movies

Message In Motion

| Faith and Family Films

What do Amiee Semple McPherson, Pine Wood Studios London, World Wide Pictures, the Salvation Army, hippies during the ‘Jesus Revolution,’ and the Erwin Brothers have in common? The answer: They have all utilized ‘the-media-of-the-day’ to reach the masses with the Gospel.

Aimee used ‘illustrated-sermons’ when she preached at Angelus Temple Foursquare Church.

In 1915 a missionary group noticed that the silent films of the day were not wholesome. So they countered by launching Pinewood Studios, London, to create family-friendly content.

Billy Graham made the Gospel come alive via World Wide Pictures. The Salvation Army, Australia, used film to present the Gospel.

During the ’60’s and ‘70’s the hippies of the Jesus Revolution used music and gospel tracks to communicate the love of God and the Gospel message.

The Erwin Brothers have produced motion pictures presenting stories of hope worldwide.

Film, especially motion pictures, is the most powerful ‘media-of-our-day’ for telling stories. And telling stories is a powerful way to communicate ‘Truth.’ There is nothing like a motion picture to engage the senses. We see life-like images on the screen. We hear the music, conversations and sound effects. We feel the emotional connection to the characters. It is a magical mixture that can drive the audience either in a positive or negative direction.

I have been in the faith and family film industry for more than a decade and can say unequivocally that film in the ‘faith space’ moves audiences toward hope and the Good News. This Movie Guy has seen a multitude of Pastors embolden their congregations to attend faith-based films and have seen positive and dramatic life responses. I encourage those of you who have not utilized this powerful tool to try this media-of-our-day very soon.

Movies produced by dedicated, Christian filmmakers like the Erwin’s, move audiences from contemplation and reflection to life-changing actions; films like: October Baby, where some expectant mothers walked out of the movie with changed minds, deciding to have their babies rather than seek an abortion. Mom’s Night Out reinforced that ‘the JOY of the Lord is our strength. Woodlawn brought a message of hope and salvation to high school football teams across the U.S.A. And I Can Only Imagine showed us the hope of Jesus Christ in the middle of tragedy.

Their new film, The Jesus Revolution, will arrive in theaters in February 2023. It’s a true story about the sea of young people who descended on Southern California in the ‘70’s, intent on redefining ‘Truth,’ through Rock and Roll, drugs and newfound love. But by a ‘twist-of-faith,’ the Jesus Revolution became the greatest spiritual awakening in American history and changed the world.

Maybe there are people in your community, Pastor, that desperately need to hear the Gospel. And it just might be presented via the ‘media-of-the-day,’ Faith-Based-Film!

Dave, the Movie Guy- Dave Almgren – FaithandFamilyFilms.info

A Movie, Interview and A Craft Idea

| Faith and Family Films

I know it’s only October. But I am really excited about the holidays and a change of pace from the craziness of 2020.  So, I wanted to let you know about a wonderful movie that from Sony Pictures Animation and Affirm Films that is now available on DVD and streaming services for this Christmas.  The movie tells the story of the first Christmas and is a well done, animated movie, that is fun, funny and full of adventure. The best part is there are no elves. It’s the real story behind the meaning of Christmas – the birth of Jesus.  I believe this is a movie that is going to be a wonderful theatrical experience for the whole family.

The official synopsis from The Star web site describes the story as follows.

” A small but brave donkey named Bo yearns for a life beyond his daily grind at the village mill. One day he finds the courage to break free and finally goes on the adventure of his dreams. On his journey, he teams up with Ruth, a lovable sheep who has lost her flock, and Dave, a dove with lofty aspirations. Along with three wisecracking camels and some eccentric stable animals, Bo and his new friends follow the Star and become accidental heroes in the greatest story ever told – the first Christmas.”

Check out what a few ministry leaders are saying about this new movie.
“Okay – bit of a scoop. Last night me and my 3 boys (6, 10 and 13 y/o) went to a preview of The Star movie. I was pleasantly surprised – it was really good! Each of my boys (who usually prefer Marvel movies to animal movies) loved it, and I did too! it was hilarious – plus I really liked how they portrayed the nativity story. Would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a family friendly movie this coming Christmas season.” Mark Millard The Lads Band 

“The Star is a delightful movie that does an incredible job of portraying the struggles Mary and Joseph went through and the merciful love of God that guided them through it. Just like in the Bible, The Star will point your family towards Christ.” Jeff McClullough JumpStart3

I love that this is a Christmas movie that families can watch in November, because families can see the movie and then spend the Christmas season unpacking the messaging in the movie around the dinner table, during bedtime conversations, at church and spontaneous moments during the Christmas season. The Star represents a gift for humanity in the promise of the Savior Jesus. After seeing the film I would encourage families to come up with a few ways in which they can be a gift at school, work, family members or to complete strangers in their communities.

