Biblical references were temporarily edited out of “Soul Surfer,” a movie based on shark attack survivor Bethany Hamilton, in an effort not to alienate non-Christians. “Soul Surfer” director Sean McNamara's latest film “Hoovey” will not have that issue.
The production company “has supported my vision for everything including Bible references, because they’re appropriate. The Elliott family is Christian, and so they are in the film,” he told Fox News. “’Hoovey’ is a natural story of a family that can only be told through the 'faith lens'.”
Like "Soul Surfer," “Hoovey” is based on a true story and tells the tale of a promising high school basketball player Eric “Hoovey” Elliott, who collapses on the court from a life-threatening brain tumor. Hoovey survives high-risk surgery, and is forced to re-learn the fundamentals of life from walking and reading, to even seeing clearly. And as his mother and father teeter on the brink of falling apart amid medical bills and stress, the entire family must rely on faith, tenacity and love to get through their darkest days.
“I fell in love while reading the book (written by Hoovey’s father Jeff Elliott) that first night. It’s a story of adversity and challenges resolved through the perseverance and faith,” McNamara said. “It can be summed up with this line: ‘Faith makes it real.’”
According to the film's star, there is plenty to be gleaned from believers and non-believers alike.
“It confirms that love and trust are the greatest gifts on earth,” said former “Hannah Montana” star Cody Linley, who plays the title role of Hoovey. “If you are willing to work as a team, then problems turn into an opportunity for all to grow and live better. Everyone has questioned their own purpose in life, and when we deal with near-death experiences it allows us to see ourselves more deeply.”
Fellow 'Hoovey' star Lauren Holly said she's honored to be part of a film that has a positive message.
“All of us know the power of family; we all know how to root for good against evil. We feel good when there is a happy ending, especially when the story is true. It gives us all hope,” she said. “And for me personally, I am proud to be in a film that I want my whole family to see, one that all of us would enjoy.”
Showing posts with label soul surfer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label soul surfer. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Soul Surfer Bethany Hamilton and Husband Place Third in The Amazing Race
After being in first place for much of the season, Bethany Hamilton and her husband ended in third place.
She speaks about her future plans including a Kickstarter-funded "Surfs Like a Girl" film.
She speaks about her future plans including a Kickstarter-funded "Surfs Like a Girl" film.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Rick Santorum's Film Company to Release Movies to Churches Instead of Theaters
Former Senator Rick Santorum's film company announced on Monday that it would be distributing its movies not through the traditional box office but through churches.
EchoLight Studios, which released last year's adaptation of Max Lucado's The Christmas Candle, told Deadline that the studio made the decision as a strategic attempt to draw the masses into churches.
"We want to be a part of empowering the church to elevate its role as a cultural change agent," EchoLight President Studios Jeff Sheets said in a statement. "Our vision is not to create sermons wrapped in a movie but to create content that inspires, fascinates and incorporates a strong Christian worldview."
The Franklin, TN-based studio, which intends to release four films a year, wants both the film's message and financial profits to support churches. Consequently, EchoLight hopes to create movies which can also have a "strong ministry value as tools for the Church to use in their in-reach and outreach ministries," whose proceeds will partially "fuel the missional needs of the hosting local church."
Tickets for the studio's next film, One Generation Away, will go on sale on June 1. The studio will also re-release The Christmas Candle, which grossed $2 million over seven weeks last winter. Later this year, EchoLight will also release Hoovey, directed by Sean McNamara, who was also behind the camera in Soul Surfer.
Hoovey, starring Patrick Warburton and Lauren Holly and includes Disney Channel alums Cody Linley and Alyson Stoner, is based on the true story of a high school basketball player Eric Hoover Elliott diagnosed with a massive brain tumor.
EchoLight Studios, which released last year's adaptation of Max Lucado's The Christmas Candle, told Deadline that the studio made the decision as a strategic attempt to draw the masses into churches.
