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Saving God, an exciting Christian film, is available on DVD. This is an inspiring movie about making choices and finding hope. The story brings to mind the Scripture Romans 3:23 NIV “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. We all have done things in our past that we regret. But because of God’s grace we can be forgiven and change. People are capable of changing with God’s help. It was awarded five Doves from the Dove Foundation, their highest rating. Saving God has also been nominated for the 2008/2009 Time for Peace Film Award. The story is moving and the cast is very talented and well known. Grab your popcorn and enjoy an extremely entertaining and motivating movie. The Story Saving God is the story of Pastor Armstrong Cane (Ving Rhames), a recently released prisoner. He entered prison a rebellious young man, but left prison a man of God. His father had died while he was locked up and that was a turning point in his life. His father was the pastor of a small church in his hometown and now he would take over. In a very tender moment in the movie Cane visits the graves of his parents and tells his dad that he would not let him down. He will have several people from his past telling him that he can not change his violent ways. Armstrong returns to his father’s church to find that most of the congregation had left because of the decline in the neighborhood. The area was now overrun with drug dealers and violence. Armed with his love for God and a megaphone he is determined to take back the neighborhood and overcome his past. By a chance encounter he meets Norris (Dwain Murphy), a young man that is making bad choices. Cane tries to help Norris turn his life around. Norris must first decide to give up his drug dealer lifestyle. That is not so easy because he is ruled by a violent drug dealer, Blaze (Dean McDermott). Norris does not know that his teenage girlfriend is pregnant, but he wants to get his life straight. The struggle that occurs for the life of Norris is exciting and dangerous. The Actors Ving Rhames plays Armstrong Cane. He was born and raised in Harlem, New York, so he can identify with the neighborhood in the movie. Rhames also served as Executive Producer of Saving God. He is a Golden Globe winner and very experienced actor. He is also nominated for the 2008/2009 Time for Peace Actor Award for his exceptional performance in this film. Mission Impossible, Kojak, Pulp Fiction, Con Air, and Lilo and Stitch are only a few of the movies he has acted in. In this film he does an outstanding job. Ricardo Chivira is wonderful as Danny Christopher, a superficial TV preacher. It is a long way from his role as Carlos Solis on Desperate Housewives. He has had numerous guest star appearances on Monk, 24, JAG, NYPD Blue, and the George Lopez Show. Chivira is also active off screen as a breast cancer advocate. This is an issue close to his heart as his mother passed away at the age of 43 years old of breast and ovarian cancer. He is honorary spokesman in San Antonio, Texas for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The brutal gang leader, Blaze, is played by Dean McDermott. He is known for being a very talented actor and being married to Tori Spelling. His acting career includes Open Range, Kojak, Brian’s Song, Without A Trace, and the reality show Tori & Dean: Inn Love to name a few. Dwain Murphy is outstanding as Norris Johns, a young drug dealer who has a tough choice to make between being a thug and being a THUG for Christ. Murphy is best known for his role as Eric in Degrassi: The Next Generation. He has acted in many films such as Poor Boy’s Game, How She Move, and The Line. He has a passion for acting, but also enjoys basketball in his free time. Extremely talented actress Genelle Williams plays the girlfriend of Norris Johns. In the film she finds out she is pregnant and tries to find the right time to tell Norris. Williams has a long list of acting credits including The Lazarus Child, It’s a Boy Girl Thing, The Orphan, and more. In 2007 she was nominated for the Gemini Award for “Best Performance in a Leading Role” as Monica in the mini-series Doomstown. Saving God is a brilliant Christian movie. Who will save God for the souls who have lost Him? It is a quality film with exceptional actors and an amazing message. It has some violence and the subject of drug dealing so it may not be suitable for younger children. This would be a great movie for adults to share with their teens. The excitement and teen issues will keep them interested. This film expresses the topic of choices and how even those choices we make as young people can altar our life, so it is important to make careful choices. You can purchase Saving God wherever Christian movies are sold or at the movie’s website www.savinggodmovie.com.

