to work with Hollywood filmmaker Michael Bay.
The commercial opens with a girl asking her daddy if he’ll play Princess fashion show with her. He’s about to go play some touch football with his pals but when she offers a bag of Doritos, he ditches the football and instead dresses up in a gown and makeup and dances with his daughter. When his friends coming looking for him, they, too, are lured to play dress up by the promise of Doritos.
“The piece is about a father’s love for his daughter and for Doritos and how far he’ll go to show that love,” said Freiburger. “We wanted to do something that was family friendly and they’ve never had a father-daughter theme before.”
The top vote getter in the "Crash the Super Bowl" contest will air during Super Bowl 47 on Feb. 3. along with a second spot selected by Doritos. Freiburger will find out along with the rest of the world if "Fashionista Daddy" makes the cut.
“They’re taking all five finalists to the Super Bowl and we’ll be in the skybox with Michael Bay and we’ll only know when it’s broadcast,” he said.
If one of the two Doritos commercials ranks the highest of any other commercial aired during the Super Bowl according to the USA Today Ad Meter, its creator will receive a $1 million prize.
The creator of the highest ranked of the two Doritos commercials will also get to work with Bay on the next “Transformers” movie.
Freiburger, 29, is originally from North Carolina and now lives in Los Angeles. A committed Christian, he has worked on a number of faith-based films. His latest feature film “Jimmy,” which he directed, is due to be released on DVD in June.
He says entering the “Crash the Super Bowl” challenge is part of his efforts to transition into the Hollywood mainstream and says it would be a dream come true to work with Bay. He also says that if he should win the $1 million prize, he will donate $100,000 of it to various charities.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
American Idol Is Unstoppable
FOX is using TobyMac's "Unstoppable" in their spots promoting "American Idol."
STRYPER Frontman Says People Who Liked 'The Covering' Will Love 'Second Coming
Hard rockers Stryper will release a collection of re-recorded versions of the band's classic songs in March via Frontiers Records. Entitled "Second Coming", the CD will contain a total of 16 cuts — two from "The Yellow And Black Attack", six from "Soldiers Under Command", six from "To Hell With The Devil", as well as two new tracks, "Bleeding From Inside Out" and "Blackened".
Stryper frontman Micheal Sweet addressed the obvious question: "Why did we re-record old songs?" That's a multiple-answer question.
Stryper frontman Micheal Sweet addressed the obvious question: "Why did we re-record old songs?" That's a multiple-answer question.
"First, because we wanted to cut out the middle men and have a little more control over our own songs.
Second, we wanted to 'fix' some things that have annoyed the 'hell' out of us for the past 30 years such as: no bass in the mix of 'The Yellow And Black Attack' or 'Soldiers Under Command', and no Tim [Gaines, bass] on the mix of 'To Hell With The Devil'. The fact that I sound a little more like a man instead of a helium-induced kid at Disneyland. :-) The sheer joy of still loving these songs and still being able to perform these songs (well, we'll let the experts be the judge of that). And last but not certainly least? We did it just because we wanted to :-)
So there you go, the mystery is over and the reasons have been revealed.
Seriously, we're really excited about this record. It's one of the few re-records that I believe will stand against any of the originals if not surpass them.
If you liked 'The Covering', you'll love 'Second Coming'!"
Friday, January 11, 2013
The Proof of Your Love: for King and Country on Jay Leno
Watch for KING & COUNTRY's performance of "The Proof Of Your Love" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. You can skip to minute 37 or follow this link.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Brad Pitt to Star as Pontius Pilate?
CinemaBlend is reporting that Brad Pitt is considering taking up the title role of Pontius Pilate in a new big budget period piece production of the same name coming from Warner Bros. studios.
The movie does not yet have a release date and is still in pre-production, after Warner Bros. acquired the script by screenwriter Vera Blasi.
"This script follows the evolution of Lucius Pontius Pilate from the sensitive son of a Roman Knight into a ferocious soldier whose warrior exploits make him a general and puts him on a political track under the Roman Emperor Tiberius. Promised a military governorship in Egypt, Pilate is instead assigned by Tiberius to become the prefect of Judea, at a time when Jerusalem was a cauldron of religious tensions between various factions of the Jewish faith. Pilate veers from the political fast track into the express lane to hell and historical infamy," Deadline.com reports.
The critical moment of the story is when Pilate is asked to decide the fate of Jesus Christ, presented as a 33-year old rabbi accused by religious elders of claiming to be the King of the Jews. Other biblical figures expected to feature in the movie include John the Baptist, Salome and Mary Magdalene, although those roles have not been cast yet either.
