David and Goliath' Director Assures Big-Budget Movie Will Be Biblically Accurate

Tim Chey, the director behind the upcoming big-budget "David and Goliath" film, told The Christian Post in an exclusive interview that the project is set to be "biblically correct in every way," and that he hopes audiences will be moved to tears when they see it.

The film, which is to be shot in Morocco is said to have a $50 million dollar budget and is currently scheduled for an early 2015 nationwide theater release. Chey has directed and produced nine feature films, including the $20 million "Carry Me Home" (Cuba Gooding, Jr.), coming out nationwide in December, "Suing the Devil' (Malcolm McDowell), and "Genius Club" (Stephen Baldwin).

While traveling from London to Casablanca, Chey shared his faith background and how it inspired the decision to get involved with the "David and Goliath" movie:

I was a former atheist who found Christ in a hotel room after reading a Gideon's Bible in Manila. I never looked back after that. Our production company has had this film "David and Goliath" in the works for almost 11 years. We realized to film it right we needed to shoot the film on a grand scale (much like "Lawrence of Arabia"). It's one of the most incredible stories in the Bible about faith. In this case, it was much greater than a mustard seed.

Acknowledging the recent controversy around Noah, he noted the importance of accuracy:

First off, it will be biblically correct in every way. But I want to show more of the cruelty of who the Philistines were and who Goliath was through historical data. Also, I want to flesh out the powerful fear Goliath instilled on Saul's army. Also David's brothers – the incredible tears they must have shed knowing the little brother was going to take on the 9-foot warrior. It could have been a Shakespearean tragedy, but turned into a victory through God.

He also addresses the importance of quality to attract a mass audience:

The mass audience is used to the best acting, the best visual effects, and the best epic filmmaking. To me, filmmaking is like playing professional basketball. It takes years of training and then ultimately, talent to do it. To get super-talented filmmakers who passionately love the Lord is a rare commodity. And to get super-talented filmmakers, who passionately love the Lord, and can raise millions of dollars, is next to impossible. This is why Christian films are looked down upon. However, even if a small cheesy film can win just one person to Christ, then let's be careful not to mock it like so many cruel Christians do.

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Stephen Baldwin Set to Star in a new Kickstarter-funded Sitcom, Rock And A Hard Place

Grammy-winning vocalist John Schlitt is set to join actor Stephen Baldwin in a new sitcom, Rock And A Hard Place, slated to go into production in the Spring. The faith-based television project features Schlitt in the role of John, the maintenance man at Solid Rock Church, where Baldwin's character is the pastor.

The sitcom, which has reached its initial Kickstarter goal to produce the pilot, is currently in Phase Two as the production team strives to make a "reach goal" of $100,000. The deadline for contributions is 9 p.m. E.T. Thursday, January 16.

The story line centers around Baldwin's character, Pastor Darren Keaton, who has a young daughter, a live-in mother-in-law, a slowly declining congregation in a northern Illinois church. When Pastor Keaton learns he has become the new owner of Hard Knocks, the bar directly across the street from his church home, Solid Rock Church, he suddenly finds himself between "a rock and a hard place." The pastor questions how his congregation will respond, how the church elders and staff will treat him, and how a devoutly religious man pastoring a church can possibly be allowed to own a bar? Pastor Darren finds he must look up for the answers, even more now than ever.

"Rock And A Hard Place is a comedy sitcom extravaganza," Baldwin says. "It's an outside the box, kooky, funny, Christian comedy of a heightened quality."

Joining Baldwin and Schlitt in the cast are Braxton Cosby (Bill Cosby's nephew), Eddie Steeples (My Name is Earl), and actress Lindee Link (Christian music singer Twila Paris' cousin). Grammy nominee Bryan Duncan wrote and performed the theme song for the new TV project. Darren Marlar is the series creator, producer, writer and also acts in the show.

Adrienne Bailon Hopes Movie Will Get People to Begin Relationship With God

Adrienne Bailon says playing the character of Vanessa Leon, a devout Christian in the faith-based film "I'm in Love with a Church Girl," was similar to her own life and hopes the film will spark interest in moviegoers to pursue a relationship with God.

"I think I have a really similar experience to her, because yes I am a church girl, I grew up in the church," says Bailon in an interview with Latina Magazine. "But at the same time, even with my current boyfriend, we had a lot of conversations that we have in this movie."

Playing Leon entailed Bailon preaching to her on-screen boyfriend, lecturing him on the value of chastity, all while trying to get him to attend church. Bailon says the film is about redemption and God's work in a person's life who may be seeking a second chance.