Now available on DVD the award winning film, Fern Hill.  This Christian film is about true friendship, hope, adventure, and faith.  It takes four young boys on the adventure of a lifetime.  We all have cherished memories of our childhood friends; this film reminds us how sweet that time together was.  It has been awarded the Family Approved Seal by the Dove Foundation.  This is a great adventure film for the entire family. 

 

     Fern Hill is the tale of Colin, his best friends, and the loss of his father.  His father was a pilot and his plane disappeared when Colin was only five years old.  Although there was an investigation, nothing was ever found.  Colin and mother were forced to move on without closure.  She remarried an overbearing man that pushes him too hard.  After Colin has a vivid dream about his Dad, he devises a plan to find him or at least try.  He tells his plan to his three best friends and asks them to join him.  His friends Kenny, Seth, and Bob are going through their problems and are looking for a get away.  After debating all the obstacles and donuts, they innocently prepare for their journey.  They soon find that the least of their concerns is that they are hiking to Fern Hill in the Colorado Mountains.  They face many other challenges - fear, dark, the woods, wild animals, rain, a lost map, and the rumored madman Old Man Tyler’s cabin.  But the biggest challenge just might be facing the truths they find out about themselves. 

 

     Fern Hill was written many years ago by Cole Claassen of Agape Productions.   This may be his debut feature film, but this film is high quality.  The cast is amazing and very talented.  Many were local actors from Crested Butte, Colorado where the film was shot.  He was setting out to make this movie with almost no budget and a crew of friends and family when a friend made a small investment in the film.  Cole says that memories from his own childhood are where he got the idea for the film.  Growing up he had three adventurous best friends.  Also while in high school Claassen experienced being part of a search and rescue team for a plane crash of a friend and their family.  The poem ‘Fern Hill’ by Dylan Thomas, about childhood, also played a part in the story of this film.

 

     The next film for Agape Productions is Tennison Hopps.  Visit the movie’s website www.tennisonhoppsmovie.com.  The film is set in New Mexico Territory in 1889.  Tennison Hopps is a coming of age story about two brothers’ fight to save their family after a tragic loss.  Tennison is faced with the most difficult circumstances a young boy can imagine, and sets out on a journey across the rugged southwest to rescue his brother.  This film is a faith-based family drama about a young boy’s journey from childhood to manhood, with the help of two unlikely new friends.  At this time Agape Productions has actor Tom Berenger (Major League, Sniper, Gettysburg) attached as well as distribution offers with prominent worldwide companies.  They are currently seeking investors for financing to complete the film.  To find out more about this outstanding opportunity contact cole@agapefilmvideo.com. 

     Fern Hill is a touching story of childhood, friendship, and adventure.  The simplicity of childhood is memory we all cherish.  Simplicity like how a three day weekend away from school can make your day.  This film helps to remind us through its talented characters how great those times were.  After watching this movie, you might very well give those old friends a call. 

      Now available on DVD is the heartwarming Christian movie Clancy.   This film is a touching story of a girl overcoming horrible situations in her young life with unmovable faith.  Very entertaining and keeps you on the edge of your seat.  It has comedy, suspense, and drama.  So grab the tissues, popcorn, and Clancy for your next movie night. 

      Clancy (Christina Fougnie) is a young girl abused by her mother.  Her mother not only physically abuses her, but also blames Clancy for her not having a life or money.  She tells Clancy that her life was so much better before she had her.  Clancy runs away to avoid being taken away by social workers and hopes while she is gone her mom will get help.  On the streets she crosses paths with an angry homeless veteran, Nick (Jefferson Moore).  An immoral mayor desperate for re-election plots a devious plan to “find” the lost girl.  He includes the police chief in his plan to set up the homeless man.  With the promise of restarting his life, Nick agrees to keep the girl out of sight.  But when a loan shark corners Nick, he and Clancy escape to the country.  The corrupt mayor now sets his sights on a more shocking alleged rescue/manhunt across county lines. 

