Hi friends,

What’s it like when your family gets together for the holidays? Do you have special traditions, or do you do something new each year?

Because I have an extended family, what we do for the holidays depends on how many people are together on Christmas Day. One thing that’s certain. No matter where we are, we’ll be playing games, laughing, and stuffing stockings to overflow.

We also go see new movies together. We just returned from seeing “National Treasure: Book of Secrets.” It’s the fun, adventurous and history-filled sequel that continues the story of Thomas Gates (Nicolas Cage). Also coming to theaters this week is a new film from Denzel Washington and Harpo Films (Oprah Winfrey’s production company).

Inspired by a true story, “The Great Debaters” stars Denzel Washington as a brilliant but volatile coach. He forms a group of students from a small black East Texas college into an elite debate team. One of the team members, James Farmer, Jr., became a pioneer in the Civil Rights movement. You can read my interview with Denzel Whitaker, who plays Farmer, below. 

In observation of the holidays, the ChristianCinema.com offices close between Christmas Day until Monday, December 31. We open for shipping that day, close on January 1, 2008, and open again the morning of January 2nd. We open for shipping that day, close on January 1, 2008, and open again the morning of January 2nd. That afternoon we conduct annual inventory.

We don’t want to spend all night counting DVDs, so this week is a special overstock sale. We lowered the price on a bunch of films and moved them into our overstock category. Don’t miss this opportunity to pick up some favorite movies at a great price!  

We hope you had a great Christmas and enjoy a wonderful New Year!

From the screening room and the family at ChristianCinema.com, 

Angela Walker
ChristianMovieNews.com

Flywheel 3-Pack - VHS

Get 3 copies of this award winning film on VHS for a great price

2004 Crown Award Winner for Best Screenplay (Gold)

2004 Crown Award Winner for Best Drama Under $250,000.00 (Silver)

2004 Crown Award Winner for Best Evangelistic Film (Bronze)

An excellent story about a used car salesman who is a professing Christian who finally gets right with the Lord and has to make changes in the way he sells his cars and does business and the backlash he gets from doing that. Solid message for the believer to think about in this film.

From the makers of Facing The Giants

Read our exclusive interview with writer/director/actor Alex Kendrick

36 Parables 3-Pack - DVD

Get all 3 of the DVD's in this exciting series

For nearly 2,000 years, the parables of Christ have instructed and inspired. Now, these powerful stories are re-told for today's audiences.

Each DVD in the series contains short films depicting three beloved parables in modern situations, thought-provoking teaching tools that capture the mind and heart.

Yellow:

Buen Vecino

• Based on the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37)
  
• Trouble at work descends on a hotel maintenance worker

Buried Talent

• Based on the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)
• A rich man hires three artists to paint his wife

Found

• Based on the Parable of the Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10)
• A wanderer searches for his most prized possession

Purple:

Out Of Reach

• Based on the Parable of the Friend at Midnight (Luke 11:5-8)
  
• A young girl tries to persuade her father to let her play with his antique fire truck
  

The Car Lot

• Based on the Parable of the Shrewd Manager (Luke 16:1-13)
  
• A car salesman is forced to think creatively in order to obtain a new job.
  

Sean

• Based on the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree (Luke 13:6-9)
  
• A high school teacher fights for a student facing expulsion

Cyan:

Spilt Milk

• Based on the Parable of the New Wine in Old Wine Skins (Mark 2:22)
  
• A young boy discovers the practicality of Sour Milk.

a few weeks later

• Based on the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 16:16-21)
  
• After Harold loses his wife to death, he is faced with the reality of her belongings.
  

Beyond Beautiful

• Based on the Parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32)
  
• Emma tries to persuade Charlie to go on a blind date with her new friend.

Industry Interview

Christian in Cinema: Denzel Whitaker
by Angela Walker

In talking with Denzel Whitaker, one of the stars of “The Great Debaters,” I was immediately struck by his poise. The 17-year-old actor portrays James Farmer, Jr., a member of a debate team from a small black college in East Texas, who goes on to become one of the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement.

I had a few moments to talk with Denzel about the upcoming film, his family, and what he likes to do in his spare time.

CC.com: Denzel, you’ve been called a “brilliant young actor” by your co-stars Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker (no relation). What is your acting background?

