Hillsong UNITED packs arenas and tops the Christian charts consistently in the United States. They have built quite a following. Interestingly, Hillsong UNITED seems to have hit a chord with a group that has more influence than many: young Hollywood.
This appears to be a natural development out of of the friendship that several young music, TV and movie stars have with the leadership of Hillsong Church. Celebrities such as Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Ashley Benson, Vanessa Hudgens count the Hillsong pastors as their spiritual mentors. Sports stars such as Russell Wilson and Kevin Durant share similar connections with Hillsong.
And when Hillsong welcomed Justin Bieber to their annual church conference in Sydney, the relationship between Bieber, Hillsong NYC pastor Carl Lentz, and Seattle pastor (and friend of Lentz) Judah Smith was again in the spotlight.
Late in 2014, after an altercation with Orlando Bloom, Justin seemed to have reached a tipping point. As Christian Post reported at the time, he became a regular attendee of Judah Smith's Bible study. The difference in Bieber's life since he began attending that Bible study is evident. After several years of controversial behavior, Bieber appears to have turned a corner.
So what is it about Hillsong that appeals so much to this particular group? It could be the focus on Jesus himself, and their lack of concentration on evangelical 'fundamentalism,' which has fallen out of favor.
Another factor? Judah Smith, Carl Lentz and Hillsong UNITED worship leader Joel Houston, are adept at using social media. With frequent posts on Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter, these individuals provide ways to share the word of Jesus on a medium where these young stars love to share. Hillsong meets these Hollywood elite where they are: online.
read full article
Showing posts with label hollywood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hollywood. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Is Louisiana the New Hollywood?
The latest batch of big-budget films set to be shot in Louisiana over the summer speaks to the state's success with its tax credit program.
Among planned shoots are "Fantastic Four," ''Terminator 5," ''Pitch Perfect 2" and "Jurassic World," the fourth film in the "Jurassic Park" series. The television series "NCIS: New Orleans" and "American Horror Story: Freak Show" are also being shot this summer.
The flurry of activity is encouraging entrepreneurs who provide services for production companies, in turn creating jobs. Louisiana ranked ahead of California — and anywhere else — in the number of live-action movie shoots in a study of 2013 releases from Hollywood's largest studios.
Louisiana offers tax credits of up to 40 percent of the money spent to buy, build and use movie production facilities.
Since the tax credit program began in 2002, services that have grown in the state include studios, sound stages, special effects, casting, costume rental, post-production and editing.
Louisiana's progress was demonstrated in a recent report by the permitting agency Film L.A. that examined the locations for shoots by the six major movie studios and five of the biggest independent studios. The agency said that 18 of the studios' 108 motion pictures released last year were shot in Louisiana, including "G.I. Joe: Retaliation," ''Dallas Buyers Club" and "Grudge Match."
California and Canada had 15 projects each, followed by Britain with 12 and the state of Georgia with nine.
"Now we represent about 14,000 jobs, up from roughly zero 10 years ago, and that's a pretty important thing for us to do," said Will French, president of the Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association.
French said TV production is also thriving in Louisiana. Among the newest is a pilot now filming in Shreveport called "Salem," based on the colonial-era witch trials.
Among planned shoots are "Fantastic Four," ''Terminator 5," ''Pitch Perfect 2" and "Jurassic World," the fourth film in the "Jurassic Park" series. The television series "NCIS: New Orleans" and "American Horror Story: Freak Show" are also being shot this summer.
The flurry of activity is encouraging entrepreneurs who provide services for production companies, in turn creating jobs. Louisiana ranked ahead of California — and anywhere else — in the number of live-action movie shoots in a study of 2013 releases from Hollywood's largest studios.
Louisiana offers tax credits of up to 40 percent of the money spent to buy, build and use movie production facilities.
Since the tax credit program began in 2002, services that have grown in the state include studios, sound stages, special effects, casting, costume rental, post-production and editing.
Louisiana's progress was demonstrated in a recent report by the permitting agency Film L.A. that examined the locations for shoots by the six major movie studios and five of the biggest independent studios. The agency said that 18 of the studios' 108 motion pictures released last year were shot in Louisiana, including "G.I. Joe: Retaliation," ''Dallas Buyers Club" and "Grudge Match."
California and Canada had 15 projects each, followed by Britain with 12 and the state of Georgia with nine.
"Now we represent about 14,000 jobs, up from roughly zero 10 years ago, and that's a pretty important thing for us to do," said Will French, president of the Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association.
French said TV production is also thriving in Louisiana. Among the newest is a pilot now filming in Shreveport called "Salem," based on the colonial-era witch trials.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
What's Behind the Current Resurgence of Faith Based Entertainment?
TheWrap.com has an article on the current resurgence of faith-based programming. It notes that 90 million Americans identify themselves as evangelical Christians — “the country's largest special interest group,” as many in the Christian film industry like to say — have been traditionally underserved; there is only limited appetite for films that are marked by subpar production and story, no matter the message. As a result, the gap in the market remained in place for years, with Christian audiences flocking instead to talk radio and special television networks.
That's where the rush of technology and financing come into play.
Russell Wolfe started Pure Flix in 2005 as both a production and distribution company, putting in place a plan to gradually invest more money into his movies as their quality and fiscal return improved. The P&A costs of theatrical releases was largely prohibitive, so they stuck to DVD and streaming services, but their prolific output quickly made them a profitable industry leader.
“Our market, the family market, we feel that there's few and far between good family movies that are appropriate for all ages, so we want to service that market,” he told TheWrap, “but at the same time, we'll stick to our roots on other films that are faith affirming.”
Not every movie is a huge seller, but the sheer volume available on their site, as well as places like ChristianMovies.com and even at Wal-Mart, make for a tidy profit. And while they may not please mainstream critics — the works of Candace Cameron Bure and Haylie Duff are unlikely to land in the Criterion Collection, though there may be some cult potential around the Danny Trejo film “The Bill Collector” — they hit the right notes with the right people.
The ability to service that market was helped greatly by the rise of digital technology that has made filmmaking accessible and a much more populist endeavor. Production costs went down, so they could spend more on recognizable actors like Teri Polo, as well as bigger names like Greg Kinnear, who starred in “Heaven is for Real,” which cost Sony's Affirm Pictures just $12 million overall and has made $75 million since its release in April.
