FIREPROOF - The new film from Sherwood Pictures

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The weekend's big shocker was the performance of Fireproof, the religious-themed firefighter drama starring Kirk Cameron. We talked about the economics of Eagle Eye earlier; this film cost half a million and made 12 times that amount in three days, good enough for a fourth-place finish. It's an extremely impressive opening, and in my opinion, it's the real winner this weekend.
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from an online article
 
Actress Jennifer O'Neill:

"There are a lot of "closet Christians" in Hollywood because they innately know there exists black-balling and prejudice against professed believers in the entertainment business. It’s "in" to be a Scientologist, Buddhist, or New Age Guru, but all hell breaks loose if one is to say, "Jesus Christ" ...(unless of course you are swearing!)...

It is so disappointing that the enormous potential of Christian outreach remains virtually dormant in the entertainment field. Someone once asked me, if Christ were on the earth today, where would He be? I said I had no idea. Their answer was simply stated. "He’d be in Hollywood, making movies." It was an interesting concept because the entertainment business is so powerful by nature of its impact and scope. I can’t help but get annoyed that every Christian movie or project seems doomed by its "dollar ninety-eight" budget and vision.

I sit on the board of Media Fellowship, a worldwide Ministry for support of Christians in front of, and behind, the camera. Members include everyone from Newsanchors, Stuntmen, Producers, Studio Heads, Editors, Writers, Actors...you get the point. We are all intent on creating and distributing an entertainment product that is top notch as well as compelling. At the same time, we seem to always be forced to work with a tiny budget. What is wrong with this picture...literally? God doesn’t want His children on tiny budgets, personally, creatively, or business wise. God wants us prosperous, generous, strong and healed! The people who run Hollywood, for the most part, are not family minded, rather the almighty dollar sits on their throne. If the public makes it clearly known that we want better entertainment with values and inspirational messages, that is what Hollywood will produce. We’re the consumer, after all."

What this gives US, as indie filmmakers, is a GREAT opportunity to fill this void that Hollywood doesn't want to touch. We should be taking advantage of it, not arguing over whether or not the void exists.
 
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chapelgrovefilms said:
At the same time, we seem to always be forced to work with a tiny budget.
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I think that the problem is that filmed entertainment is a slow process in the Christian community... I mean myself... growing up when someone asked me what I wanted to be... it was like cough... cough... "I want to make movies," cough...

Half joking but it was almost like okay lets go lay hands on the brother and maybe he'll see the light... no pun intended or sometimes maybe it is....
 
I think we can see the void exists, the issue we were discussing is where that void comes from...whether from the audiences who don't like cheesy movies or whether Hollywood is anti Christian and black-balls Jesus believers....
 
Audiences loved Passion.

Audiences loved Facing The Giants.

Apparently audiences are loving Fireproof.

Other Christian movies, including the Left Behind series, have made money.

I, for one, am GLAD Hollywood is ignoring this niche market -- it gives US an excellent chance to capitalize on it. The Kendrick brothers are doing it right. Those of us interested in making Christian movies should follow their lead.
 
If Christian filmmakers start making good films; it will come.

So with Fireproof making a good return on its investment, does this mean we'll get an even bigger and badder Hallmark film ? (Couldn't resist)

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Why do Christian films have to be so vanilla ? The world is not vanilla, so why dumb it down to PG-dom ?
 
J.R. Hudson said:
If Christian filmmakers start making good films; it will come.

So with Fireproof making a good return on its investment, does this mean we'll get an even bigger and badder Hallmark film ? (Couldn't resist)

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Why do Christian films have to be so vanilla ? The world is not vanilla, so why dumb it down to PG-dom ?
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John, the basic answer is this... the Christian audience has certain standards.... yeah, it's true... when writing and producing a film aimed at that niche audience, one has to treat certain issues (language, violence, sex) with much caution...

I think all things need to be done tastefully and appropriately, but when doing a film targeted at this demo, it's ten fold.

It's just the way it is...
 
chapelgrovefilms said:
If Christian films are making huge profits being 'vanilla', then clearly there's a large audience who wants 'vanilla' movies. Let Hollywood make all the other Baskin Robbins flavors. :)
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Let's stop talking about "Hollywood" ok....

I want to make Christian films that employ the elite of Hollywood... good DP's, Gaffers, grips, wardrobe people, etc. All from "Hollywood".... it simply works out better and gives a better product... and yeah, I want "Hollywood" actors too :)
 
So are you looking for the $$$? I don't mean Christian audiences in the 80% view of the US, because I think we know tons of those 80% Christians have no problem seeing R rated film content.