"We want to be a part of empowering the church to elevate its role as a cultural change agent," EchoLight President Studios Jeff Sheets said in a statement. "Our vision is not to create sermons wrapped in a movie but to create content that inspires, fascinates and incorporates a strong Christian worldview."
The Franklin, TN-based studio, which intends to release four films a year, wants both the film's message and financial profits to support churches. Consequently, EchoLight hopes to create movies which can also have a "strong ministry value as tools for the Church to use in their in-reach and outreach ministries," whose proceeds will partially "fuel the missional needs of the hosting local church."
Tickets for the studio's next film, One Generation Away, will go on sale on June 1. The studio will also re-release The Christmas Candle, which grossed $2 million over seven weeks last winter. Later this year, EchoLight will also release Hoovey, directed by Sean McNamara, who was also behind the camera in Soul Surfer.
Hoovey, starring Patrick Warburton and Lauren Holly and includes Disney Channel alums Cody Linley and Alyson Stoner, is based on the true story of a high school basketball player Eric Hoover Elliott diagnosed with a massive brain tumor.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Bethany Hamilton Joins "Dolphin Tale 2"
Inspirational professional surfer Bethany Hamilton (“Soul Surfer”) will join the cast of “Dolphin Tale 2.”
Hamilton will join the original film’s returning cast, including Harry Connick, Jr., Morgan Freeman, Kris Kristofferson, Ashley Judd, Nathan Gamble and Cozi Zuehlsdorff, among others. Charles Martin Smith, who wrote “Dolphin Tale,” has written the screenplay for the sequel and is again directing.
“Dolphin Tale 2” tells another true story inspired by the life of the rescued bottle nose dolphin, Winter – the star of “Dolphin Tale” – this time involving the real-life, new baby dolphin Hope, who was also saved and rehabilitated by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
Hamilton, who will play herself in “Dolphin Tale 2,” has become a source of inspiration to millions through her story of faith, determination and hope. At age 13, Hamilton was bitten by a 14-foot tiger shark while surfing off Kauai’s North Shore, leaving her with a severed left arm. Miraculously, just one month after the attack, Hamilton returned to the water. She went on to win a national title, and eventually realized her dream of becoming a professional surfer.
Hamilton’s autobiography, Soul Surfer, was made into a major motion picture starring AnnaSophia Robb, Helen Hunt and Dennis Quaid. She has written eight additional books (with another coming soon) and continues to surf professionally today.
“Dolphin Tale 2” is currently filming in Clearwater, Florida. Warner Bros. Pictures will distribute the film and has slated the film for a September 19, 2014 release.
Hamilton will join the original film’s returning cast, including Harry Connick, Jr., Morgan Freeman, Kris Kristofferson, Ashley Judd, Nathan Gamble and Cozi Zuehlsdorff, among others. Charles Martin Smith, who wrote “Dolphin Tale,” has written the screenplay for the sequel and is again directing.
“Dolphin Tale 2” tells another true story inspired by the life of the rescued bottle nose dolphin, Winter – the star of “Dolphin Tale” – this time involving the real-life, new baby dolphin Hope, who was also saved and rehabilitated by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
Hamilton, who will play herself in “Dolphin Tale 2,” has become a source of inspiration to millions through her story of faith, determination and hope. At age 13, Hamilton was bitten by a 14-foot tiger shark while surfing off Kauai’s North Shore, leaving her with a severed left arm. Miraculously, just one month after the attack, Hamilton returned to the water. She went on to win a national title, and eventually realized her dream of becoming a professional surfer.
Hamilton’s autobiography, Soul Surfer, was made into a major motion picture starring AnnaSophia Robb, Helen Hunt and Dennis Quaid. She has written eight additional books (with another coming soon) and continues to surf professionally today.