The other huge religious hit of the spring, “God's Not Dead,” was made for even less — just $2 million — and green lit after extensive research and surveys by Wolfe and his team.
“We surveyed them and asked what does the church need, what kind of message do they need to hear?” Wolfe explained. “We heard several things back, they said marriage and family and money issues and things like that. But one of the things that came back was just to reaffirm with people why they believe what they believe. So much in the media is, when they look at Christians, they go, ‘You're out there, that's just blind faith.’ And it's not blind faith, there's reasons behind it. I think one of the things that made this movie so successful is that it ended up reaffirming with individuals why they believe what they believe, almost vindicating them in their belief in the face of mainstream criticism.”
There is now an overt feeling in the evangelical community that they are being discriminated for being religious — several court battles over government prayer have rallied them to the cause — and “God's Not Dead” played into that sentiment, as well.
read full article
That's where the rush of technology and financing come into play.
Russell Wolfe started Pure Flix in 2005 as both a production and distribution company, putting in place a plan to gradually invest more money into his movies as their quality and fiscal return improved. The P&A costs of theatrical releases was largely prohibitive, so they stuck to DVD and streaming services, but their prolific output quickly made them a profitable industry leader.
“Our market, the family market, we feel that there's few and far between good family movies that are appropriate for all ages, so we want to service that market,” he told TheWrap, “but at the same time, we'll stick to our roots on other films that are faith affirming.”
Not every movie is a huge seller, but the sheer volume available on their site, as well as places like ChristianMovies.com and even at Wal-Mart, make for a tidy profit. And while they may not please mainstream critics — the works of Candace Cameron Bure and Haylie Duff are unlikely to land in the Criterion Collection, though there may be some cult potential around the Danny Trejo film “The Bill Collector” — they hit the right notes with the right people.
The ability to service that market was helped greatly by the rise of digital technology that has made filmmaking accessible and a much more populist endeavor. Production costs went down, so they could spend more on recognizable actors like Teri Polo, as well as bigger names like Greg Kinnear, who starred in “Heaven is for Real,” which cost Sony's Affirm Pictures just $12 million overall and has made $75 million since its release in April.
The other huge religious hit of the spring, “God's Not Dead,” was made for even less — just $2 million — and green lit after extensive research and surveys by Wolfe and his team.
“We surveyed them and asked what does the church need, what kind of message do they need to hear?” Wolfe explained. “We heard several things back, they said marriage and family and money issues and things like that. But one of the things that came back was just to reaffirm with people why they believe what they believe. So much in the media is, when they look at Christians, they go, ‘You're out there, that's just blind faith.’ And it's not blind faith, there's reasons behind it. I think one of the things that made this movie so successful is that it ended up reaffirming with individuals why they believe what they believe, almost vindicating them in their belief in the face of mainstream criticism.”
There is now an overt feeling in the evangelical community that they are being discriminated for being religious — several court battles over government prayer have rallied them to the cause — and “God's Not Dead” played into that sentiment, as well.
read full article
Monday, May 12, 2014
Sean Astin Notes Christians Are Innovating Movie Marketing
Sean Astin stars in the just released Moms Night Out and laughs at the fact that he might now be labeled as a Christian filmmaker despite having been in many more mainstream movies.
“What's funny is the idea that I might become a paragon of Christian filmmaking because I've done two Christian films,” he said. “I'm just not going to not make films because Christians are making them if they’re good films.”
“Hollywood is antagonistic to Christian films because of forces that are hard to describe, but Christians have made things difficult for themselves by the way they approach the outside community,” he continued.
Astin said people need to forget about those “who grab the microphones and yell the loudest.” The fact is, people are hungry for family-friendly, faith-based entertainment and studios are finally starting to listen.
“The Christian ground game is presently revolutionizing marketing in filmmaking,” he explained. “It's not a subtle thing, and it's a great thing and it's not owned by the Christians. They are just getting there first because they’re tired of not being able to get their product into a wide marketplace.”
No matter your faith, Astin hopes his new movie will allow the audience to stop, breathe and reflect for a minute.
“What's funny is the idea that I might become a paragon of Christian filmmaking because I've done two Christian films,” he said. “I'm just not going to not make films because Christians are making them if they’re good films.”
“Hollywood is antagonistic to Christian films because of forces that are hard to describe, but Christians have made things difficult for themselves by the way they approach the outside community,” he continued.
Astin said people need to forget about those “who grab the microphones and yell the loudest.” The fact is, people are hungry for family-friendly, faith-based entertainment and studios are finally starting to listen.
“The Christian ground game is presently revolutionizing marketing in filmmaking,” he explained. “It's not a subtle thing, and it's a great thing and it's not owned by the Christians. They are just getting there first because they’re tired of not being able to get their product into a wide marketplace.”
No matter your faith, Astin hopes his new movie will allow the audience to stop, breathe and reflect for a minute.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Study: Movies Impact Religious Belief
According to a recent Barna Group study, practicing Protestants (those who have attended church in the last month and who agree their faith is important to them), are most likely to say a movie has affected their thinking on serious issues.More than one in five say they've seen a movie in the last two years that has made them think seriously about their religion or spirituality (22%). And an additional one in 10 say such a movie has caused them to change something they believed about Christianity (9%). Evangelicals, while more likely than the average adult to say a movie has made them think seriously about religion or spirituality (17% of evangelicals compared to 11% of Americans overall) are much less likely to say that such a movie has changed their beliefs about Christianity (less than 1% of evangelicals compared to 3% of all Americans).
Americans professing a faith other than Christianity are also more likely than average to think more seriously about religion or spirituality (18%) as a result of watching a movie.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
What Low-budget Hit 'God's Not Dead' Says About Christians and Hollywood
It may be “The Year of the Bible” in Hollywood, but American moviegoers are still startling the industry with their robust enthusiasm for faith-filled films targeting the tastes of the faithful.
This weekend, the small-budget “God’s Not Dead” took in more than $8.5 million Friday through Sunday – a surprising fifth-place in this weekend’s box office numbers.
Even more startling, say observers, is the fact that the movie, aimed toward Evangelical Christians, was shown in only 780 theaters – far fewer than those ahead of it, each of which were showing on more than 3,000 screens.