"If you want to change your life tomorrow, it absolutely can happen. You can become anything you want to become. If you decide you want to change your life around, it doesn't matter where you came from, what you did, if you were incarcerated or you are from the projects, if you are an uppity kid who came from a really wealthy family and all of them do drugs and are into that life, it doesn't matter, come as you are and God does His work," said Bailon.

She added, "I hope they get the message of faith in the sense that believing in something greater than yourself really helps you get through life so much easier. So for me it's really not about religion, but a relationship with God is the message we want to get across."

I'm In Love With a Church Girl #1 Indie Film In the Country

The new movie "I'm In Love With A Church Girl" was called the "surprise opening of the weekend" by top film blogs after a solid opening weekend at #15.

The faith-based romantic drama is the #1 independent movie in theaters, leading Rolling Stone to call the film "the biggest indie debut this week," with a per screen average of $2300 on more than 450 screens

Inspired by true events, the movie has impacted audiences of all backgrounds and beliefs - with sell-outs in Manhattan to Miami, San Francisco to Detroit from church groups and urban moviegoers.

The film stars Jeff "Ja Rule" Atkins who, as a successful entrepreneur haunted by a criminal past and surrounded by old friends still "in the life," finds faith, redemption and inspiration when God puts a woman of faith (Adrienne Bailon) in his life. Rounding out the cast are Stephen Baldwin, Vincent Pastore, Michael Madsen, T-Bone, Martin Kove and TobyMac.

The Washington Times said it was a "heart-felt and riveting drama ... poised to be the best film of the year." Many critics hailed Ja Rule's performance, Variety said "Ja Rule offers a performance that is borderline miraculous. He is never less than credible, and often surprisingly compelling."

Ja Rule, Adrienne Bailon, Stephen Baldwin and TobyMac Star in New Christian Movie

'I’m In Love With a Church Girl' will open domestically on October 18, 2013 with an international release to follow.

Based on a true story, the film stars 'Ja Rule' who, as a successful entrepreneur haunted by a criminal past and surrounded by old friends still “in the life,” finds faith, redemption and inspiration when God puts a woman of faith (Adrienne Bailon) in his life. Rounding out the cast are Stephen Baldwin, Vincent Pastore, Michael Madsen, T-Bone, Martin Kove and TobyMac.

“We are extremely pleased to have been able to put together such a world-class team for our very first film,” said Galley Molina, CEO of Reverence Gospel Media.

Molina wrote 'I’m In Love With a Church Girl' and has produced the film alongside Christian music superstar and RGM vice president Israel Houghton, who also contributed to the “Church Girl” soundtrack.

Houghton, who also shares screenplay credit on Reverence Gospel Media’s next two films, is a multiple Grammy, Stellar and Dove Award winner, and was honored most recently at the 2013 Grammys with the award for Best Christian Music Song. Israel is also a Worship Leader at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas – the largest congregation in the United States, where he serves alongside “America’s Pastor” Joel Osteen.

“We feel extraordinarily blessed to have been able to make this movie and can’t wait to see the impact it has on people’s lives,” said Houghton. “This is completely unlike any ‘faith-based’ movie anyone has ever seen. The characters face believable situations with real faith in a real God.”

“I’ve seen this movie, and am both moved and inspired by the story, the characters, and the quality of both movie and music,” said Donnie McClurkin, Grammy Award-winning Gospel artist and Senior Pastor of the Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport, NY. “This is not what people have come to expect from Christian films, and I know it will resonate deeply with viewers – even those who would never have gone anywhere near a movie that touches on the subject of faith.

Stephen Baldwin Defends Two and a Half Men Star

Angus T. Jones received some criticism after speaking out against his "Two and a Half Men" television show recently, but fellow Christian actor Stephen Baldwin is defending the 19-year-old's stance.

Jones later apologized for showing "a lack of appreciation of the extraordinary opportunity" he has been blessed with. However Baldwin, 46, said he understood what the young actor was going through when he decided to speak out against his own series.

"It just sounds like Angus is having an authentic experience with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It's a serious thing," Baldwin said in a recent interview with "Good Morning America." "A real, true walk of Christianity is very difficult, quite radical. It seems to me he was a young man when he started and now he's kind of come into his own and he's connected with his pastor."

Although Jones apologized for his comments, Baldwin said he thinks Jones was genuine about his initial remarks concerning "Two and a Half Men."

"I think he knows exactly what he's doing. Again, he meant to probably have it come out differently," Baldwin said. "He didn't want to offend [show creator] Chuck Lorre or any of the people from the show or be disrespectful, but I think he authentically means what he says where he finds now if you hold up the content of his show to the Bible, what he's saying is, 'Now there's a conflict for me.'"