Here are some suggestions for families:

1- The 12 days of Giving;  Establish 12 days of giving as a family and come up with different ways as a family you can be a gift and a blessing to someone in your community.

2- Make The Star cookies as a family and share them with a neighbor, a retirement center, a homeless shelter as an unexpected gift.

3- As a family, create some memories by making Star ornaments or a star tree topper for the family tree (see the video example below).

4- Continue to talk and discuss the story of Christmas as a family thru out the Christmas season and unpack ideas on how each person can be an example of a gift to their community.

Check out the video below of an interview with the Executive Producer of The Star, Devon Franklin. Devon talks about the movie and why he decided The Star was an important story to share with the world this coming Christmas season.

The Star is now available on DVD and is a wonderful idea as family to see the film to start the celebration of the Christmas Season.

See you at the movies!

David Almgren – The Movie Guy

Just added . . .  Download The Star Movie Family Discussion Guide.

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Check out this “How To” Video idea for a family Activity;

A Breakthrough Year for Your Community

| Faith and Family Films

By Pastor Jason Noble

jasonheadshot#2Every pastor and church leader I know is looking for creative ways to reach their community, and engage their congregation. In our world today it seems like it’s getting more challenging to creatively reach people in our communities who do not normally attend church. So much is vying for their time and attention. From social media to family to work to entertainment, life has gotten increasingly crazy. Cofilm-movies-600xx3157-2105-0-233uple the craziness and bombardment with the idea that church isn’t even on people’s radar and as a result we definitely have our work cut out for us. The good news is that there are incredible tools at our disposable today to creatively reach our community. This is an exciting time to live. Where we can leverage all of the tools and technology to reach people in our communities. We just have to think different, possibly change the method (we never change the message) and get creative.

Over the last two years I have traveled the nation working on the movie Breakthrough. Not only am I the real pastor in the story, I also have had the opportunity to work on the Church marketing and Engagement team. My passion and focus has been on helping pastors and congregations creatively use this movie as a tool to reach their community. The results have been incredible. Churches have literally had a $15 million-dollar tool paid for by a major Hollywood studio to reach their communities. Did you know that 70%-80% of your community have been to a movie theater? The outreach potential is amazing. People may come to the theater for a movie, before they would ever come to your church.

Hundreds of churches bought out theaters and took groups across the United States to Breakthrough. Churches literally had the opportunity to share the gospel in the theaters and people responded. The result is thousands of people were saved and introduced to local churches in a very creative way. Film impacts people in a powerful way. A great film with a powerful story can reach the heart of a person like nothing I have ever seen before. It’s an incredible tool. Breakthrough came out right before Easter, and answered the question that many pastors have which is “How can I creatively reach my community with the Easter message different than I have before.” Many churches took advantage of Breakthrough and used the movie to promote their Easter services and saw many people came back on Easter Sunday.

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Using film as to reach your community and engage your congregation is easy. The ROI or Return on investment is massive. Most of the work is done for you. All you have to do is setup the showing and arrange it group sales, promote the film, recruit volunteers to help welcome people, recruit a prayer team, and show up. The rest of the work is done for you. You don’t have to worry about concessions or even cleaning up. It’s an easy outreach that will have big impact.

Great tools are created to help you promote and plan for your film outreach. Most faith-based projects provide promotional resources, sermons series, small group curriculum, and video clips to promote the film and make it easy for churches and pastors. Churches also have the tools to equip and empower their congregation members to invite their friends and family to be their guest and come with them to the movie. A movie outreach at the theater becomes a great opportunity for your church families to engage in reaching people in their lives. Asking your friends and family to come to a movie is a very easy thing to do for most people. It’s a great tool to place in their hands to reach people.