“Dolphin Tale 2” is currently filming in Clearwater, Florida. Warner Bros. Pictures will distribute the film and has slated the film for a September 19, 2014 release.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
‘Soul Surfer’ Bethany Hamilton Delivers Powerful Message of Faith and Perseverance
The woman known as the “soul surfer” who lost her arm in a shark attack but went on to become a professional surfer said her faith in Jesus Christ carried her through the emotional pain and uncertainty she felt after her accident.
Bethany Hamilton told her story at the annual National Prayer Breakfast Thursday in Washington, D.C., for an audience that included President Barack Obama and members of Congress.
“I thought for a time I had lost more than just my arm,” said Hamilton, who was attacked by a 14-foot shark when she was 13 years old in 2003. “I [felt] as though my hopes and dreams to become a pro surfer and venture the world were stripped away.”
Hamilton, whose story was featured in the 2011 film “Soul Surfer,” said the experience has helped her grow spiritually.
“I have no regrets for the adversity that God has allowed me to go through,” she told the audience. “I am now honored to be a role model and inspiration to many young girls throughout America and the world — ultimately, to share the hope and salvation there is in Jesus Christ.”
Hamilton said that while some might be tempted to pity her, she views the 2003 attack and its resulting impact on her life as “something beautiful.”
Read full article
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Could China’s growing influence in Hollywood affect Christian-themed movies?
Last year, China surpassed Japan as the second-largest box office in the world – with theater earnings up 36 percent from the previous year.
Experts now anticipate that in the next five to seven years, the world’s most populous country will jump the United States in gross box office. This means, whether Hollywood studios like it or not, they will likely have to tailor films to suit the Chinese market and appeal to the country’s Communist Party censorship regulations, if they want to have their movies shown there.
Experts tell Fox News this could be a particular problem for films with a strong faith-based theme.
Even though the Chinese government boasts on its website that "China is a country of great religious diversity and freedom of religious belief. It has over 100 million followers of various faiths” that doesn’t mean the Communist Party exactly embraces content promoting a Christian agenda.
“Christian-themed movies are generally shunned by the Chinese film authorities,” added Robert Cain, a veteran producer and longtime liaison between Hollywood and China. “I doubt any of the studios would bother submitting them.”
That would mean turning your back on the world’s second biggest box office, and potentially the biggest in coming years, which could be hard for many producers and studios to do.
“As much as American filmmakers want their freedom of expression, it comes down to money. The film industry is a business, and with China set to be the number one in the film market in the near future, Hollywood needs to look out for themselves,” explained entertainment litigation attorney, Dr. Dariush Adli. “Films will continue to be censored according to Chinese guidelines and even created according to these rules. All foreign films, dealing with anything from religion to gambling, have to be screened and pass the test of China’s State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT). This means that many studio productions are modified or refused completely. Until rules and regulations are changed on SARFT's end, Christian films will always have a hard time passing Chinese censorship.”
That means the decision whether to green light a faith-based movie will be even harder, given the success of these types of movies domestically. One only has to look at the recent ratings success of History Channel’s five-part miniseries “The Bible” which premiered with a whopping 13 million viewers this year and held steady at around 10 million watchers each week, to understand that the desire for Christian entertainment in the U.S. is strong.
There is also the domestic box office success of several religious-themed films in recent times – in 2004 “Passion of the Christ” brought in $370 million, 2006’s “The Nativity Story” made $37 million, 2008’s Kirk Cameron-starring “Fireproof” pocketed $33 million, 2009’s “The Blind Side” made $256 million, and 2011’s “Soul Surfer” made a domestic gross of almost $44 million.
But Christianity does appear to be growing in China. Ted Baehr, founder of the faith and traditional values entertainment site Movieguide.com, insists that the Christian genre does well around the world, and that there has been a push for the website to run a service in China.
“According to Niall Ferguson, the author of ‘Six Killer Apps,’ Christianity is growing faster in China than in any other country and there are now more bibles being printed in China than anywhere else in world,” Alderson added. “Thus an emerging Christian influence in Chinese film-making is possible, although it is likely to be subtle and indirect.”