“While this huge opening may be a surprise to the industry, it is not so much to us,” said Mark Borde, co-president of the film’s distributor, said over the weekend. “The in-house tracking, the legitimate one million Facebook fans, the very high trending on Twitter and Fandango, among many other platforms, and the huge positive reaction from the hundreds of screenings over the many past months, gave us hope for a significant opening.”
While not a blockbuster of biblical proportions, the small film’s significant success this weekend comes at a time when Hollywood has been trying to capitalize yet again on the faith-based market, which also made a hit out of “Son of God” earlier this month. The film was condensed from the History Channel’s smash TV hit, “The Bible,” and has taken in nearly $56 million since its release Feb. 28.
But “God’s Not Dead” is a very different kind of film, many observers say. It has a deep resonance in the Evangelical subculture, which often feels mocked and demeaned by the nation’s media and entertainment elites.
“There's a negativity towards Christians in Hollywood,” said Kevin Sorbo, the actor who plays the atheistic philosophy professor. “And a negativity towards people who believe in God.”
“The silent majority is starting to get annoyed with what’s going on,” the Christian actor continued. “I think more people need to start speaking about it instead of just sitting there and taking it.... It’s happening; you’re getting attacked; you need to stand up for yourself and your beliefs.”
Indeed, the film leaps headlong into the culture wars, striking back against famous atheists, referencing the views of Stephen Hawking, Noam Chomsky, and others.
The film also has a number of subplots that reference real-life issues that chafe many Evangelicals. A journalist, described as a radical vegan, conducts ambush interviews with “Duck Dynasty” star Willie Robertson and his wife, who play themselves. It also follows the story of a young Muslim woman, who converts to Christianity and secretly listens to podcasts of the evangelist Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham. Her enraged father violently kicks her out of the house. There is also a subplot about a local pastor struggling with his faith, the vegan journalist who later discovers she has cancer, and the philosophy professor’s mistress, who becomes a Christian.
“I’m so glad a film like ‘God’s Not Dead' is bringing to the public the very real culture clash going on in American public life, especially in education,” e-mails Mitch Land, professor and dean at the School of Communication & the Arts at Regent University, an Evangelical school in Virginia Beach, Va. “We have a right and obligation to express our faith without fear of discrimination or reprisal.”
But responses to the film are as stark as red and blue.
Scott Foundas, chief film critic at Variety, called it a “ham-fisted Christian campus melodrama,” saying its depiction of the college professor was “rather like the Jews in the wartime Nazi propaganda films.”
And so far, some 2,000 ratings on the site imbd.com reveal a divide as wide as it could possibly be. On Monday morning, about half of the arm-chair critics on the site rate the film a "Citizen Kane"-level 10 out of 10 stars (46.3 percent). A full third, however, give it a rock-bottom, "Ishtar"-level 1 star out of 10 (32.8 percent). There's no shades of gray for those who see this film.
Still, others see it in a far less conflict-laden context.
“The success of 'God’s Not Dead' shows at least three things,” says Paul Levinson, media critic and professor of communications and media studies at Fordham University in New York: “Big budgets are not necessary to make popular movies, there is a significant part of the population that cherishes faith-based movies, and students like narratives about arrogant professors who get their due.”
read full article
This weekend, the small-budget “God’s Not Dead” took in more than $8.5 million Friday through Sunday – a surprising fifth-place in this weekend’s box office numbers.
Even more startling, say observers, is the fact that the movie, aimed toward Evangelical Christians, was shown in only 780 theaters – far fewer than those ahead of it, each of which were showing on more than 3,000 screens.
“While this huge opening may be a surprise to the industry, it is not so much to us,” said Mark Borde, co-president of the film’s distributor, said over the weekend. “The in-house tracking, the legitimate one million Facebook fans, the very high trending on Twitter and Fandango, among many other platforms, and the huge positive reaction from the hundreds of screenings over the many past months, gave us hope for a significant opening.”
While not a blockbuster of biblical proportions, the small film’s significant success this weekend comes at a time when Hollywood has been trying to capitalize yet again on the faith-based market, which also made a hit out of “Son of God” earlier this month. The film was condensed from the History Channel’s smash TV hit, “The Bible,” and has taken in nearly $56 million since its release Feb. 28.
But “God’s Not Dead” is a very different kind of film, many observers say. It has a deep resonance in the Evangelical subculture, which often feels mocked and demeaned by the nation’s media and entertainment elites.
“There's a negativity towards Christians in Hollywood,” said Kevin Sorbo, the actor who plays the atheistic philosophy professor. “And a negativity towards people who believe in God.”
“The silent majority is starting to get annoyed with what’s going on,” the Christian actor continued. “I think more people need to start speaking about it instead of just sitting there and taking it.... It’s happening; you’re getting attacked; you need to stand up for yourself and your beliefs.”
Indeed, the film leaps headlong into the culture wars, striking back against famous atheists, referencing the views of Stephen Hawking, Noam Chomsky, and others.
The film also has a number of subplots that reference real-life issues that chafe many Evangelicals. A journalist, described as a radical vegan, conducts ambush interviews with “Duck Dynasty” star Willie Robertson and his wife, who play themselves. It also follows the story of a young Muslim woman, who converts to Christianity and secretly listens to podcasts of the evangelist Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham. Her enraged father violently kicks her out of the house. There is also a subplot about a local pastor struggling with his faith, the vegan journalist who later discovers she has cancer, and the philosophy professor’s mistress, who becomes a Christian.
“I’m so glad a film like ‘God’s Not Dead' is bringing to the public the very real culture clash going on in American public life, especially in education,” e-mails Mitch Land, professor and dean at the School of Communication & the Arts at Regent University, an Evangelical school in Virginia Beach, Va. “We have a right and obligation to express our faith without fear of discrimination or reprisal.”
But responses to the film are as stark as red and blue.
Scott Foundas, chief film critic at Variety, called it a “ham-fisted Christian campus melodrama,” saying its depiction of the college professor was “rather like the Jews in the wartime Nazi propaganda films.”
And so far, some 2,000 ratings on the site imbd.com reveal a divide as wide as it could possibly be. On Monday morning, about half of the arm-chair critics on the site rate the film a "Citizen Kane"-level 10 out of 10 stars (46.3 percent). A full third, however, give it a rock-bottom, "Ishtar"-level 1 star out of 10 (32.8 percent). There's no shades of gray for those who see this film.