You can also use a film to build community in your congregation, or even rent out a whole theater to take your volunteers for a volunteer appreciation. Churches can use a film for many opportunities to make an impact on their congregation and the people in their community.

There was a 15-year girl in Medical Lake WA who had the idea to use “Breakthrough” to reach all of her friends. For her birthday she asked her parents if she could rent out a whole theater. Her birthday was right around the opening weekend. She wanted all of her friends to hear the message behind “Breakthrough”. Her parents rented out the whole theater for her birthday and show “Breakthrough” to a full crowd of all of her friends. A couple of days later she died in a car accident. The kind of impact that she had will only be known when we get to heaven some day. But I promise you this 16-year girl knew what it meant to use a tool like “Breakthrough” to reach the people in her life.

SD poster 12_6_19Currently, we are working on a new movie called “Selfie Dad”  and it hits theaters June 12th, 2020. One week before Fathers Day.

So what is Selfie Dad all about?

Well some films have an inspiring faith-based message and others are fall-out-of-your-chair funny, but has there ever been a film that was both? Enter Selfie Dad.

Meet Ben Marcus, a husband and father who finds himself caught in the throes of a mid-life crisis. Ben has a lot to be thankful for, but despite everything he has achieved, he simply isn’t happy. He decides that the best way to fill the hole in his life is to fulfill his long set aside dream of becoming a comedian. And what better way to jump start his comedic career than with a YouTube channel? Much to his surprise (and his daughter’s embarrassment), a video of Ben goes viral! Just like that, his new career as “Selfie Dad” takes off, and before Ben knows it, he’s a social media phenomenon!

So why is he still unhappy?

Meet Mickey, a brash IT guy who’s studying to be a pastor. He knows exactly what’s really missing from Ben’s life. Will Ben be open to hearing the Word, and we he allow his heart and life to be truly changed?

At its heart, Selfie Dad is an inspiring story about the power of the Bible told through humor and compassion. Traditionally, faith based films with a strong message are dramas; however, Selfie Dad aims to bring healing and understanding through laughter. After all, a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, right?

Selfie Dad stars comedian Michael JR, and Chondra Pierce. The movie is a great family movie that encourages dads to dig in deeper to their relationship with God. It’s a powerful movie that helps dads be better dads by digging into the Bible. The movie will be a great tool for churches to use. Pastors and Church leaders don’t miss the opportunity to reach your community and your congregation this spring with the movie “Selfie Dad” The movie will be a great follow-up for families right after Easter. It’s easy to promote the movie during your Easter services and then a couple of weeks later go as a congregation. Churches and groups are able to buy-out theaters, and take groups to the theater.

If you have any questions go to selfiedadfilm.com or if we can help you strategize to reach your community with Selfie Dad or any other movie, please email me at jason@advanceteamfilms.com or David Almgren at dave@advanceteamfilms.com.

We are praying  for you and your church and that 2020 is the most incredible BREAKTHROUGH year ever for reaching your community!

Pastor Jason Noble is featured in the highly successful Fox theatrical release of the movie Breakthrough.

Breakthrough is Coming!

| Faith and Family Films

As I sit back and observe this crazy world we live in, I can’t help but think that we all need a breakthrough in our lives. This world is in desperate need of a breakthrough in so many ways and ultimately we need a spiritual breakthrough of revival to bring back what was once dead to new life. We need a breakthrough in our churches, our communites, our homes, in regards to the words we use and how we treat others day in and day out.

We need a spiritual breakthrough and we need it soon!

There is a movie coming to theaters April 17th, 2019 that I believe will impact the culture and will spark revival in the hearts of many in this country and around the world. It’s a powerful story about a boy that died. A mom that prayed and the boy who miraculously came back to life after being DEAD for over an hour.

The movie is called Breakthrough  and it’s based on the inspirational true story of one mother’s unfaltering love in the face of impossible odds. When Joyce Smith’s adopted son John falls through an icy Missouri lake, all hope seems lost. But as John lies lifeless, Joyce refuses to give up. Her steadfast belief inspires those around her to continue to pray for John’s recovery, even in the face of every case history and scientific prediction. From producer DeVon Franklin (Miracles from Heaven) and director Roxann Dawson, adapted for the screen by Grant Nieporte (Seven Pounds) from Joyce Smith’s own book, BREAKTHROUGH is an enthralling reminder that faith and love can create a mountain of hope, and sometimes even a miracle. Synopsis provided by Fox.