Experts now anticipate that in the next five to seven years, the world’s most populous country will jump the United States in gross box office. This means, whether Hollywood studios like it or not, they will likely have to tailor films to suit the Chinese market and appeal to the country’s Communist Party censorship regulations, if they want to have their movies shown there.
Experts tell Fox News this could be a particular problem for films with a strong faith-based theme.
Even though the Chinese government boasts on its website that "China is a country of great religious diversity and freedom of religious belief. It has over 100 million followers of various faiths” that doesn’t mean the Communist Party exactly embraces content promoting a Christian agenda.
“Christian-themed movies are generally shunned by the Chinese film authorities,” added Robert Cain, a veteran producer and longtime liaison between Hollywood and China. “I doubt any of the studios would bother submitting them.”
That would mean turning your back on the world’s second biggest box office, and potentially the biggest in coming years, which could be hard for many producers and studios to do.
“As much as American filmmakers want their freedom of expression, it comes down to money. The film industry is a business, and with China set to be the number one in the film market in the near future, Hollywood needs to look out for themselves,” explained entertainment litigation attorney, Dr. Dariush Adli. “Films will continue to be censored according to Chinese guidelines and even created according to these rules. All foreign films, dealing with anything from religion to gambling, have to be screened and pass the test of China’s State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT). This means that many studio productions are modified or refused completely. Until rules and regulations are changed on SARFT's end, Christian films will always have a hard time passing Chinese censorship.”
That means the decision whether to green light a faith-based movie will be even harder, given the success of these types of movies domestically. One only has to look at the recent ratings success of History Channel’s five-part miniseries “The Bible” which premiered with a whopping 13 million viewers this year and held steady at around 10 million watchers each week, to understand that the desire for Christian entertainment in the U.S. is strong.
There is also the domestic box office success of several religious-themed films in recent times – in 2004 “Passion of the Christ” brought in $370 million, 2006’s “The Nativity Story” made $37 million, 2008’s Kirk Cameron-starring “Fireproof” pocketed $33 million, 2009’s “The Blind Side” made $256 million, and 2011’s “Soul Surfer” made a domestic gross of almost $44 million.
But Christianity does appear to be growing in China. Ted Baehr, founder of the faith and traditional values entertainment site Movieguide.com, insists that the Christian genre does well around the world, and that there has been a push for the website to run a service in China.
“According to Niall Ferguson, the author of ‘Six Killer Apps,’ Christianity is growing faster in China than in any other country and there are now more bibles being printed in China than anywhere else in world,” Alderson added. “Thus an emerging Christian influence in Chinese film-making is possible, although it is likely to be subtle and indirect.”
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Tobymac Featured in Space Warriors
Tobymac's "Unstoppable" is the featured closing song in the new movie "Space Warriors" starring Dermot Mulroney, Academy Award winner Mira Sorvino, Josh Lucas, Thomas Horn ("Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close") and Danny Glover. The film is directed by Sean McNamara ("Soul Surfer"). In addition to its theatrical release on April 26, "Space Warriors" will also make its World Television debut as part of the Walden Family Theater series on Hallmark Channel, May 31 at 8pm ET.
"Space Warriors" tells the story of a smart and mischievous teenage boy who dreams of attending Space Camp. He is among six highly skilled teenagers handpicked to be part of a summer space camp competition at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. A motley crew with formidable competition, they band in friendship, humor and resourcefulness and ultimately become heroes when danger erupts on the International Space Station and they use their ingenuity to save the day.
Tobymac joins Britt Nicole as well as some emerging artists in sonically decorating the film, set at the world-famous U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, home of Space Camp and Aviation Challenge.
"This wonderful film should inspire and entertain kids all over the world in the space and science arena," says Tim Hall, USSRC's media strategist and communications director. "The music in this movie is amazing. It punctuates the film and will resonate with our audience to bring even more attention to it. We here at the Space Camp and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center could not be happier to be involved."