Still, others see it in a far less conflict-laden context.
“The success of 'God’s Not Dead' shows at least three things,” says Paul Levinson, media critic and professor of communications and media studies at Fordham University in New York: “Big budgets are not necessary to make popular movies, there is a significant part of the population that cherishes faith-based movies, and students like narratives about arrogant professors who get their due.”
read full article
Monday, March 24, 2014
Flood of Controversy Around Noah Continues to Rise
It is truly a Hollywood epic of biblical proportions, the original disaster story of the man chosen by God to undertake the greatest rescue in history before an apocalyptic flood engulfs the world.
But even before it opens in America this week, Noah, a $130 million blockbuster with Russell Crowe in the lead role, is already awash in a turbulent sea of controversy.
Noah's director Darren Aronofsky, a self-described atheist who made the Oscar-nominated hit The Black Swan, has described the movie as is "the least biblical biblical film ever made" and called Noah "the first environmentalist". According to one early review, the name "God" is not actually spoken at any stage.
Now, amid a wave of criticism from some Christian groups about its loose interpretation of a sacred script, the Paramount studio has taken the unusual step of issuing an "explanatory message" to accompany marketing material.
It notes that while the film is "inspired by the story of Noah... artistic licence has been taken". And it adds, for anyone unclear about the source material: "The biblical story of Noah can be found in the book of Genesis." It has also highlighted praise for the film by some Christian leaders.
After advance test screenings, there were complaints that the film did not adhere strictly enough to the Old Testament verses and portrays Noah as an environmental crusader to deliver a secular ecological doomsday message.
"The insertion of the extremist environmental agenda is a problem," said Jerry Johnson, president of the National Religious Broadcasters group.
Aronofsky's version of Noah is described as a "dark parable about sin, justice and mercy" in which Noah must decide who is good enough to make it on the boat that will save humanity. But Paramount has now issued its note of "explanation" for viewers.
"While artistic license has been taken, we believe that this film is true to the essence, values, and integrity of a story that is a cornerstone of faith for millions of people worldwide," it states.
Crowe has also addressed the criticisms, saying that the film was not intended to be a "Sunday school story" and would challenge viewers' understanding of the Bible.
Brian Godawa, a Hollywood screenwriter and commentator on Christian issues, was one of the first to raise religious alarms after seeing an early version of the script.
In an article titled Darren Aronofsky's Noah: Environmentalist Wacko, he said the director transformed a scriptural story into "environmental paganism" by blaming the Great Flood on man's "disrespect" for the environment.
"Noah is a very short section of the Bible with a lot of gaps, so we definitely had to take some creative expression in it," producer Scott Franklin told Entertainment Weekly. "But I think we stayed very true to the story and didn't really deviate from the Bible, despite the six-armed angels."
In a effort to stymie the criticism, Paramount has just released a new eight-minute promotional video called Noah Featurette running praise from Christian leaders for the film.
"Movies aren't meant to preach. Movie's aren't sermons, and so if they can bring up the topic and start conversations, that's a good movie," said Karen Covell, founder of the Hollywood Prayer Network. "And this one made me ask questions."
Phil Cooke, a Christian media producer and consultant, who has advised the studio on the film, said: "Christians have to stop looking at Hollywood as the enemy, and start reaching out. Missionaries have discovered that you don't change minds by criticism, boycotts or threats. You change minds by developing a relationship and a sense of trust."
Conversations between the studio and the National Religious Broadcasters, whose mission includes advancing biblical truth, won a kinder, gentler reproof. “Because of the quality of the production and acting,” said Johnson, “viewers will enjoy watching main themes from the Noah story depicted in a powerful way on the big screen. However, my intent in reaching out to Paramount with this request was to make sure everyone who sees this impactful film knows this is an imaginative interpretation of Scripture, and not literal.”
Washington Times article
Telegraph article
But even before it opens in America this week, Noah, a $130 million blockbuster with Russell Crowe in the lead role, is already awash in a turbulent sea of controversy.
Noah's director Darren Aronofsky, a self-described atheist who made the Oscar-nominated hit The Black Swan, has described the movie as is "the least biblical biblical film ever made" and called Noah "the first environmentalist". According to one early review, the name "God" is not actually spoken at any stage.
Now, amid a wave of criticism from some Christian groups about its loose interpretation of a sacred script, the Paramount studio has taken the unusual step of issuing an "explanatory message" to accompany marketing material.
It notes that while the film is "inspired by the story of Noah... artistic licence has been taken". And it adds, for anyone unclear about the source material: "The biblical story of Noah can be found in the book of Genesis." It has also highlighted praise for the film by some Christian leaders.
After advance test screenings, there were complaints that the film did not adhere strictly enough to the Old Testament verses and portrays Noah as an environmental crusader to deliver a secular ecological doomsday message.
"The insertion of the extremist environmental agenda is a problem," said Jerry Johnson, president of the National Religious Broadcasters group.
Aronofsky's version of Noah is described as a "dark parable about sin, justice and mercy" in which Noah must decide who is good enough to make it on the boat that will save humanity. But Paramount has now issued its note of "explanation" for viewers.
"While artistic license has been taken, we believe that this film is true to the essence, values, and integrity of a story that is a cornerstone of faith for millions of people worldwide," it states.
Crowe has also addressed the criticisms, saying that the film was not intended to be a "Sunday school story" and would challenge viewers' understanding of the Bible.
Brian Godawa, a Hollywood screenwriter and commentator on Christian issues, was one of the first to raise religious alarms after seeing an early version of the script.
In an article titled Darren Aronofsky's Noah: Environmentalist Wacko, he said the director transformed a scriptural story into "environmental paganism" by blaming the Great Flood on man's "disrespect" for the environment.
"Noah is a very short section of the Bible with a lot of gaps, so we definitely had to take some creative expression in it," producer Scott Franklin told Entertainment Weekly. "But I think we stayed very true to the story and didn't really deviate from the Bible, despite the six-armed angels."
In a effort to stymie the criticism, Paramount has just released a new eight-minute promotional video called Noah Featurette running praise from Christian leaders for the film.
"Movies aren't meant to preach. Movie's aren't sermons, and so if they can bring up the topic and start conversations, that's a good movie," said Karen Covell, founder of the Hollywood Prayer Network. "And this one made me ask questions."
