A “Slumdog” Kind of Night

This article was written by ChristianCinema.com staff-writer Angela Walker.  It may be read in full HERE.

(EXCERPT) The 81st Academy® Awards show celebrated a different kind of film last night.Slumdog Millionaire, which won eight awards, was based on a novel by an Indian writer, filmed in Mumbai, India, and included an Indian cast. This film, originally destined for a straight-to-DVD release in the United States, took the country by storm when Fox Searchlight Pictures picked it up and took a chance on a theatrical release.

Someone at Warner Brothers Pictures is probably either jobless or very close to it today, as their specialty film division Warner Independent Pictures (which was closed down) was the original distributor for this sneak success. Slumdog Millionaire was produced by a British company (Celador Films) and co-financed by a French distributor.

Fox Searchlight is building its reputation for distributing the daring type of film that most studios are avoiding, and that Slumdog Millionaire represents. Opening the second weekend of November in only 10 theaters, the movie averaged $36,000 per theater that first weekend. Then in a wider release (614 theaters) the day after Christmas, the film brought in $4.3 million. To date, the box office total internationally is $159.6 million, or 10 times the reported production budget of $15 million.

Christians in Cinema: Alex Kendrick

(MAY 20, 2007) Angela Walker with ChristianCinema.com sits down with Alex Kendrick who is the Producer/Writer/Director of Facing the  Giants to talk about life in the film lane.

Christians in Cinema: Alex Kendrick

(EXCERPT) Days before the national release of Facing the Giants, Alex and his wife Christina welcomed their 5th child, Caleb.  This is Alex’s 53rd interview since the film gained media attention, yet he took time to talk about his film, his family, and his passion for God. His consuming goal? For God to be glorified.

What is a Christian Film?

(MAY 14, 2007) Angela Walker of ChristianMovieNews.com continues here an on-going discussion about this sometimes controversial phrase:

What is a Christian Film?

(EXCERPT) Last week I was in Los Angeles for a meeting of the JC Doc Group, a group of Christian non-fiction filmmakers. Early into the evening’s discussion, someone asked “What is a Christian film?” That is the burning question right now.