I Might Be In Love with I'm In Love with a Church Girl Soundtrack

The 2-disc soundtrack features original music inspired by the film and includes artists such as Israel Houghton, Mary Mary, New Breed, TobyMac, Fred Hammond, India Arie, Beckah Shae, Anthony Hamilton, Third Day, Ja Rule, Adrienne Bailon, T-Bone and many more. I’m in Love with a Church Girl features an all-star cast including Ja Rule (The Fast and the Furious, Shall We Dance), Adrienne Bailon (Cheetah Girls), Stephen Baldwin (Usual Suspects, The Young Riders) and Grammy Award winning artist, TobyMac in his debut cameo acting role. The film depicts a unique story centered on a retired high-level drug trafficker Miles Montego (Ja Rule), whose life has gone legitimate yet he remains loyal to his tight knit circle of friends and former colleagues in the business. When he meets Vanessa (Adrienne Bailon), a church girl in every sense of the word, he must decide whether to hold onto his old ways or let them go. Throughout the film Miles and Vanessa are tested to their last ounce of faith and strength in God and each other. In addition, I’m in Love with a Church Girl is scored by music composer Bruce Fowler (Dark Knight, Lion King) and legend jazz trumpeter and pianist, Arturo Sandoval also contributed to the score.

Stephen Baldwin Makes Directorial Debut With Cory Lamb Music Video

Outspoken Christian actor, Stephen Baldwin, added a new item to his resume when he directed the music video for Cory Lamb’s song, “Break The Cycle.”

“If you want to reach today’s youth you’ve gotta be relevant,” Baldwin said. “Cory Lamb, his music and his message are that very thing. I believe in Cory’s passion to deliver a positive message to today’s youth.”

Heidi Montag's New Album Doesn't Illuminate Her Faith

Heidi Montag's "Superficial" released last Tuesday. Back in July 2008 it was rumored that she was interested in recording a Christian music album.

You may have seen pics of Heidi & Spencer coming out of church holding Bibles and their appearance in June 2008 on the reality show "I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!" where they talked about Jesus and their faith. For example, when Heidi wailed that someone had "vandalized my hair product!", Spencer went on a violent rampage, prompting Heidi to explain that he was a new Christian and working out his anger issues. A day later, Spencer was baptized by fellow reality show Christian Stephen Baldwin.

But it's pretty clear this isn't a Christian album. Not by any stretch of the imagination. The first clue being that it comes in both clean and explicit versions.
Even US Weekly calls the album "racy. Verrry racy."

Chynna Phillips in new Christian Duo

Chynna Phillips comes with a great musical pedigree. Besides her famous musical parents (The Mamas & the Papas), in the '90s she teamed with sisters Carnie & Wendy Wilson (daughters of Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson) to form Wilson Phillips. Their first album produced three #1 singles and sales of over 10 million.

Chynna briefly pursued a solo career and got married to Billy Baldwin, all the while searching for true fulfillment. She began to notice the changes in her brother-in-law Stephen Baldwin. When he told her that he had given his life to Christ, she laughed.
“I had a deluded image of what it meant to be a Christian,” she says. “I thought you had to be perfect, and it’s the exact opposite.” she shares.

Though first skeptical of the positive changes in Stephen and his wife Kennya, she began to inquire about their new relationship with Jesus Christ. She committed her life to Christ in 2003.

Now she's forming a new Christian duo Chynna & Vaughn, with Vaughn Penn and even presented at this year's Dove Awards.

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.

Stephen Baldwin in Trace Adkins video

In this video clip from CMT, country music star Trace Adkins talks about teaming up with Stephen Baldwin for the music video for Adkins' song, "Muddy Water."



Adkins asked Baldwin, with whom he appeared with on "The Celebrity Apprentice" to play the lead in the video, and insisted with producers on a literal interpretation of the song's lyrics.

Stephen Baldwin Takes Dare & Gets Tat

Sometimes you have to take unusual steps to get exposure for your product and to get additional work. Stephen Baldwin recently showed off an "HM" tattoo on his upper bicep to Miley Cyrus at a book signing for his new book. The story is that Miley dared him to get the tat, in exchange for a cameo on her hit show Hannah Montana.

While we can't confirm that he'll be appearing on an upcoming episode, Cyrus' appearance should lead to additional book sales.

Cleaning up Entertainment (including Music)

Hollywood actor turned outspoken Christian evangelist Stephen Baldwin wants us to join the fight in cleaning up Hollywood and its 'cultural terrorism'.

He has been known to promote Christian alternatives such as The Cross Movement.