"Space Warriors" tells the story of a smart and mischievous teenage boy who dreams of attending Space Camp. He is among six highly skilled teenagers handpicked to be part of a summer space camp competition at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. A motley crew with formidable competition, they band in friendship, humor and resourcefulness and ultimately become heroes when danger erupts on the International Space Station and they use their ingenuity to save the day.
Tobymac joins Britt Nicole as well as some emerging artists in sonically decorating the film, set at the world-famous U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, home of Space Camp and Aviation Challenge.
"This wonderful film should inspire and entertain kids all over the world in the space and science arena," says Tim Hall, USSRC's media strategist and communications director. "The music in this movie is amazing. It punctuates the film and will resonate with our audience to bring even more attention to it. We here at the Space Camp and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center could not be happier to be involved."
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Study: Movies With Traditional Values Make More Money Than 'Liberal' Movies
Patriotism and traditional values, like those displayed in "Thor," "The Artist," "Soul Surfer" and "Hugo," are what moviegoers want, says a group that will honor such films at an awards gala Friday.
Wanna make money in Hollywood? Release patriotic movies that promote conservative values and do not denigrate Christianity.
For two decades, that has been the message of Movieguide, and on Friday, Feb. 10, when it celebrates its 20-year anniversary with an awards show airing on The Hallmark Channel, the organization will present a 76-page report designed to back up its assertions.
The report praises such 2011 releases as Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, Battle: Los Angeles, Moneyball, We Bought a Zoo and Hugo while heaping scorn on the likes of Super 8, Red State, Bad Teacher and Happy Feet Two.
The Movieguide report rates movies using more than two dozen criteria, such as whether a title promotes capitalism or socialism or if it promotes or denigrates biblical principles. Violence, sex, political correctness, revisionist history, environmentalism, and homosexuality.
This year’s report concludes that seven of the top 10 films of 2011 scored high on Movieguide’s index and therefore qualify as films with “strong or very strong Christian, biblical, moral and redemptive content."
Movieguide identified 91 movies in 2011 that scored high in “conservative/moral categories”; these earned an average of $59 million apiece. On the other hand, it identified 105 movies that scored high in “liberal/leftist categories”; each of those titles earned an average of just $11 million.
The average movie scoring four stars from Movieguide earned $53.5 million while the ones that scored just one star earned $10.6 million.
Exceptions abound, of course, notable ones being The Hangover Part II and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1, hit movies that earned $581 million and $702 million worldwide, respectively, but are panned by Movieguide as films that promote “fringe worldviews” and “obscene behavior.”
“Most moviegoers want good to conquer evil, truth to triumph over falsehood, justice to prevail over injustice and true beauty to overcome ugliness,” Movieguide editor Ted Baehr writes in the report.
Friday’s awards gala, where the report will be made public, is hosted by Baehr, sponsored by the Christian Film & Television Commission and will be emceed by actor Dean Cain. Scheduled presenters include Joe Mantegna, Corbin Bernsen, Kevin Sorbo and Pat Boone.
Nominees for best movie for mature audiences are:
- The Artist
- Captain America: The First Avenger
- Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
- Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol
- Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
- Sarah’s Key
- Seven Days in Utopia
- Thor
- The Tree of Life
- The Way
Nominees for best movie for family audiences are:
- The Adventures of Tintin
- Cars 2
- Courageous
- Hugo
- Justin Bieber: Never Say Never
- Mars Needs Moms
- Mr. Popper’s Penguins
- The Muppets
- Puss in Boots
- Soul Surfer
full article here
Monday, June 13, 2011
Box Office Update: Faith Titles Find Success
While the carnal "Hangover 2" grabs headlines and two other films ("POTC: On Stranger Tides," "Fast Five") surpass $200 million this summer, it's important to note that several faith-based films have garnered some success.
Most notably, "Soul Surfer" has defied expectations and is in the Top 30 for the year grossing $42 million. "Jumping the Broom" is at #38 with $37 million.