Without going into detail, Christian values are for the most part positive ones, does the market for positive ideas not lay way beyond Christians??

I'm honestly just wondering what your view of it is, because I would think the view of the church or Christian filmmakers would be that the people who need Christian values the most are non Christians.
 
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I guess if they want to make movies for a corner of the market they arn't going to ever be huge B.O. successes. I mean it's POSSIBLE, but does not seem likely.
 
Evan S said:
I guess if they want to make movies for a corner of the market they arn't going to ever be huge B.O. successes. I mean it's POSSIBLE, but does not seem likely.
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"Passion of the Christ" made $370 million domestically. It's the 12th highest ranking (in terms of domestic box office) movie of all time. Seems like a pretty huge B.O. success to me. :)

"Fireproof" was #4 at the box office this past weekend, despite the fact that it was only in nearly 900 theaters, while the other top contenders were in over 3,000.

It can be done. And it will be done again, probably by people like the Kendricks ("Fireproof"). Those of us interested in making Christian features should feel inspired.
 
I don't think Passion can be compared to these Cameronian (Kirk, not James) agenda-driven pictures. Regardless of the title character, Passion wasn't a "Christian" picture (in the sense of the "born again" definition we are talking about in this thread.) Don't get me wrong, I am fully aware that that particular crowd turned out by the busloads to see TPOTC (in some cases for more than one viewing.) However, I don't think that these "pilgrimages" account solely for the astronomical box office numbers. Mel Gibson (controversy aside) has established himself as THE epic director (kind of a modern day David Lean, if you will.) And fans of the epic itself also turned out en masse to plop down their 9 bucks for a ticket.

In all fairness, if The Passion of the Christ is gonna be considered by some here a "Christian" film (after all it was directed by a devout Catholic)...then technically shouldn't The Last Temptation of Christ also be classified as such? After all, it was crafted by an equally devout Catholic in Martin Scorsese. In the same breath, shouldn't The Da Vinci Code further be considered a "Christian" film? It has the same elements: Jesus Christ is the central character, and the director (Ron Howard) is not only pious, but known for his wholesomeness. Personally, I would consider none of the above to be "Christian" pictures...they are all, however, captivating stories that lend themselves to (dare I say it) inspiring messages.

I just am not a fan of hypocrisy, so lumping Passion in with the other proselytizing Hallmark-like films struck a sour note with me. There is no agenda whatsoever behind it, unlike Fireproof, etc. And for what it's worth, I also don't consider Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments to be a "Jewish" film either.
 
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chapelgrovefilms said:
"Passion of the Christ" made $370 million domestically. It's the 12th highest ranking (in terms of domestic box office) movie of all time. Seems like a pretty huge B.O. success to me. :)
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Yes, but Passion was more than just a Christian film, dare I say. It didn't come off as preachy, it had gore and violence, and above all, superb acting and directing.

These "after school" Christian films can be successful, but they will never be huge box office draws like The Passion. Not unless they alter their formula.

Cheers,

Mike
 
Couldn't have said it better than the last two guys myself. I'm merely stating what people have been saying in the thread that these types of films with their "vanilla" stories. They will never break any B.O. records. Which seems like some people are saying they will some day.

That these films will be main-stream and this "80%" of good christian's are going to turn out to the movie of the week that has a lesson about god. So the film-makers can cash in on their religious beliefs instead of making something more creative and outside of the box rather than the mold I'm seeing.

I don't think anyone is understanding that while Fireproof or No Greater Love (while they may not be bad films), or any other one of these films you can name, may not be the same carbon copy story. They do however all have the same lifetime movie of the week feel. Which is not going to go away unless they come up with a story that has some real drama.

Sorry, but I wouldn't put down 10 dollars to see fireproof in theaters. Unless it was a film with say... Johnny Depp or someone, but that's not going to happen.

The stories are to "vanilla" to attract bigger actors. They just seem bland. We've seen it all before.

People want some grit and realism to their pictures now. It's not the 1930's here. We are not just barely saying, "damn" in films. We're adults and we wanted to be treated like adults. However, when I read that Kirk Cameron can't kiss someone other than his wife (if it is indeed true). I have to laugh at that. It's like... Grow up man! It's friggin' movie damnit, and you're an actor! Jeebus.
 
Kirk Cameron: pussy whipped delusional man who will get no where because of his damn near psychotic attachment to being a christian.

Last I checked Christ's message was to love one another, be a good person and make mankind a better place based on those we live with.

Not damning Darwin, being an asshole on family ties or whatever show he was on, and pushing his groups agenda on the rest of us among other things.
 
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