This Present Darkness: The Film That Almost Was
by John J. Schafer On June 23, 2009 I updated my Facebook status to read: “John J. Schafer's dream project... Frank E. Peretti's "This Present Darkness". FX dream team... ILM, Stan Winston Studio, Weta Digital and Weta Workshop. Budget... Priceless;)” I received about a dozen or so comments posted on my wall. I received 43 e-mails on the topic. I decided to dig up an old blog that I had written. The write up was originally posted on July 30, 2006 and has NOT been updated. The original blog was much longer but after being posted on Blogger and on MySpace I had ...
Christian Box Office - May 2009
Just updated this list of 68 Faith-based films as defined by BoxOfficeMojo.com. Is YOUR film on the list? Why not? Mine's not either. That mean's we've still got work to do, people! Let's get crackin'! We've got some blockbusters to make! Movies produced by Christians that promote or embody their religions. ( 1980-Present) from http://www.BoxOfficeMojo.com Rank Title (click to view) Studio Lifetime Gross /Theaters Opening / Theaters Date 1 The Passion of the Christ NM $370,782,930 3,408 $83,848,082 3,043 2/25/04 2 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe BV $291,710,957 3,853 $65,556,312 3,616 12/9/05 3 The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian BV $141,621,490 3,929 $55,034,805 3,929 5/16/08 4 The Nativity Story NL $37,629,831 3,083 $7,849,304 3,083 12/1/06 5 Fireproof Gold. $33,456,317 905 $6,836,036 839 9/26/08 6 Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie Art. $25,581,229 1,625 $6,201,345 940 10/4/02 7 One Night with the King 8X $13,395,961 909 $4,120,497 909 10/13/06 8 The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything Uni. $12,981,269 1,340 $4,251,320 1,337 1/11/08 9 The Omega Code Prov. $12,614,346 450 $2,354,362 304 10/15/99 10 End of the Spear RM $11,967,000 1,163 $4,281,388 1,163 1/20/06 11 Facing the Giants IDP $10,178,331 441 $1,343,537 441 9/29/06 12 Expelled: No Intelligence ...
INTERVIEW - Phil Cooke is the Billy Graham of Brand
Wired4Film takes a literary turn as we dive into Phil Cooke's latest tome, The Last TV Evangelist. Subtitled, Why The Next Generation Couldn't Care Less About Religious Media and Why it Matters. Sub-subtitled, After You've Read "Roaring Lambs" Read This Book Before You Attempt Media of any Kind or You Die! Okay, I admit, I made the last one up. But it's true. Well, if by "you die" you mean "suffer public humiliations galore." Anyway, there's a short list of reads that film and media professionals should ingest before they begin their sojourn into media greatness. This is one of those ...
PRODUCTION REPORT: MAY 2009
There are a lot more faith-based films out there in progress than we realize. This Production Report is a new monthly feature on Wired4Film to give space and credence to all the hard work going on out there. To keep you in the know. But we can't keep you in the know if we don't know about the know, you know? So if you're sitting in Development or Production or Post on a faith-based feature, drop us a line so we can include you in the next Production Report! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- //...IN DEVELOPMENT...< *NEW ProdCo: Cloud10Pictures Title: End of the Beginning Writer: Robert Watson Budget: TBD Contact: Cloud Ten Pictures, info@cloudtenpictures.com; 905-684-5561 Logline: ...
INTERVIEW: Andre in Charge
Move over Michael Bay. Step aside Bruckheimer. There's another action thriller filmmaker who is blowing stuff up and getting things done over at Cloud Ten Pictures. Andre Van Heerden has Directed 5 films and Produced 3 more under the Cloud Ten shingle. Wired4Film caught him between movies to ask him about his Directorial methods, what he does in his off time and Cloud Ten's up-coming production slate. Cloud Ten Pictures has built a reputation and small empire on End-times thrillers (not one, but two franchises: "Left Behind" and "Apocalypse") but we're very excited to hear that they're delving into new ...
Wired4Film Exclusives
This Present Darkness: The Film That Almost Was
Did you ever what happened to THIS PRESENT DARKNESS the movie? John Schafer has searched the intrawebs and found some tantalizing clues!
Christian Box Office - May 2009
Check out this list of 66 Faith-based films as defined by BoxOfficeMojo.com. Is YOUR film on the list?
INTERVIEW - Phil Cooke is the Billy Graham of Brand
Wired4Film takes a literary turn as we dive into Phil Cooke’s latest tome, The Last TV Evangelist.
PRODUCTION REPORT: MAY 2009
There are a lot more faith-based films out there in progress than we realize. This Production Report is a new monthly feature on Wired4Film to give space and credence to all the hard work going on out there. To keep you in the know.
Read More Exclusive InterviewsEditorials
Locally Made Film Delves into Faith Issues
This is an article by Chuck Jacobs, a staff writer for the Fayetteville Observer who put together a solid story on our friend Jeremiah McLamb’s film project, MASQUERADE.