"Dawn Treader" remains in the Top 15 of DVD sales grossing over $24 million.
Two other titles are in the Top 100 - "The Grace Card" has made $2.4 million and "There Be Dragons" $1.1 million
Most notably, "Soul Surfer" has defied expectations and is in the Top 30 for the year grossing $42 million. "Jumping the Broom" is at #38 with $37 million.
"Dawn Treader" remains in the Top 15 of DVD sales grossing over $24 million.
Two other titles are in the Top 100 - "The Grace Card" has made $2.4 million and "There Be Dragons" $1.1 million
Monday, May 9, 2011
Jumping The Broom Sweeps Up
Two wedding-tinged comedies had the misfortune of opening the same weekend. "Jumping the Broom" and "Something Borrowed," debuted closely together in third and fourth, respectively, though "Jumping" was more impressive, due to its far more modest production and marketing. "Something" made an estimated $13.2 million at 2,904 locations, while "Jumping" swept up a nice estimated $13.7 million at 2,035 locations.
The $6.6M-budgeted "Jumping the Broom" was produced by T.D. Jakes' production company. Founding pastor of The Potter’s House in Dallas Jakes told The Christian Post earlier this year that with his film company, T.D. Jake Enterprises, he hopes to change the “Hollywood machine” and widen the relationship between Hollywood and Christians, especially considering the two “haven’t spoken to each other in a while.”. This film is meant to spotlight marriage and abstinence.
Soul Surfer remained in the Top 10 at 9 and is approaching $40 million.
The $6.6M-budgeted "Jumping the Broom" was produced by T.D. Jakes' production company. Founding pastor of The Potter’s House in Dallas Jakes told The Christian Post earlier this year that with his film company, T.D. Jake Enterprises, he hopes to change the “Hollywood machine” and widen the relationship between Hollywood and Christians, especially considering the two “haven’t spoken to each other in a while.”. This film is meant to spotlight marriage and abstinence.
Soul Surfer remained in the Top 10 at 9 and is approaching $40 million.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Soul Surfer Riding High in Its Second Week
Soul Surfer rode the wave into fourth at the box office this weekend, falling a slim 30% from last weekend to finish with $7.4M, according to estimates, bringing its total to $20M. A final gross in the area of $40M is possible.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Soul Surfer Makes a Splash at the Box Office
The inspirational drama "Soul Surfer" exceeded expectations and debuted in fourth with an estimated $11.1M. Posting the best screen average among the new films, the PG-rated true story of a teen surfer who gets her life back on track after a shark bites off her arm averaged a good $5,014 from 2,214 screens. Overall, “Soul Surfer” came in fourth, but lost the #2 spot only by a nose to “Hanna,” which banked $12.3m on 300+ more screens, and the “Arthur” remake, which played on 1,000+ more screens but took in only $12.6m. Per screen, “Soul Surfer” beat “Arther” by $1,200. No small thing, especially since surfing movies tend to wipe out.
Nikki Finke reports that Sony was hoping for $10 million and is obviously very happy with the results: “If we do 10 million this weekend (or close to it), it would be a home run for Sony and Film District.”
The movie earned mixed reviews from critics, but "Soul Surfer" earned an A+ grade from CinemaScore which is rare these days so word-of-mouth should help the pic to play well for the rest of the spring season especially with the Easter holiday still to come. So the $15 million production should prove to be quite profitable.
Exit polls showed that a whopping 80% of the crowd was female and 56% was under 25. Moms and daughters made up a big portion of the audience.
“Soul Surfer,” which is based on the true story of Bethany Hamilton, a young surfer whose Christian faith and family help her to overcome a shark attack that cost her an arm, stars AnnaSophia Robb, Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt. Thanks to some very good marketing to the teenage crowd in general and to the Christian market specifically, what Hollywood has here is one less excuse to keep ‘em coming.
Nikki Finke reports that Sony was hoping for $10 million and is obviously very happy with the results: “If we do 10 million this weekend (or close to it), it would be a home run for Sony and Film District.”
