Behind the Scenes: “The Young Messiah,” the Story of the Early Years of Jesus
Posted on September 15, 2015 at 1:23 pm
At a time when Jesus begins to understand that He is different from the other children, He turns to His parents for answers. But in trying to protect their child, Mary and Joseph are afraid to reveal all that they know.
How do you tell your son that God is His real Father? How do you explain to Him that King Herod is trying to kill Him? How do you help Him realize that He is the Messiah that His people have talked about for generations?
Follow Christ the child as He and His family take the dangerous journey from Egypt to Nazareth and on to Jerusalem, where He discovers His true identity and profound destiny.
Copyright 2014 Riot StudiosWill Bakke has followed his two thought-provoking documentaries on faith with a remarkably smart, funny, brave, and heartfelt first feature film that explores religion and values without ever falling into the easy conventions of many faith-based films. Bakke has a sharp eye but a warm heart and a refreshing honesty that allows him to let us laugh at some of the silliness and hypocrisy he has observed but is always respectful of those who find meaning in the way they engage with God. He is a sharp observer of the craft of filmmaking as well, and the story structure and camera and editing work here show that he is ready for the big leagues. I am looking forward to what he does next.
In his last film, a documentary called “Beware of Christians,” Bakke told the story of his journey with four friends, all from devout Christian families, as they traveled through ten European cities to expand their understanding of what it means to be a person of faith. That experience clearly informs this fictional story of four college fraternity brothers. When one of them discovers that his scholarship has run out with one more tuition payment still due, he persuades his friends to establish a fake Christian charity so they can keep the money. Each of them has a different perspective. Sam (Alex Russell, soon to be seen in Angelina Jolie’s “Unbroken”), is the slick, dimpled operator who thinks this is just the ticket to smooth his path to law school. Pierce (Miles Fisher) is the selfish rich kid who does not want his father to know he is in debt. Baker (Max Adler of “Glee” and “Switched at Birth”) is the party animal who is up for whatever’s going on. And Tyler (Sinqua Walls of “The Secret Life of an American Teenager”) is a nice guy who goes along because they promise he will not have to speak in front of a group and they promise that some of the money will actually go to charity.
Sam is a charismatic speaker and the audience wants to believe. Not only do they raise money quickly for their fake charity (cutely dubbed “Get Wells Soon”), but they attract the attention of a promoter named Ken (Christopher McDonald), who wants to book them on a nationwide tour for Christian audiences. Also on the tour are a singer named Gabriel (“Happy Endings'” Zachary Knighton, with just the right touch of oily smugness) and the tour manager (and Gabriel’s girlfriend) Callie (Johanna Braddy). The guys have to up their game to appear to be more authentic. They don’t just use highlighters and post-its to mark Bible passages, they baptize their Bibles in swimming pool water to give them that thoroughly-thumbed look. In one of the movie’s highlights, Sam explains to the others how to use certain words and poses (like “The Shawshank”) to communicate piety and get more money from believers, and even how to swear just enough but not too much. Can they immerse themselves in the world of faith — and the evidence of true need — without being affected by it, especially with the example of at least one believer who demonstrates true grace?
Bakke and his co-screenwriter Michael B. Allen bring a lot of specificity to these scenes, and a sensitivity that shows he is laughing with the Christians (especially when it comes to Christian entertainment), not at them. They understand that their open-hearted generosity can be unthinking but is almost always kindly meant. And they understand that being a believer does not inoculate anyone from human failings, especially pride. They also understand that true faith requires the full engagement of the spirit. And they respect their characters and the audience enough to make it clear that the answers we value most are never easy.
Parents should know that this film has some drinking and partying and some criminal and unethical behavior.
Family discussion: Which character best fits your idea of what it is to have faith? What should Ken have done when he found out what the boys were doing? What will Sam do next?
If you like this, try: “Beware of Christians” and films like “Elmer Gantry,” “Jesus Camp,” “Marjoe,” “Blue Like Jazz,” and “Leap of Faith”
“The Song” follows aspiring singer-songwriter Jed King (Alan Powell) as he struggles to catch a break and escape the long shadow of his father, a country music legend. After reluctantly accepting a gig at a local vineyard harvest festival, Jed is love struck by local beauty Rose (Ali Faulkner), and a romance quickly blooms. Soon after their wedding, Jed writes Rose “The Song,” which becomes a breakout hit. Thrust into a life of stardom and a world of temptation in the form of fellow performer Shelby Bale (Caitlin Nicol-Thomas), Jed’s life and marriage begin to fall apart. This faith-based film will be in theaters September 26, 2014.
This year has already seen a remarkable and perhaps unprecedented number of Christian and Biblically-based films, from big-budget epics like “Noah” and “Son of God” to small faith-oriented films like “God’s Not Dead.” There is an excellent summary of four Christian independent films of 2014 on Indie Outlook from the perspective of a church-going film critic.
In just the last several months, an assortment of independent filmmakers have achieved the success that forever eluded Fox Faith. Numerous grassroots productions have screened in theaters located not in big cities but small towns and suburbs (many of them found in the South). These films don’t have big budgets, big names and are usually not screened for critics. And yet, they have struck a chord with American audiences, proving that there is a hunger for pictures that cater to a spiritually convicted crowd routinely ignored by Hollywood. The target audience is, again, evangelical Christians, only this time, they’re turning out in droves.
Exclusive Clip: A Basketball Player Finds His Faith in “Midrange”
Posted on June 9, 2014 at 1:00 pm
I am delighted to have five copies of the new faith-based film “Midrange” to give away. If you’d like to enter, send an email to moviemom@moviemom.com with “Midrange” in the subject line and tell me your favorite athlete. Don’t forget your address! (US addresses only.) I’ll pick the winners at random on June 16.
Everyone deserves a second shot in the inspiring drama Midrange, available tomorrow, June 10, on DVD and Digital Platforms from Cinedigm. Jason Fields wrote and stars in this touching film that follows a superstar athlete’s journey to finding faith and accepting God into his life. The film, centered on the power of belief and the importance of second chances, has garnered the support of multiple former and current professional athletes with a strong Christian background including Corey Maggette, Allan Houston, Anthony Tolliver, Kelenna Azubuike, Jerome Williams, Austin Daye, Roger Powell Jr., Greivis Vasquez, Romel Beck, Wayne Simien and Andre Brown.
Fields plays Damon Sharp, a college basketball player destined for the pros. With his college career at an end, Damon returns to his hometown to find his brother Darrin (Sean Douglas, “Days Of Our Lives”) consumed with drugs and alcohol and his mother (Susan Grace, You Don’t Mess With The Zohan) depressed and helpless. Seeking a better life for his family and himself, Damon is forced to decide between saving his brother and following his dream . As Damon reexamines his choices, and his relationship with his brother, he turns to faith to find a new understanding of perseverance, loyalty and love. The film addresses a secular struggle of balancing faith, family and career, and ultimately the critical choices that define a man’s character and reveal what’s most important in life. Here’s an exclusive clip.