Check out what a few national voices are saying about the movie Breakthrough.

“Breakthrough grabs your heart and never let’s go. The characters are genuine, believable and most of all, relatable-because they are people you know, and one of them is likely you. It’s a story of faith over fear when everything and everyone around you says to give up. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and in the end you’re faith will breakthrough!”     Karl Bastian, founder of Kidology.org and a drowning survivor.

“Breakthrough is THE must-see movie for 2019. It’s action-packed, heart warming and soul-stirring.” Ryan Frank – KidzMatter Magazine

Check out the trailer below and think about checking out this movie when it hits theaters April 17th, 2019. My hope is that it will not only be entertaining, but it will also challenge you and encourage you, it will inspire you, it will spark new life in your walk with the Lord and it will remind you that God still does miracles each and every day.

Think about this as well. Don’t miss out on all the miracles that are all around you and the opportunity you have each and every day to be used by God to be a miracle in the lives of others.

Check out the trailer below for Breakthrough and you can also pick up the book of the same title. It’s a great read.

Thanks for stopping by for a few minutes and please join me in praying for revival!

Dave Almgren

Faith and Family Films

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Stand with Coram Deo Studios

| Faith and Family Films

Brad Silverman and Russ Rice of Coram Deo Studios are launching a new film and they are enlisting support from the Christian community. They are attempting to make the boldest Gospel-centered family film ever.  Take a look at the video below to hear more about this new endeavor from Brad and Russ.

Here is a synopsis of the new movie from Coram Deo Studios.

“This touching & poignant family film traces the story of husband, father & author Scott Dempsey who calls himself a Christian, but his life simply doesn’t reflect it. He can talk the talk – but doesn’t walk the walk. That is until Al Watson (a seventy-five-year-old African American who happens to be the Jackie Robinson of NASCAR) befriends Scott’s young family and lives out a loving, Christ-like example before them. Over time, Al presents Scott with the true, Biblical, regenerating gospel of Jesus Christ… then the real journey begins.” The film will go into production early next year and plan for Summer2015 release.

If you would like to know more about this project and to support the movie with your dollars, click on the link below.

click here to find out more information. 

Grace Unplugged In Theaters October 4th

| Faith and Family Films

GU_FacebookCover2Summer has come to an end and Fall is in the air.  This means new school clothes, a new teacher, new friends and many other elements that are indicators that change is in the air.  With the new season also comes a fresh batch of  movies to theaters for families. Grace Unplugged is one of the releases that is Just around the corner and will hit the big screen on Friday October 4th. Family Films had the privilege to preview the film a few times this summer and we wanted to share our thoughts and encourage families to check out Grace Unplugged on opening weekend.

Here is a brief overview of the story:

image17Just 18, Grace Trey aspires to more than singing at her church. So she runs off to Los Angeles and begins to taste the stardom she’s always dreamed of, including a Top-10 song. Will everything she experiences lead her to reject her faith … or rediscover it?

This summer Family Films had the chance to interview Brad Silverman who is the director and writer of Grace Unplugged. We were able to ask Brad a few questions about Grace Unplugged, how a movie can impact culture and how he landed in the film business.

Check out the official movie trailer to Grace Unplugged:

We continue our interview with the Director and writer Brad Silverman regarding the inspiration for Grace Unplugged.

Grace Unplugged is an inspiring story that will cause you to laugh, cry, rejoice and sing. The cast is superb and features Kevin Pollack, James Denton, Shanwee Smith, Jamie Grace, AJ Michalka and an appearance from Chris Tomlin. The soundtrack is off the hook and you  will find yourself singing along and tapping your foot (featuring Colton Dixon, Jamie Grace, Toby Mac, Shawn MacDonald, Luminate, Nine Lashes, AJ Michalka, Josh Wilson and Chris Tomlin). You can download the CD on Itunes now.

It’s refreshing to have a film that is safe for the whole family and delivers an entertaining story that will leave you still thinking about the movie days after you exit the theater.

So mark your calendars to see Grace Unplugged on opening weekend of October 4th.

We’ll see you at the movies!

Dave Almgren- Faith & Family Films

“Grace Unplugged is a powerful depiction of God extending forgiveness and mercy toward us all.” Chris Tomlin