 

    Clancy is an emotional rollercoaster.  Viewers will hold their breath in suspense, laugh, and cry.  Clancy is a positive child and even though she is abused, she does not let anything get her down.  She says “Bad things are always going to happen, but being miserable doesn’t have to.”  She explains the Gospel to Nick in an easy to understand and effective way.  The simple truths that Clancy explains to Nick are what bring the two of them together.  As the young girl grows on the homeless veteran he discovers that he wants to care about another person and his own life again.  Because of some strong topics – abuse, runaway, homelessness, bribery, etc. it may not be suitable for younger children.

 

    Clancy is a high quality film and the entire cast is extremely talented.  This is the first starring role for Christina Fougnie, but viewers will only see a professional young actress.  The writer (Jefferson Moore) also plays Nick in the film, does an outstanding job.  The production is very entertaining and brings the reality of the story to life.  You can find out more about Clancy and purchase the DVD at the movie’s website www.clancymovie.com.

 

Can We Talk? – A Movie with Racing Roots

By Dana Chaffin

 

     On June 6, 2009, Can We Talk was released on DVD.  This Christian movie explores sharing our burdens with others.  As Christians we are instructed to encourage one another.  Through the characters in this film you can see how God moves people into our path to help us.  The movie’s story is just one part of the message.  The story behind the filmmakers and the ministries that stream from that partnership make the message even stronger. 

 

The Movie

      Can We Talk is the story of a young man, Nate, who is trying to not only finish his senior year of high school, but also care for his younger sister.  With no known father and an absent mother, Nate is left to provide for the household.  The people in Nate’s community see him as nothing more than a trouble-maker, bad influence, & worthless, so he lives up to their expectations.  He has made bad choices in trying to survive and ended up in trouble with the law.  He only asks for help when pressured by losing custody of his sister.  His help comes from a stranger, Aaron who takes responsibility for Nate and tries to help him find his way.  He asks that Nate be able to do community service at the Kansas Auto Racing Museum with him.  Aaron is troubled by guilt of a tragic racing accident in his past.  He asks God to give him someone to help and that is what he got, Nate.  Aaron finds that he may be the one who gets help from Nate.  Together they overcome their troubles and become close friends.  This is a touching story of how God puts people in our lives to help us deal with tough times.  But are we listening?

 

Behind the movie

     Can We Talk is the full-length film by Covenant Films, LLC and Emmanuel Pictures.  Emmanuel Pictures is the movie ministry of Emmanuel Church in Abilene, Kansas.  The partnership of Covenant Films and the church was a joint decision between filmmaker Doug Thompson and the congregation.  They knew that this project was an adventure too big to handle alone, so approximately 60 church members joined the team.  The group was used to help with building the set, serving food, holding the team accountable, and lots of prayer.  Their goal was to honor God in the film.  The idea was an example from the Kendrick brothers and their partnership with Sherwood Baptist Church to form Sherwood Productions that produced movies Fireproof, Facing the Giants, and Flywheel.  They hope to be able to generate funds from this film to make future films.

     Doug Thompson, Covenant Film president, is no stranger to the racing scene.  He has been racing various types of stock cars since 1969.  He has raced everything from dirt track ministocks to NASCAR Goody’s Dash Series.  He has 356 feature wins and 9 track championships.  Today Doug races a dirt track modified at Whiskey Lake Raceway in Kansas, the track featured in the film.

    Doug and his wife opened the Kansas Auto Racing Museum.  The 21-acre museum complex is located in the small town of Chapman, Kansas.  The museum holds the first NASCAR and NHRA trophies.  There are lots of restored race cars from different eras, photos and more.  For more information about the museum go to: www.kansasautoracingmuseum.org.

 

    Can We Talk has a very touching message.  The DVD includes lots of extras.  It shows the behind the scenes of making the movie and the characters.  Also it contains remarkable footage at Emmanuel Church with a special service.  It tells about Doug Thompson’s racing past and how God has been involved.  The DVD can be purchased exclusively at www.canwetalkthemovie.com.

 

Dana Chaffin is a Christian freelance writer who has published many articles on faithwriters.com. Passionate about Christian film, her desire is to get the word out about Christian movies to as many people as possible Email cajd34@netzero.com