Phil Cooke, a Christian media producer and consultant, who has advised the studio on the film, said: "Christians have to stop looking at Hollywood as the enemy, and start reaching out. Missionaries have discovered that you don't change minds by criticism, boycotts or threats. You change minds by developing a relationship and a sense of trust."
Conversations between the studio and the National Religious Broadcasters, whose mission includes advancing biblical truth, won a kinder, gentler reproof. “Because of the quality of the production and acting,” said Johnson, “viewers will enjoy watching main themes from the Noah story depicted in a powerful way on the big screen. However, my intent in reaching out to Paramount with this request was to make sure everyone who sees this impactful film knows this is an imaginative interpretation of Scripture, and not literal.”
Washington Times article
Telegraph article
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Matthew McConaughey Spotted Reading Lee Strobel's 'The Case for Christ'
Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey was reportedly spotted reading Christian author Lee Strobel's The Case for Christ who tweeted Monday: "Here's Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey reading my book Case for Christ while working out."
Strobel linked the message with a photo of McConaughey looking deeply engrossed several pages deep in the book with the title partially hidden. The photo, according to the author, was taken in 2007.
Strobel linked the message with a photo of McConaughey looking deeply engrossed several pages deep in the book with the title partially hidden. The photo, according to the author, was taken in 2007.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Patricia Heaton Speaks on Media’s Portrayal of ‘Christians As Bad Guys
Actress Patricia Heaton isn’t your average Hollywood celebrity. An outspoken Christian and the star of ABC’s “The Middle” and the long-running “Everybody Loves Raymond,” she’s been open about her faith — and told TheBlaze that, contrary to popular belief, she isn’t alone in Tinseltown.
Heaton, who plays a pastor’s wife in the upcoming comedy “Moms’ Night Out,” said that there are actually a lot of Christians and “seekers” in Hollywood.
“Most creative people have a deep spiritual well that they’re drawing from even if they don’t know it,” Heaton said. “The arts are being creative — I mean, God is a creator, He creates constantly, and when you’re in a creative place like Hollywood, there’s a lot of opportunity to talk and share and find common ground.”
Christian celebrities who keep quiet about their faith might do so because of the perceptions and stereotypes about what it means to be a Bible believer, Heaton said — a paradigm Christians can sometimes bring upon themselves.
The “cheap” way that Christians are often portrayed in media, she believes, creates fear among some in Hollywood when it comes to opening up about their faith.
“You know, my older sister is a Dominican nun, and nuns are always portrayed as weird, sexually repressed, old maids who are bitter. Listen, I went to Catholic school, there are a few of those, but the Dominican sisters that I know are lovely, lovely ladies,” she said. “So I think there has been this idea out there and the media kind of runs with it, portrays Christians as bad guys.”
As for living out one’s faith, Heaton, a self-described Catholic who attends a variety of Christian churches, said she believes actions truly matter.
“If you’re on a set everyday with 12 people, they get to know you and see how you treat number one on the call sheet and number 49 on the call sheet and how you act,” Heaton said. “Whether you act entitled or whether you are kind and generous and compassionate, and also, do you show up on time? Do you know your lines? Are you professional? All of that stuff speaks volumes.”
Heaton isn’t sure if she’s paid a professional price for her Christianity, because those who haven’t hired her would never admit if her faith was the reason why.
But considering her Emmy Award-winning performance as Debra Barone on “Everybody Loves Raymond” and her current role as Frankie Heck on “The Middle” — now in its fifth season — Heaton doesn’t seem to be too bogged down when it comes to success.
Heaton told TheBlaze that she is delighted that “The Middle,” a show revered for being safe to watch for all ages, has become a program that is “smart and edgy — and warm and appreciative” of life in the Midwest.
Plus, she said, the show offers a realistic look at how many American families actually live.
In “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “The Middle,” for instance, Heaton pointed out that the families attend church — but that the themes don’t hit viewers over the head with the message.
“It’s unusual that really two shows I have been on have had that in common, ‘Raymond’ and ‘The Middle’ — both families were churchgoers, and they never made a big deal about it,” she said. “It was just part of the fabric of their lives which is true for many many families in the United States, but it is never portrayed.”
read full article
Heaton, who plays a pastor’s wife in the upcoming comedy “Moms’ Night Out,” said that there are actually a lot of Christians and “seekers” in Hollywood.
“Most creative people have a deep spiritual well that they’re drawing from even if they don’t know it,” Heaton said. “The arts are being creative — I mean, God is a creator, He creates constantly, and when you’re in a creative place like Hollywood, there’s a lot of opportunity to talk and share and find common ground.”
Christian celebrities who keep quiet about their faith might do so because of the perceptions and stereotypes about what it means to be a Bible believer, Heaton said — a paradigm Christians can sometimes bring upon themselves.
The “cheap” way that Christians are often portrayed in media, she believes, creates fear among some in Hollywood when it comes to opening up about their faith.
“You know, my older sister is a Dominican nun, and nuns are always portrayed as weird, sexually repressed, old maids who are bitter. Listen, I went to Catholic school, there are a few of those, but the Dominican sisters that I know are lovely, lovely ladies,” she said. “So I think there has been this idea out there and the media kind of runs with it, portrays Christians as bad guys.”
As for living out one’s faith, Heaton, a self-described Catholic who attends a variety of Christian churches, said she believes actions truly matter.
“If you’re on a set everyday with 12 people, they get to know you and see how you treat number one on the call sheet and number 49 on the call sheet and how you act,” Heaton said. “Whether you act entitled or whether you are kind and generous and compassionate, and also, do you show up on time? Do you know your lines? Are you professional? All of that stuff speaks volumes.”
Heaton isn’t sure if she’s paid a professional price for her Christianity, because those who haven’t hired her would never admit if her faith was the reason why.
But considering her Emmy Award-winning performance as Debra Barone on “Everybody Loves Raymond” and her current role as Frankie Heck on “The Middle” — now in its fifth season — Heaton doesn’t seem to be too bogged down when it comes to success.
Heaton told TheBlaze that she is delighted that “The Middle,” a show revered for being safe to watch for all ages, has become a program that is “smart and edgy — and warm and appreciative” of life in the Midwest.
Plus, she said, the show offers a realistic look at how many American families actually live.
