July 23, 2005

Mel Gibson's new film "Apocalypto" in the works

WorldNetDaily
MEDIA MATTERS

Gibson's next film: 'Apocalypto'
Another self-financed effort allows creative control

Posted: July 23, 20051:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com

Following the monumental success of his self-financed "Passion of the Christ," Mel Gibson has a new film in the works titled "Apocalypto."

It's not a religious film, according to Daily Variety sources, but is set in an ancient civilization some 3,000 years ago.

more...

July 22, 2005

Details on John Paul II miniseries, "A Man Who Became Pope"

Wednesday July 20, 2005

Nipawin Journal — New movie about life of Pope John Paul II debuts

Courtesy of Religion News Services

Before he became Pope, Karol Wojtyla’s life was a vigorous search for love and freedom.

His transformational journey led him to the theatre, to profound experiences of love, friendship and loyalty, to scholarship, to the Catholic priesthood.

And finally, it led him to Rome and the Chair of St. Peter. Karol’s heroic, true story, based on Gian Franco Svidercoschi’s book, Stories of Karol: The Unknown Life of John Paul II , comes to television in “A Man Who Became Pope,” a four-hour movie event presented by Faith & Values Media, premiering on Hallmark Channel Monday, August 15 (8/7 c).

Filmed on location in Krakow, Poland and Vatican City, the film features an international cast including Piotr Adamczyk as Karol Wojtyla; Malgorzata Bela as Hania, the woman Karol cared deeply for; Matt Craven as Nazi General Hans Frank; and Raul Bova as Father Tomasz Zaleski, Karol’s close childhood friend and a martyr to the Nazis. Giacomo Battiato directed the film and it was produced by Pietro Valsecchi.

more...

July 21, 2005

After blockbuster "The Passion of the Christ," Hollywood tries to appeal to Christian market

NewsMax.com

Thursday, July 21, 2005 9:40 a.m. EDT

Hollywood Finds Jesus

Following the tremendous success of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" - which took in $370 million at the domestic box office - mainstream Hollywood is adjusting to what it perceives to be a rising religiosity in America.

Directors, studio executives and marketing experts have been seeking to entice an audience that made its power felt with "Passion," according to a report in the International Herald Tribune.

"Mel Gibson did us a service," said Bob Waliszewski, a media specialist with Focus on the Family, an evangelical group.

"The Hollywood elites' eyes widened big time. They said, 'I thought the church was dead. Is it possible that we don't know what's happening in state after state.' And the answer is a resounding yes."

There are an estimated 30 million evangelical and fundamentalist Christians in the U.S., and Hollywood -- mired in a prolonged slump at the box office -- is making a concerted effort to mollify and attract that audience.

more...

July 20, 2005

VGF Film Contest to award $500 first prize for short film based on Jesus' parables

As Vision Gate Film expresses in its mission statement, it "is dedicated to helping Christians everywhere create quality entertainment that will reach beyond the doors of the church. VGF is a hub for Christian talent to learn about, create and display entertainment for other believers as well as pique the interest of non-believers. VGF will do everything in its power to provide the tools, techniques and talents needed to use the media in a way that will influence people to want to know more about Jesus Christ.

As part of that mission it is presently holding its VGF Film Contest:

You've dreamed about it. You've talked about it. Now it's time for...

LIGHTS... CAMERAS... ACTION!!
We want to challenge you to create a masterpiece of storytelling, in three minutes or less, based on the parables of Jesus. He spoke in parables to His followers in order to communicate to the masses and illustrate truth. We're calling all filmmakers to do the same!

First prize is $ 500 cash!!
Use the parables of Jesus Christ (click here for a complete list) as a loose outline for your short film, in any genre, in any setting. Be creative, and have a blast doing it! This is your chance to hone your craft, win some money, and... you never know who might one day view your film, or the impact it might have!

Check out the contest information, and submit your film between July 20 and October 20, 2005.

This is your chance, Vision Gaters: change minds, change hearts... go make a movie!

July 19, 2005

John Paul II miniseries, "A Man Who Became Pope" to air August 15 on Hallmark Channel

Ignatius Insight Scoop

Friday, July 15, 2005

Hallmark airing "A Man Who Became Pope" in August

Hallmark Channel has paid $3 million for the rights to air the Italian-made, English-language miniseries “A Man Who Became Pope,” beginning August 15.

A NewsWire.com press release states:

A Man Who Became Pope” was warmly received when screened at the Vatican’s Paul VI hall on May 19. “The film presents scenes and episodes that, in their severity, awaken in the viewers an instinctive ‘turning away’ in horror and stimulates them to consider the abyss of iniquity that can be hidden in the human soul,” said Pope Benedict XVI. “At the same time, calling to the fore such aberrations revives in every right-minded person the duty to do what he or she can so that such inhuman barbarism never happens again…I…express living gratitude to those who wanted to offer me…the opportunity to view this moving film.”

Vatican press spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said Pope John Paul II had seen the film in its entirety in a private viewing before his death and was “very impressed” with the portrayal and “appreciated the many scenes” from that period in his life.

Here is an English (Canadian) website for "A Man Who Became Pope." And here is the programming schedule for the movie.

Posted by Carl Olson on Friday, July 15, 2005 at 11:11 PM