The one big name attached to the movie so far is producer Mark Johnson, who has worked on award-winning TV show "Breaking Bad" and produced other major films like "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Trader," "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," and "The Notebook."
As for the portrayal of Pontius Pilate, Deadline describes him as "one of history's most vilified figures," but Blasi's screenplay suggests a more conflicted character.
"The screenplay, which Blasi claims to have researched for more than a decade, imagines the Roman prefect as an unfortunate figure caught amid antagonistic religious factions who is forced to make the fateful decision after finding himself in desperate need of popular goodwill," the Guardian reports.
Read full article
The movie does not yet have a release date and is still in pre-production, after Warner Bros. acquired the script by screenwriter Vera Blasi.
"This script follows the evolution of Lucius Pontius Pilate from the sensitive son of a Roman Knight into a ferocious soldier whose warrior exploits make him a general and puts him on a political track under the Roman Emperor Tiberius. Promised a military governorship in Egypt, Pilate is instead assigned by Tiberius to become the prefect of Judea, at a time when Jerusalem was a cauldron of religious tensions between various factions of the Jewish faith. Pilate veers from the political fast track into the express lane to hell and historical infamy," Deadline.com reports.
The critical moment of the story is when Pilate is asked to decide the fate of Jesus Christ, presented as a 33-year old rabbi accused by religious elders of claiming to be the King of the Jews. Other biblical figures expected to feature in the movie include John the Baptist, Salome and Mary Magdalene, although those roles have not been cast yet either.
The one big name attached to the movie so far is producer Mark Johnson, who has worked on award-winning TV show "Breaking Bad" and produced other major films like "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Trader," "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," and "The Notebook."
As for the portrayal of Pontius Pilate, Deadline describes him as "one of history's most vilified figures," but Blasi's screenplay suggests a more conflicted character.
"The screenplay, which Blasi claims to have researched for more than a decade, imagines the Roman prefect as an unfortunate figure caught amid antagonistic religious factions who is forced to make the fateful decision after finding himself in desperate need of popular goodwill," the Guardian reports.
Read full article
'Les Miserables' a Model for Christian Films?
The 2012 film version of the famous novel and stage production "Les Miserables" has been surpassing many expectations and is on course to become the highest-grossing musical in North American box-office history. Some analysts are saying its strong Christian values are drawing believers to the theaters in droves.
Filmmaker and media consultant Phil Cooke, who has worked on a number of Christian projects in Hollywood, told The Christian Post: "This is the kind of movie Christians should be supporting, taking their friends to, and then discussing afterwards."
"Les Miserables," originally a French historical novel by Victor Hugo published in 1862 and considered by many to be one of the most significant works of the nineteenth century, explores a number of central Christian themes, such as forgiveness, hope and redemption, and has been adopted into various formats.
The novel was turned into an English-language musical, performed originally at the Barbican Center in London in Oct. 1985, and went on to become one of the most successful stage productions worldwide, being adapted for Broadway in 1987, and revived again in 2006.
While "Les Miserables" has previously played on TV and movie screens, the 2012 effort to bring the musical to the big screen could be considered the most significant one to date, as it features a star-studded cast with actors Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe and Amanda Seyfriend. With an estimated $61 million budget, the movie has grossed over $103 million domestically for a total of $170 million worldwide since its release on Christmas Day.
Besides the star-studded cast, several reviews have noted that the movie's strong Christian themes are what are drawing audiences in.
"'Les Miserables' is booming at the box office, and that financial success can in part be traced to a group of its biggest boosters: Christians, particularly evangelicals whom NBC Universal went after with a microtargeted marketing strategy," a CNN review states. "The story in 'Les Miserables' is heavy with Christian themes of grace, mercy and redemption. The line everyone seems to remember is 'to love another person is to see the face of God,'" it adds.
"If you're a Christian and you're seeing this film, you can't help but see these themes," Jonathan Bock, founder and president of Grace Hill Media, the firm behind the movie's marketing campaign, told CNN.
Filmmaker and media consultant Phil Cooke, who has worked on a number of Christian projects in Hollywood, told The Christian Post: "This is the kind of movie Christians should be supporting, taking their friends to, and then discussing afterwards."
"Les Miserables," originally a French historical novel by Victor Hugo published in 1862 and considered by many to be one of the most significant works of the nineteenth century, explores a number of central Christian themes, such as forgiveness, hope and redemption, and has been adopted into various formats.