In “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “The Middle,” for instance, Heaton pointed out that the families attend church — but that the themes don’t hit viewers over the head with the message.
“It’s unusual that really two shows I have been on have had that in common, ‘Raymond’ and ‘The Middle’ — both families were churchgoers, and they never made a big deal about it,” she said. “It was just part of the fabric of their lives which is true for many many families in the United States, but it is never portrayed.”
read full article
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Top Hollywood Exec Says Christians Must Produce True-to-Life Stories to Engage Entertainment Industry
A top Hollywood studio executive has called on Christians to focus on producing real, well-written, true-to-life stories to really capture the attention of the entertainment industry.
"I absolutely believe that a lot of times, when it comes to faith-based content, we portray sometimes the ideal of what we believe," DeVon Franklin, senior vice president of Production for Columbia Tristar Pictures, said during a panel on Christian engagement with the media, at the NRB International Christian Media Convention on Monday.
"We all have gone through tragedy, we all have gone through trauma, some of us are in pain right now – because life is not where we want it to be. Some of us are depressed, some of us are angry, some of us are frustrated, some of us have lost some loved ones, we all have gone through massive things that have happened to us."
Franklin, who oversaw notable films like "Sparkle," starring Whitney Houston in her last on-screen role, as well as "The Karate Kid" remake, and "The Pursuit of Happyness," and who is now helping with the upcoming film "Heaven is for Real," said Christians need to get beyond the points that divide them.
"If we aren't united, we will continue to see little blips on the radar, but fail to make a significant impact," he stressed.
Although Christians are making strides this year with a lot of content coming out in theaters, including "Son of God" this week, "Noah" in March and "Heaven is for Real" in April, there is still a lot of work to be done to really engage the entertainment industry, he said.
"It's not good enough to say 'I'm a Christian writer.' You have to be a great writer, a great director, a great actor. And I think part of what God has called me to do is try to really help because if we can make great content, [it] will break down barriers," he continued.
The Columbia Tristar VP insisted that if a film fails to represent the true journey of life, which is hard, then that movie will have a limited impact.
"So in faith-based films, we try to present an image of what we want to be, but not the reality of what really is. If a movie does not acknowledge the reality of life, even us as Christians, we won't want to see it."
The NRB panel was moderated by author, filmmaker Phil Cooke, also included Michael Harrison and Russell Moore.
Harrison called for authenticity and transcendence.
"Be authentic, and transcend the petty differences and the petty goals that separate us and create hostility. Be authentic, seek truth ahead of victory," he said.
"I think the business of broadcast industry will be best served if it's on the side of good, if it tries to help people, and talks about solutions to problems as opposed to the problems with other people. If we do that, I think ultimately we will be successful, healthy, and move in a positive direction."
Read full article
"I absolutely believe that a lot of times, when it comes to faith-based content, we portray sometimes the ideal of what we believe," DeVon Franklin, senior vice president of Production for Columbia Tristar Pictures, said during a panel on Christian engagement with the media, at the NRB International Christian Media Convention on Monday.
"We all have gone through tragedy, we all have gone through trauma, some of us are in pain right now – because life is not where we want it to be. Some of us are depressed, some of us are angry, some of us are frustrated, some of us have lost some loved ones, we all have gone through massive things that have happened to us."
Franklin, who oversaw notable films like "Sparkle," starring Whitney Houston in her last on-screen role, as well as "The Karate Kid" remake, and "The Pursuit of Happyness," and who is now helping with the upcoming film "Heaven is for Real," said Christians need to get beyond the points that divide them.
"If we aren't united, we will continue to see little blips on the radar, but fail to make a significant impact," he stressed.
Although Christians are making strides this year with a lot of content coming out in theaters, including "Son of God" this week, "Noah" in March and "Heaven is for Real" in April, there is still a lot of work to be done to really engage the entertainment industry, he said.
"It's not good enough to say 'I'm a Christian writer.' You have to be a great writer, a great director, a great actor. And I think part of what God has called me to do is try to really help because if we can make great content, [it] will break down barriers," he continued.
The Columbia Tristar VP insisted that if a film fails to represent the true journey of life, which is hard, then that movie will have a limited impact.
"So in faith-based films, we try to present an image of what we want to be, but not the reality of what really is. If a movie does not acknowledge the reality of life, even us as Christians, we won't want to see it."
The NRB panel was moderated by author, filmmaker Phil Cooke, also included Michael Harrison and Russell Moore.
Harrison called for authenticity and transcendence.
"Be authentic, and transcend the petty differences and the petty goals that separate us and create hostility. Be authentic, seek truth ahead of victory," he said.
"I think the business of broadcast industry will be best served if it's on the side of good, if it tries to help people, and talks about solutions to problems as opposed to the problems with other people. If we do that, I think ultimately we will be successful, healthy, and move in a positive direction."
Read full article
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Brooke Burns: In Hollywood, 'if you go to church you're crazy'
Brooke Burns said she learn something new every day from her work on "The Chase," a game show she hosts on GSN, alongside British quiz genius Mark "The Beast" Labbett. Fox News spoke to the ex-"Baywatch" star about the show, raising her daughter and being a Christian in Hollywood.
Fox News: It is not cool to talk about faith in Hollywood?
Fox News: It must be hard raising your daughter in Hollywood...Religion must help with that.
Read full article
"I grew up in a Christian home. My spirituality has evolved into my own personal faith. I definitely have a Christian background. It taught me to keep a worldview perspective on a work industry and that's how I view Hollywood. It's a very tiny piece of the world. It's not what life is about. Working in this industry is an occupation which is really fun, I enjoy myself. We get paid really well, I feel very lucky to be doing what I'm doing but it's not to me what life is about. My identity has been grounded in something greater than who I am or what I'm doing in Hollywood, for sure."
Fox News: It is not cool to talk about faith in Hollywood?
Burns: I grew up in Texas. My dad is in the oil business but he also did missionary work. In Texas if you don't go to church you're strange, in L.A. if you go to church you're crazy. That was something I had to learn. It's a choice. I should be able to believe in what I want to believe in and so should you. It shouldn't be an area of tension. It's interesting, a lot of times when you bring it up, it becomes as controversial, if not more, than bringing up politics.
Fox News: It must be hard raising your daughter in Hollywood...Religion must help with that.