The movie earned mixed reviews from critics, but "Soul Surfer" earned an A+ grade from CinemaScore which is rare these days so word-of-mouth should help the pic to play well for the rest of the spring season especially with the Easter holiday still to come. So the $15 million production should prove to be quite profitable.
Exit polls showed that a whopping 80% of the crowd was female and 56% was under 25. Moms and daughters made up a big portion of the audience.
“Soul Surfer,” which is based on the true story of Bethany Hamilton, a young surfer whose Christian faith and family help her to overcome a shark attack that cost her an arm, stars AnnaSophia Robb, Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt. Thanks to some very good marketing to the teenage crowd in general and to the Christian market specifically, what Hollywood has here is one less excuse to keep ‘em coming.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Carrie Underwood: My Faith Is the Reason for My Success
Carrie Underwood is one of the world’s most successful country music artists, but she tells us that it isn’t only a result of talent and luck. Instead, she credits her strong faith and Christian upbringing for all her life’s charms.
“I grew up in church and have a wonderful family that always supported that,” Underwood told FOX411’s Pop Tarts column. “I grew up going to church camp and reading my bible and having different faith books and movies in my life.”
The 28-year-old “American Idol” winner makes her film debut in a supporting role in the heartfelt drama “Soul Surfer." And Underwood hopes that the film will enable American audiences to see the power that faith has in the healing process.
“I hope that it is very clear that the faith in this movie is more than an undertone, and that the reason Bethany got through everything was because of her faith in God," she said.
“It’s easy to have faith when things are going great and you’re on top of the world – I’m winning, I’m selling, I’m on tour and this is all great! But this story is about having faith when the chips are down and how to deal with that. We can all learn something from Bethany’s story, even when the little things in our lives don’t go so well, we can take a lesson from her and realize how small that problem really is.”
And although the Oklahoma native embraced the new experience of working on a movie set, joining her co-stars between the waves on a surfboard was not an option.
“I enjoy being by the water, but being on the water is scary. I’m a horrible swimmer, I’m a fear of drowning kind of girl,” she explained. “But (acting) was a totally new animal for me, it was so different but everyone on the set really helped me along. They were patient and understood I had never been in a movie before and helped me through it.”
So it’s pretty safe to say this down-home girl has come a long way – but she hasn’t forgotten what started it all, and tells us she is greatly immersed in the current season of “Idol.”
‘American Idol’ is the only reason I'm in the music business, period. I had no idea how to get in any other way,” she told us.
Read more
“I grew up in church and have a wonderful family that always supported that,” Underwood told FOX411’s Pop Tarts column. “I grew up going to church camp and reading my bible and having different faith books and movies in my life.”
The 28-year-old “American Idol” winner makes her film debut in a supporting role in the heartfelt drama “Soul Surfer." And Underwood hopes that the film will enable American audiences to see the power that faith has in the healing process.
“I hope that it is very clear that the faith in this movie is more than an undertone, and that the reason Bethany got through everything was because of her faith in God," she said.
“It’s easy to have faith when things are going great and you’re on top of the world – I’m winning, I’m selling, I’m on tour and this is all great! But this story is about having faith when the chips are down and how to deal with that. We can all learn something from Bethany’s story, even when the little things in our lives don’t go so well, we can take a lesson from her and realize how small that problem really is.”
And although the Oklahoma native embraced the new experience of working on a movie set, joining her co-stars between the waves on a surfboard was not an option.
“I enjoy being by the water, but being on the water is scary. I’m a horrible swimmer, I’m a fear of drowning kind of girl,” she explained. “But (acting) was a totally new animal for me, it was so different but everyone on the set really helped me along. They were patient and understood I had never been in a movie before and helped me through it.”
So it’s pretty safe to say this down-home girl has come a long way – but she hasn’t forgotten what started it all, and tells us she is greatly immersed in the current season of “Idol.”
