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SIX: The Mark Unleashed - August 3, 2004
Family News in Focus
March 23, 2001
Christian 'Oscars' Awarded
By Mark Cowan, correspondent
Hollywood will soon be handing out the coveted Academy Awards, known as the Oscars. But recently another group of movies was honored with awards for their Christian worldview and message.
With dialogue like —"The great thing about God (is), you don't have to be perfect for him to accept you, and that's when Jesus comes into the equation" — "Mercy Streets" was not your normal theatrical fare. That's what earned it a "Teddy Bear" award for its family value.
The awards are made by the Christian Film and Television Commission (CFTC), in honor of CFTC founder and executive director, Dr. Ted Baehr.
"David White plays twin brothers — one is a crook and the other is a priest, and the priest tries to save his brother," Baehr said. "It's an interesting dialogue on the sovereignty of God."
While "Mercy Streets" was produced by a Christian studio, Baehr also liked secular releases like "Remember the Titans."
In all, Baehr counted 118 films last year with positive Christian content or worldview.
"The interesting thing is that Christian films continue to lead. The more Christian content you do, the better (the film) does (at the box office) and they do much better than any of the other movies that are out there."
Baehr estimates films with Christian content have more than double the box office of any of the other 20 plus categories he tracks.
Mercy Streets hits the streets this week
Arriving on shelves this week is the indie film produced by Signal Hill Pictures, MERCY STREETS. The film opened last October on 175 screens in 35 markets nationwide and debuted at number 30 on the Billboard charts. A very auspicious beginning which reflects the strength of the genre. The film was nominated by MovieGuide as one of the top 5 Family Films of the Year. The awards air on PAX, April 15 (Easter). Mercy Streets soundtrack includes top artists: Moby, Delirious, Sixpence None the Richer and Jennifer Knapp. To find the soundtrack, video or DVD see http://mercystreets.com
SIGNAL HILL PICTURES UP FOR ACM AWARDS VIDEO OF THE YEAR
The 36th Annual Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards announced the nominees for the 12 categories of the awards which will be presented during the CBS television broadcast Wednesday, May 9. Signal Hill Pictures, Kevin Downes, producer of Clay Walker's music video, Chain of Love, was nominated in the category for Best Country Music Video of the Year. The video was produced in January of 2000 on location in Houston, Texas. Signal Hill Pictures produced Mercy Streets starring Eric Roberts, Stacy Keach, David White and Lawrence Taylor.
NEW FILM PRODUCTION COMPANY, COMPOSED OF CHRISTIANS, FORMED
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HOLLYWOOD, CA, Sept. 1 -- A group of talented filmmakers who have professed their faith in Christ, have announced the formation of the new production company Signal Hill Pictures LLC. The group is composed of David White and Kevin Downes, Jon Gunn, Geoff Ludlow, Bobby Downes. Geoff and Bobby bring their, combined, over 25 years of mission work to the team. Their mission focuses on addressing the needs of people on both sides of the camera. Their goal is to provoke the audience to higher levels of insight and truth, to capture the genuineness of God. According to cofounder Kevin Downes, "Our intention is to create films of rich cinematic value that refresh instead of parch humanity, and to be at the forefront of bringing Christian films into a new era."
Entertainment Weekly Magazine Feature Article
Entertainment ran a feature article called "The Next Temptation" which is about Christian movies and filmmaking in their December 10, 1999 issue. The article features quotes from Signal Hill Picture producers, Jon Gunn, David White and Kevin Downes. Other noted Christian film leaders mentioned were Matthew Crouch, Peter and Paul LaLonde and Billy Graham's World Wide Pictures. The article starts with Tom Saab and what he is doing with Christian Film Festivals. The EW writer attended the Salinas, California Central Coast Christian Film Festival in November 1999.
Web Site: Entertainment Weekly Magazine
Entire article
CLAY WALKER TO MAKE FILM DEBUT
IN THE CHAIN OF LOVE
 NASHVILLE, Tenn., February 1, 2000 — Popular Texas singer/songwriter Clay Walker will make his film debut in The Chain of Love, a 15 minute short inspired by the title and lyrics of his new single, which is due at country radio on Valentine’s Day.
Commissioned by Walker’s record label, Giant Records Nashville, as part of the company’s plan to create "aggressive linkage with country radio," fans will be able to access the film through a series of special events coordinated with country radio stations nationwide.
Written and directed by Michael Cargile, best known for his award winning short film The Light of Darkness, and produced by Kevin Downes and Gunther Tarampi for Signal Hill Pictures, the film will also be distributed to film festivals, made available for television programming, and Walker plans to use it as streaming video on his newly re-designed website, www.claywalker.com. In addition, footage from the film will be used to create the music video for Walker’s new single.
"The Chain of Love," composed by Jonnie Barnett and Rory Lee, is from Walker’s current Live, Laugh, Love CD. Filmed over a four-day period on location in East Texas, the film is expected to be complete in mid-February. Since his label debut in 1993, Walker has scored ten number one country hits, sold more than seven million albums, and is consistently rated as one of country’s top touring acts.
Among his concerts stops this year are a headline appearance at the 60,000-seat Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which has been an SRO gig for Walker for seven consecutive years, and several dates with Alan Jackson, including Nashville’s 20,000 seat Gaylord Entertainment Center on February 25, 2000.
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