Burns: I've always believed in having balance in life and if you feel your physical body, you have to feed your mind. If you're going to encourage young girls with emotional development, why not spiritual development as well? I think that's about being a well-rounded person. It's another aspect of being a whole human being. It can only help. I've gone through a lot of tough things in my life and definitely my faith has carried me through those things and given me not only a sense of purpose but it's helped me get back on the horse, given me a source of strength.
Read full article
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Frustrated Mom Posts Scathing Blog Post Excoriating Hollywood’s Immorality
A mother is fed up with Hollywood’s exploitation of sex. Rather than remain silent, she recently penned an epic blog post lampooning the entertainment industry and calling for Tinseltown and society, alike, to come to its moral senses.
It all started last week as Rebeca Seitz of Naples, Florida, was enjoying some morning television. While she was watching “Good Morning America,” an advertisement for the ABC show “Betrayal” came on, featuring a male and female in the midst of a steamy sex scene. The commercial for the show was apparently graphic, exposing her 8-year-old son to extremely unpalatable content.
Seitz, a Christian, reacted to the scene by sending her son away, rewinding to be sure her eyes didn’t deceive her and snapping a picture on her phone. She then uploaded the image to Facebook, where it was ironically taken down for violating the social network’s standards (someone reported it and it was deemed “inappropriate due to nudity”).
The frustrated mother, who works in media and is the president of a public relations firm, posted the picture in an effort to spark a conversation about morality and standards — and to voice her frustration and disbelief. When the Facebook post was removed, a friend suggested she take to her blog to document what unfolded, so she did.
In a post entitled, “Morning Sex,” Seitz recounted her morning hanging out with her young son and daughter and the image that suddenly appeared on her television — one she deemed completely inappropriate and troubling.
“I understand we’ve ceded the idea of morality in primetime. A moronic move, but one we (and by “we” I mean Jesus-following folk) have to own. But this wasn’t primetime. This was a commercial about a primetime show airing while we all enjoy cornflakes and coffee and wish our kiddos a good morning,” she wrote.
Seitz continued, noting that her child saw something that was way too advanced to be on television at 8 a.m. ET because of bad decisions that were made by Hollywood executives, not by her as a parent. The mother took the opportunity to make a compelling case surrounding the sexual nature of media content and her frustration over what her son simply cannot un-see.
Read full article
It all started last week as Rebeca Seitz of Naples, Florida, was enjoying some morning television. While she was watching “Good Morning America,” an advertisement for the ABC show “Betrayal” came on, featuring a male and female in the midst of a steamy sex scene. The commercial for the show was apparently graphic, exposing her 8-year-old son to extremely unpalatable content.
Seitz, a Christian, reacted to the scene by sending her son away, rewinding to be sure her eyes didn’t deceive her and snapping a picture on her phone. She then uploaded the image to Facebook, where it was ironically taken down for violating the social network’s standards (someone reported it and it was deemed “inappropriate due to nudity”).
The frustrated mother, who works in media and is the president of a public relations firm, posted the picture in an effort to spark a conversation about morality and standards — and to voice her frustration and disbelief. When the Facebook post was removed, a friend suggested she take to her blog to document what unfolded, so she did.
In a post entitled, “Morning Sex,” Seitz recounted her morning hanging out with her young son and daughter and the image that suddenly appeared on her television — one she deemed completely inappropriate and troubling.
“I understand we’ve ceded the idea of morality in primetime. A moronic move, but one we (and by “we” I mean Jesus-following folk) have to own. But this wasn’t primetime. This was a commercial about a primetime show airing while we all enjoy cornflakes and coffee and wish our kiddos a good morning,” she wrote.
Seitz continued, noting that her child saw something that was way too advanced to be on television at 8 a.m. ET because of bad decisions that were made by Hollywood executives, not by her as a parent. The mother took the opportunity to make a compelling case surrounding the sexual nature of media content and her frustration over what her son simply cannot un-see.
Read full article
Friday, August 2, 2013
5 Hollywood Stars with Faith
UP has an intriguing article that points out the faith of 5 celebrities... and a few might surprise you based on recent headlines.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Kirk Cameron Excited to Combat 'Hollywood's Moral Filth and Darkness'
Kirk Cameron said in a recent interview that the opportunity to share the Gospel with Hollywood is "exciting."
"No, because my friends aren't in Hollywood," Cameron said in an interview published on June 6 by the Naperville Sun, responding to whether he feels lonely or not. "When I look and see the opportunities I have here in Hollywood to spread some light and some life in a place that is notorious for exporting so much moral filth and darkness, it's exciting."
When asked about the audience for Christian films he replied:
In 2012, Cameron stirred debate when he defended traditional Christian views on homosexuality on CNN's "Piers Morgan Tonight," which provoked the criticism of a number of Hollywood stars.
"Marriage was defined by God a long time ago," Cameron said. "[It's] almost as old as dirt, and it was defined in the garden between Adam and Eve – one man, one woman for life till death do you part. So I would never attempt to try to redefine marriage."
In response, actress Roseanne Barr tweeted: "kirk or kurt or whatever Cameron is an accomplice to murder with his hate speech. so is rick warren. Their peers r killing gays in Uganda."
Other Hollywood stars like Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Craig Ferguson, Debra Messing and Kristin Chenoweth all criticized Cameron, with Alan Thicke, who played Cameron's on-screen father in "Growing Pains," tweeting: "I'm getting [Cameron] some new books. The Old Testament simply can't be expected to explain everything."
"No, because my friends aren't in Hollywood," Cameron said in an interview published on June 6 by the Naperville Sun, responding to whether he feels lonely or not. "When I look and see the opportunities I have here in Hollywood to spread some light and some life in a place that is notorious for exporting so much moral filth and darkness, it's exciting."
When asked about the audience for Christian films he replied:
"People came to see it because they are really getting something out of it that they value. Why they don’t make more movies like that, I have no idea. But I’m not going to sit around and wait for them to figure it out. I’m going to make them myself."Cameron added that he regularly prays not only for his former "Growing Pains" co-stars, but for everyone. "I pray for everybody that I know. I pray for people that I don't know. I pray not just for my family but for my TV family. Who couldn't use blessings from heaven?" the actor said.