The novel was turned into an English-language musical, performed originally at the Barbican Center in London in Oct. 1985, and went on to become one of the most successful stage productions worldwide, being adapted for Broadway in 1987, and revived again in 2006.
While "Les Miserables" has previously played on TV and movie screens, the 2012 effort to bring the musical to the big screen could be considered the most significant one to date, as it features a star-studded cast with actors Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe and Amanda Seyfriend. With an estimated $61 million budget, the movie has grossed over $103 million domestically for a total of $170 million worldwide since its release on Christmas Day.
Besides the star-studded cast, several reviews have noted that the movie's strong Christian themes are what are drawing audiences in.
"'Les Miserables' is booming at the box office, and that financial success can in part be traced to a group of its biggest boosters: Christians, particularly evangelicals whom NBC Universal went after with a microtargeted marketing strategy," a CNN review states. "The story in 'Les Miserables' is heavy with Christian themes of grace, mercy and redemption. The line everyone seems to remember is 'to love another person is to see the face of God,'" it adds.
"If you're a Christian and you're seeing this film, you can't help but see these themes," Jonathan Bock, founder and president of Grace Hill Media, the firm behind the movie's marketing campaign, told CNN.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Ashley Tisdale Joins ‘Left Behind’
Deadline is reporting that Ashley Tisdale has signed up for the Left Behind film re-boot starring Nicolas Cage. The former High School Musical star will play Chloe Steele, the daughter of Cage’s Ray Steele character. After millions of people suddenly disappear from Earth, Chloe wanders America looking to find any remaining members of her family. Vic Armstrong is directing the adaptation of the bestselling faith-based novels.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Building 429 Has Top Song of 2012
Building 429's breakout single "Where I Belong" is Christian Song of the Year, according to the Billboard 2012 year-end charts. Earlier this year, "Where I Belong" set precedent as the first song to maintain No. 1 on the Billboard National Christian Audience chart for 15 consecutive weeks. "Where I Belong" surpassed singles by tobyMac as well as Phillips, Craig & Dean, who each held the top spot on the Billboard NCA chart for 11 straight weeks. Furthermore, the song also peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard CHR chart.
Complete Top 10 is as follows:
Complete Top 10 is as follows:
1. "Where I Belong" Building 429
2. "Overcome" Jeremy Camp
3. "God's Not Dead (Like a Lion)" newsboys
4. "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)" Matt Redman
5. "The Hurt & The Healer" MercyMe
6. "Live Like That" Sidewalk Prophets
7. "Me Without You" TobyMac
8. "My Hope Is In You" Aaron Shust
9. "Losing" Tenth Avenue North
10. "When the Stars Burn Down" Phillips, Craig & Dean
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Top Selling Christian Albums of 2012
Year-end Top 10 selling Christian albums, ranked by sales data as compiled by Nielsen SoundScan for Billboard:
1. "Come to the Well" Casting Crowns
2. "Wow Hits 2012" Various Artists
3. "How Great Is Our God: The Essential Collection" Chris Tomlin
4. "God's Not Dead" newsboys
5. "Eye On It" TobyMac
6. "Blessings" Laura Story
7. "Gravity" Lecrae
8. "What If We Were Real" Mandisa
9. "One Song at a Time" Jamie Grace
10. "The Hurt & The Healer" MercyMe
1. "Come to the Well" Casting Crowns
2. "Wow Hits 2012" Various Artists
3. "How Great Is Our God: The Essential Collection" Chris Tomlin
4. "God's Not Dead" newsboys
5. "Eye On It" TobyMac
6. "Blessings" Laura Story
7. "Gravity" Lecrae
8. "What If We Were Real" Mandisa
9. "One Song at a Time" Jamie Grace
10. "The Hurt & The Healer" MercyMe
TLC Premieres New Series Featuring Preachers' Wives, 'The Sisterhood'
TLC hopes blending a little religion into a genre better known for backbiting, verbal and physical sparring and jealousy will create TV magic in the new reality series “The Sisterhood,” which debuts tonight at 9 p.m.
Five metro Atlanta preacher’s wives gave the AJC a look behind the curtain of lives where they feel they are held to a higher standard. Ultimately, they want to show they are regular human beings.