Denzel: I started acting officially about 5 years ago. For two years before that, I did background work. I was told if I could survive that, then I could go into acting. It wasn’t really one of those things I planned to do. An agency recommended that I try acting. So my parents drove me down to the audition and encouraged me to just try it!

Once I started acting, I found it fascinating. I enjoy being able to play different characters and put on different hats. I can be someone other than Denzel Whitaker. When I became James Farmer, Jr., it was a chance to step out of reality and be someone different.

CC.com: You worked on a filmset with two of our time’s most legendary actors. Can you tell us a little about what you learned from both of them?

Denzel: They are both so humble and generous. Denzel Washington is such a great director. I want to go to film school for directing, so it was great to learn about that from him. And every day I would go back and enter my “Denzel quotes” into my laptop. I collected a lot of them over the course of the film.

What I learned from them were really life lessons. When they look back over the body of work they’ve done, they’re happy with it. And that’s something anyone could be proud of. They both strive for excellence in their careers, and maybe by emulating them, I can succeed in this acting world.

CC.com: Forest Whitaker plays your father in “The Great Debaters.” Did you find similarities between your relationship with him and your relationship with your own dad?

Denzel: There were some. You know, your dad is your first male figure in your life. It can be simultaneously touching and intimidating. If you’re a little kid and your dad is a 6-foot tall man, that can be challenging.

There are many things I’d rather go to my mother for than my father, so I suggested inserting that into the film. When our debate team comes back from Harvard I go running into my house. The script called for me to go straight to my dad. But I told Denzel that I would naturally be looking for my mom first, so we made that change.

CC.com: Denzel took y’all to a debate “boot camp” at Texas Southern University. Did you find things there that you can apply to your acting?

Denzel: Yes, especially to stage acting. They are very conscious of using your posture and gestures to create emphasis. And we learned about hitting certain words to make your point. Those are things that translate well into acting.

When we were there, we were reading all kinds of papers, doing research, and watching CNN all the time. It was my first experience at debate, and I wanted to soak up as much as possible, because I wanted to BE debating, not just acting like I was debating.

It also helped me become a better arguer. You know, what’s the point of arguing if you’re not getting your point across, and that’s what debate is. Every argument is a debate, but when it’s structured, it makes a huge difference. I came away really admiring debaters because they put a lot of time and effort into research, but sometimes they only have 15 minutes to prepare, so they have to always be on their toes.

CC.com: Are there any life lessons you took away from the film itself?

Denzel: That we all have a voice, and we should use it to speak out. Each of us has opinions, and we should find the ones that will change the world. Our opinions can change the world for good or for bad; we need to get them out there. We have amazing resources available, and need to do something with them.

CC.com: You’re 17; are you still in school?

Denzel: I am. I attend a public school, and find the teachers and friends there very supportive of me and the work I’m doing.

CC.com: What do you enjoy doing in your off-time?

Denzel: I’m a complete techno-geek. If something has a power switch, I’m into it. I dig animation – cartoons and the like – and have taught myself some digital animation software. That is something I just love doing.

CC.com: Do you have any projects in the works right now?

Denzel: I’m reading a lot of scripts right now. I want to keep auditioning and hope that God keeps blessing me. I want to do things that speak to me, and things I can be passionate about. I want to make sure I don’t take roles that are derogatory or denigrating, but that they’re roles I can look back on in 30 or so years and be proud to have done it.

CC.com: In your interviews on the Oprah Winfrey show, Denzel Washington credited God with the smoothness of filming and even his own success.

Denzel: It was a very spiritual film set. I believe that everyone involved was a person of faith. Forest Whitaker was always bringing hymns and scriptures into the script, and Denzel really encouraged that from us. I’m not ashamed to say that God is a big part of my career and life. People who don’t recognize and love their creator God are on the road to trouble.

CC.com: What would you say to youth who are considering acting for a career?

Denzel: To follow your dreams! You have to be passionate about what you’re doing, because there will always be someone telling you that you’re not good enough, that you’re not getting it.

My parents allowed me the room to experiment, and they encouraged me. If they hadn’t, I wouldn’t have taken the leap. If you’re not getting support from your parents, talk with them about it, because they can be your best cheerleaders.

CC.com: Denzel, thank you for your time. I look forward to seeing the film, and wish you much success!