Halloween 2 NOT Dove Family-Approved?
In this shocking new article from Christian-Cinema.com the hardworking media watchdogs at the Dove Foundation have given Michael Myers’ latest slasher film two Doves down
Ninjas, Cyborgs, Crazy Russian Killers and Hard-boiled Detectives
Where do original story ideas come from?
Jim Caviezel Monday at W4F…
So for no apparent reason whatsoever, we have arbitrarily appointed today, Monday July 13th, Jim Caviezel Monday. It’s not a high holy day, so don’t fret. You don’t even have to go home and change your clothes. You don’t have to even change your dietary intake. Just take a moment to reflect on a brilliant [...]
14 Days of Screenplays
Professional Screenwriter Scott Myers takes us on the first step of the writer’s process which is reading and becoming familiar with great scripts.
Read More EditorialsHeadlines
Locally Made Film Delves into Faith Issues
"Masquerade" Movie Poster This is an article by Chuck Jacobs, a staff writer for the Fayetteville Observer who put together a solid story on our friend Jeremiah McLamb’s film project, MASQUERADE. MASQUERADE... [Read more of this article]
Summer 2009 Breaks Record for Highest Gross
(September 6, 2009) SHERMAN OAKS, CALIFORNIA — The summer movie season officially closes today, Labor Day, and its the highest-grossing summer on record. - Summer 2009s total gross stands at... [Read more of this article]
Pro-Darwin ‘Creation’ Movie to Open Toronto Film Fest
(September 6, 2009) This article for the Christian Post by Josh Kimball sheds some light on a new film making its way through the festival circuit right now. (EXCERPT) The movie, which also stars American... [Read more of this article]
Crew Sought for Baseball Film in Winston-Salem, NC
The production of One Good Man is still needing crew. We are looking for the following in volunteer positions: 2 Location PAs. Directing traffic - for example - preventing cars from parking on lawns,... [Read more of this article]
The Razzies Try to Digest C ME DANCE
In this Review of C ME DANCE on the Razzies website, it classifies the film FIREPROOF meets FLASHDANCE with a little SHOWGIRLS thrown in for bad measure. Well, shoot. Now I wanna see it! (EXCERPT) C... [Read more of this article]
Halloween 2 NOT Dove Family-Approved?
In this shocking new article from Christian-Cinema.com the hardworking media watchdogs at the Dove Foundation have given Michael Myers’ latest slasher film two Doves down. Or thumbs. Or however... [Read more of this article]
Tyler Perry Adapting Play for a Very Specific Demographic
(Sept 4, 2009) Article on iwatchstuff.com about new Tyler Perry film in the works. (EXCERPT) New Tyler Perry! Only this time T.P. isn’t directing something from his own melodrama-and-sass-filled... [Read more of this article]
Ninjas, Cyborgs, Crazy Russian Killers and Hard-boiled Detectives
Animation phenom Chuck Jones tells the story of an art class he took where the professor gravely informed the students that they each had 100,000 bad drawings inside themselves. And that the sooner they... [Read more of this article]
Jim Caviezel Monday at W4F…
So for no apparent reason whatsoever, we have arbitrarily appointed today, Monday July 13th, Jim Caviezel Monday. It’s not a high holy day, so don’t fret. You don’t even have to go... [Read more of this article]
Jim Caviezel: The Power of ‘Moral Reminders’ in Film
A Beliefnet.com interview by Dena Ross with Jim Caviezel, the actor who played Jesus in “Passion of the Christ”. He talks about his new film and how his movie roles help him grow. (EXCERPT)... [Read more of this article]
14 Days of Screenplays
by Scott Myers Students ask me how I learned the craft of screenwriting. I give the same answer that Walter Hill did: “The usual story – read a lot of scripts, saw every possible movie.” By... [Read more of this article]
IndieVest Attracts Indie-Film Investors With Reduced-Risk Model
The other day, we were discussing with Jennifer Murray of GeneveSky Entertainment the fact that there are many things you need to make a good film. But they can be boiled down into these 5 areas: 1.... [Read more of this article]
Natalie Portman Launches Makingof.com
This is a HuffingtonPost.com article by Brad Balfour about an innovative concept-turned-website from Natalie Portman which has become Makingof.com. It’s a behind the scenes video site that takes... [Read more of this article]
This Present Darkness: The Film That Almost Was
by John J. Schafer On June 23, 2009 I updated my Facebook status to read: “John J. Schafer’s dream project… Frank E. Peretti’s “This Present Darkness”. FX dream... [Read more of this article]
Family film fest starting in Apex, NC
A News&Observer article by Matt Ehlers about the family-friendly Peak City Film festival kicking off this November in Apex, NC. (EXCERPT) This town might not seem like a natural location for a... [Read more of this article]
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