In 2012, Cameron stirred debate when he defended traditional Christian views on homosexuality on CNN's "Piers Morgan Tonight," which provoked the criticism of a number of Hollywood stars.
"Marriage was defined by God a long time ago," Cameron said. "[It's] almost as old as dirt, and it was defined in the garden between Adam and Eve – one man, one woman for life till death do you part. So I would never attempt to try to redefine marriage."
In response, actress Roseanne Barr tweeted: "kirk or kurt or whatever Cameron is an accomplice to murder with his hate speech. so is rick warren. Their peers r killing gays in Uganda."
Other Hollywood stars like Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Craig Ferguson, Debra Messing and Kristin Chenoweth all criticized Cameron, with Alan Thicke, who played Cameron's on-screen father in "Growing Pains," tweeting: "I'm getting [Cameron] some new books. The Old Testament simply can't be expected to explain everything."
Friday, May 17, 2013
Candace Cameron Bure on Finding Purpose in Hollywood
In an interview with Beliefnet, Candace Cameron Bure reveals how she handles being a Christian in Hollywood.
Esther 4:14... probably the most known verse from Esther. And it says “for if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” And that verse has stood out to me in terms of where I have been put in this industry right now. And if I don’t speak up or if I remain silent then God would not be able to use the things, the tools or the gifts that he has given me to use it for his purposes. So I feel like I kind of cling to that verse in terms of being outspoken about my faith and to be a proponent in family programming. To just keep good things out there on television for families to be able to watch and it encourages me to continue to just pick and choose the right projects that are positive and have good messages.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Two & a Half Men Star: "Don't Watch the Show"
'Two and a Half Men's young star, Angus T. Jones -- the half man in the show's title -- has blasted the series as "filth" and suggested that people should stop watching.
"Jake from Two and a Half Men means nothing. He is a non-existent character," Jones says in a video for the Forerunner Chronicles, a Christian group. "If you watch Two and a Half Men, please stop watching Two and a Half Men. I'm on Two and a Half Men and I don't want to be on it. Please stop watching it and filling your head with filth. People say it’s just entertainment. Do some research on the effects of television and your brain, and I promise you you’ll have a decision to make when it comes to television, especially with what you watch."
Jones continues that the show is part of the plan of "the enemy" [Satan]. "If I am doing any harm, I don't want to be here," he says. "I don't want to be contributing to the enemy's plan. … You cannot be a true God-fearing person and be on a television show like that. I know I can't. I'm not OK with what I'm learning, what the Bible says and being on that television show."
Jones, 19, gave a testimony in October at the Voice of Prophecy in Los Angeles, where he attends services.
Jones earns about $350,000 per episode; in May he received a salary bump -- along with co-stars Jon Cryer and Ashton Kutcher -- when Men was renewed for a 10th season.
Jones' comments mark the latest brouhaha for the veteran sitcom, which in addition to the Sheen debacle also saw former showrunner Lee Aronsohn step down after he came under fire for comments he made to The Hollywood Reporter about female-driven shows at a Toronto screenwriting conference.
Jones' Men comments begin at 7:30 in the video.
"Jake from Two and a Half Men means nothing. He is a non-existent character," Jones says in a video for the Forerunner Chronicles, a Christian group. "If you watch Two and a Half Men, please stop watching Two and a Half Men. I'm on Two and a Half Men and I don't want to be on it. Please stop watching it and filling your head with filth. People say it’s just entertainment. Do some research on the effects of television and your brain, and I promise you you’ll have a decision to make when it comes to television, especially with what you watch."
Jones continues that the show is part of the plan of "the enemy" [Satan]. "If I am doing any harm, I don't want to be here," he says. "I don't want to be contributing to the enemy's plan. … You cannot be a true God-fearing person and be on a television show like that. I know I can't. I'm not OK with what I'm learning, what the Bible says and being on that television show."
Jones, 19, gave a testimony in October at the Voice of Prophecy in Los Angeles, where he attends services.
Jones earns about $350,000 per episode; in May he received a salary bump -- along with co-stars Jon Cryer and Ashton Kutcher -- when Men was renewed for a 10th season.
Jones' comments mark the latest brouhaha for the veteran sitcom, which in addition to the Sheen debacle also saw former showrunner Lee Aronsohn step down after he came under fire for comments he made to The Hollywood Reporter about female-driven shows at a Toronto screenwriting conference.
Jones' Men comments begin at 7:30 in the video.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Filmmaker: I found God in Hollywood
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.
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, July 23, 2009
Brad Pitt: There is No God
Brad Pitt in an interview with German magazine Bild reveals his thoughts on God.
BILD: Have you found happiness in life?
Brad Pitt (nodding): Hm – yes. I am on the path I want to be on.”
BILD: Do you believe in God?
Brad Pitt (smiling): “No, no, no!”
BILD: Is your soul spiritual?
Brad Pitt: “No, no, no! I’m probably 20 per cent atheist and 80 per cent agnostic. I don’t think anyone really knows. You’ll either find out or not when you get there, until then there’s no point thinking about it.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Stephen Baldwin Lends Lohan a Hand
After a weekend in the media spotlight due to a warrant (which was later dropped) being issued for her arrest, Fox News is reporting that Lindsay Lohan is seeking guidance to put her back on a positive path.
The troubled 22-year-old actress will temporarily be in a "therapeutic environment" organized by fellow actors, Stephen and Daniel Baldwin.
Lindsay apparently "wants to remove the negative influences in her life."
It's great to see Stephen is working towards his goal and having a positive impact on the Hollywood community - even if it's just one high profile person.
The troubled 22-year-old actress will temporarily be in a "therapeutic environment" organized by fellow actors, Stephen and Daniel Baldwin.
Lindsay apparently "wants to remove the negative influences in her life."
It's great to see Stephen is working towards his goal and having a positive impact on the Hollywood community - even if it's just one high profile person.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Hollywood Conservatives Launch Effort to Change Entertainment Industry
In an industry dominated by the political left, conservatives are coming together on a new platform with a mission to change Hollywood and to restore it to its patriotic roots.
Launched last week, Big Hollywood is not a gossip outpost but a group blog featuring hundreds of conservatives from the fields of politics, journalism, entertainment and culture.
Launched last week, Big Hollywood is not a gossip outpost but a group blog featuring hundreds of conservatives from the fields of politics, journalism, entertainment and culture.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)