In the first episode, we meet four of the five women. Three ladies clash almost immediately. Domonique Scott, whose husband lost his church after they hit financial straits, and Ivy Couch, a newlywed who was briefly in the group Xscape, go at it with Tara Y. Lewis. Tara is part of an interracial couple that came to Atlanta from Los Angeles but lost their jobs at a Dunwoody church after just six weeks.
In their view, Tara comes across as holier than thou. Tara keeps citing scripture. The other women tell to stop being so annoyingly dogmatic.
Domonique in an interview said “reality shows can be a form of ministry.” She actually embraces watching the other “wives” shows. “I’ve learned a bit of what to do and what not do to. What to wear, what not to wear. It’s all good to me. I believe what will set us apart is our ability to be able to move forward, to agree to disagree, to be honest. And we’re all married. But we aren’t perfect. We have tax liens. We have issues.”
Ivy, in an interview, said she realized doing her own reality show makes her vulnerable but feels “I’m an open book. I won’t be fake or pretentious or phony.” She said preacher’s wives are “supposed to be perfect and don’t have issues. That’s not the case. I’m not perfect. This is a daily struggle.”
Her past, she said, includes plenty of hard partying, but doesn’t regret her past. “I’m grateful for the struggles and mishaps and grateful for what they deem as the non wholesome. It made me a real person, a person people can relate to. I can meet you where you are.” She has worked hard not to be a people pleaser, to have her own opinions and not judge others. She hopes people who watch her don’t judge her based on shallow impressions but to get to know her over time.
Her husband’s church, Emanual Tabernacle, is based in the inner city of Atlanta and has been around for ten years with about 1,000 members. She has learned that it’s difficult to be transparent as a First Lady, as they are often dubbed. They are often whispered about and any negative actions can be blown out of proportion. The toughest part of her job, she said, “is remaining consistent and putting other people before yourself. I think if you’re self consumed, you can’t be effective.” She said when a congregant tells her about their lights being turned off, about not having enough to eat, “my issues don’t seem so pressing.”
She hopes “The Sisterhood” will bring people laughter. “Humor is needed in the church world and the secular world,” she said. “I hope people come away with seeing church people are normal and God is real. It’s going to be an interesting ride, never a dull moment.
Five metro Atlanta preacher’s wives gave the AJC a look behind the curtain of lives where they feel they are held to a higher standard. Ultimately, they want to show they are regular human beings.
In the first episode, we meet four of the five women. Three ladies clash almost immediately. Domonique Scott, whose husband lost his church after they hit financial straits, and Ivy Couch, a newlywed who was briefly in the group Xscape, go at it with Tara Y. Lewis. Tara is part of an interracial couple that came to Atlanta from Los Angeles but lost their jobs at a Dunwoody church after just six weeks.
In their view, Tara comes across as holier than thou. Tara keeps citing scripture. The other women tell to stop being so annoyingly dogmatic.
Domonique in an interview said “reality shows can be a form of ministry.” She actually embraces watching the other “wives” shows. “I’ve learned a bit of what to do and what not do to. What to wear, what not to wear. It’s all good to me. I believe what will set us apart is our ability to be able to move forward, to agree to disagree, to be honest. And we’re all married. But we aren’t perfect. We have tax liens. We have issues.”
Ivy, in an interview, said she realized doing her own reality show makes her vulnerable but feels “I’m an open book. I won’t be fake or pretentious or phony.” She said preacher’s wives are “supposed to be perfect and don’t have issues. That’s not the case. I’m not perfect. This is a daily struggle.”
Her past, she said, includes plenty of hard partying, but doesn’t regret her past. “I’m grateful for the struggles and mishaps and grateful for what they deem as the non wholesome. It made me a real person, a person people can relate to. I can meet you where you are.” She has worked hard not to be a people pleaser, to have her own opinions and not judge others. She hopes people who watch her don’t judge her based on shallow impressions but to get to know her over time.
Her husband’s church, Emanual Tabernacle, is based in the inner city of Atlanta and has been around for ten years with about 1,000 members. She has learned that it’s difficult to be transparent as a First Lady, as they are often dubbed. They are often whispered about and any negative actions can be blown out of proportion. The toughest part of her job, she said, “is remaining consistent and putting other people before yourself. I think if you’re self consumed, you can’t be effective.” She said when a congregant tells her about their lights being turned off, about not having enough to eat, “my issues don’t seem so pressing.”
She hopes “The Sisterhood” will bring people laughter. “Humor is needed in the church world and the secular world,” she said. “I hope people come away with seeing church people are normal and God is real. It’s going to be an interesting ride, never a dull moment.
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