‘American Idol’ is the only reason I'm in the music business, period. I had no idea how to get in any other way,” she told us.
Read more
Carrie Underwood Makes Acting Debut in 'Soul Surfer'
Carrie Underwood says she's happy with her first acting performance on the big screen. The country music star plays a small but pivotal role in the film "Soul Surfer," the inspirational tale of shark attack survivor Bethany Hamilton.
"I'm happy with myself for the role and for the movie," Underwood said. "Am I going to win an Oscar? No. It was so much fun and the important thing is getting the story out there."
Underwood plays youth pastor Sarah Hill, a key figure in Hamilton's life and recovery after the attack. Hamilton, then 13, lost her left arm when a 14-foot tiger shark ripped it off while she was surfing with friends in Hawaii.
Read more here.
"I'm happy with myself for the role and for the movie," Underwood said. "Am I going to win an Oscar? No. It was so much fun and the important thing is getting the story out there."
Underwood plays youth pastor Sarah Hill, a key figure in Hamilton's life and recovery after the attack. Hamilton, then 13, lost her left arm when a 14-foot tiger shark ripped it off while she was surfing with friends in Hawaii.
Read more here.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Surfer’s Tale of Strength and Faith Portrayed in ‘Soul Surfer’
Bethany Hamilton was little known outside the competitive surfing community until a tiger shark took her arm off along the coast of Kauai when she was 13 years old.
That moment and that loss do not define Bethany Hamilton. They merely galvanize who she already was. And she doesn’t want anyone to feel sorry for her, because she certainly doesn’t.
“Ultimately, I hope that my struggles and what I went though can hopefully be encouraging,” says Hamilton, now 21. She’s out promoting the film Soul Surfer, based on her autobiography and starring Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt and AnnaSophia Robb as Bethany.
The movie, which opens today, captures not only that fateful shark encounter, but also her return to the ocean and the family and faith that ground her.
READ MORE.
That moment and that loss do not define Bethany Hamilton. They merely galvanize who she already was. And she doesn’t want anyone to feel sorry for her, because she certainly doesn’t.
“Ultimately, I hope that my struggles and what I went though can hopefully be encouraging,” says Hamilton, now 21. She’s out promoting the film Soul Surfer, based on her autobiography and starring Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt and AnnaSophia Robb as Bethany.
The movie, which opens today, captures not only that fateful shark encounter, but also her return to the ocean and the family and faith that ground her.
READ MORE.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Bible Edited Out of Film 'Soul Surfer' to Appeal to Non-Christians, Added Back In
The upcoming film “Soul Surfer,” slated for release in April, is based on the true story of teen surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in a 2003 shark attack, but courageously returned to her board and become a champion again months later.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the real-life Hamilton family – all devout Christians – were upset to learn that the words 'Holy Bible' were digitally removed from the cover of a Bible in a scene featuring Bethany Hamilton's father Tom reading by his ailing daughter’s hospital bedside.
An executive at Mandalay Pictures pushed to soften the Christian element of the film, presumably in an effort to appeal to non-Christian audiences. However, after the upset family complained, they were pleased to discover that the 'Holy Bible' had been reinstated in the final cut, THR reported.
“I could see the words bright and clear. I looked at my wife and whispered, ‘Thank you God, they put it back,” Tom Hamilton told THR.
Read the rest of the article.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the real-life Hamilton family – all devout Christians – were upset to learn that the words 'Holy Bible' were digitally removed from the cover of a Bible in a scene featuring Bethany Hamilton's father Tom reading by his ailing daughter’s hospital bedside.
An executive at Mandalay Pictures pushed to soften the Christian element of the film, presumably in an effort to appeal to non-Christian audiences. However, after the upset family complained, they were pleased to discover that the 'Holy Bible' had been reinstated in the final cut, THR reported.
“I could see the words bright and clear. I looked at my wife and whispered, ‘Thank you God, they put it back,” Tom Hamilton told THR.
Read the rest of the article.
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