EMMY-WINNING DIRECTOR STEVE FELDMAN TO DIRECT “A SEASON OF MIRACLES”

Producer Dave Moody Signs Feldman to Rusty Whitener-created Film

(Nashville, Tenn) Four years ago, after thirty years in the motion picture industry, Emmy-winning director Steve Feldman decided to pack up and leave Hollywood for greener pastures.

“When I realized that 75% of the nation’s population lives within a 700-mile radius of Nashville, I knew I’d found the right town,” Feldman said. He moved his family to Music City and settled in, quietly meeting with fellow industry veterans at Edgehill Café, taking his time to find the right story. “By living here, I find stories that are appropriate for the general population, not just the ‘idea’ of the population that Hollywood holds.”


Now, four years after his move and hundreds of meetings later, Feldman is once again applying his directing skills to a project—“A Season of Miracles” written by Rusty Whitener, produced by Elevating Entertainment, and based on the novel of the same name that released from Kregel Books in August.

“As soon as I met Steve earlier this year, I knew I wanted to work with him,” said Dave Moody, President of Elevating Entertainment. “His credentials and background will be tremendously helpful in creating a quality film from Rusty’s screenplay.”

Filming is set to begin next year. For more information, visit www.elevatingentertainment.com. Moody and Feldman are available for interviews.

Steve Feldman is an Emmy award winning TV director who’s worked with talent as varied as Bill Nye, Linda Ellerbee, Bill Maher and Elmo for PBS, CBS, Disney, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Comedy Central, MSNBC and Discovery. His credits include Sesame Street, the ‘Nick News, Politically Incorrect, The Wubbulous World of Dr. Suess, LazyTown and the debut musical theatre production for Walden Media, Rock Odyssey. He is Owner of The Sam Hill Group.

Dave Moody is an artist, songwriter, producer and filmmaker with numerous industry awards and peer acknowledgements to his credit. As a member of his family group, The Moody Brothers, he earned two Grammy Award nominations in the ‘80s, and spent most of the ‘90s in Paris, France working for The Walt Disney Company. From 2001 to 2010, he won 2 Dove Awards and earned 19 nominations. As a filmmaker, he has won numerous festival awards for the motion pictures he’s directed, produced, and contributed to, working with Hollywood veterans and respected actors, including: BILL COBBS (Night At The Museum, That Thing You Do), Golden Globe nominee LEE MERIWETHER, ROB SCHNEIDER (Saturday Night Live), JOHN de LANCIE, CATHERINE HICKS, MARGARET O’BRIEN, and others.

Karen Kingsbury Like Dandelion Dust movie trailer unveiled

The trailer for the movie version of Karen Kingsbury's novel Like Dandelion Dust has just been unveiled! Coming to theaters in September, you can watch it now on the official movie website.

Synopsis:
Based on the novel by New York Times best-selling author Karen Kingsbury, "Like Dandelion Dust" is a compelling drama that focuses on a young boy who lives an idyllic life with his parents on the coast of Florida. Joey’s days are spent playing with his cousins, sailing with his dad, and making up stories with his mom. It's a perfect life until the day they receive a disturbing phone call: a stranger's decision could tear Joey away from the comfort and security of the only home he's ever known. One family is determined to keep the son they love, the other is determined to begin a new life, the life they've always dreamed of. Joey's future rests in their hands and someone must make the bravest decision of their life. Sometimes the greatest love is letting go.

Read our interview with Karen Kingsbury.

Robin Shope novel to be a movie!

Author Robin Shope and Salty Earth Pictures have recently announced Shope's novel The Christmas Edition is to be a feature film.

Wisconsin newspaper The Daily Union online has run a piece which says in part:

Salty Earth Pictures has announced that it will begin filming a new feature movie later this year, with Fort Atkinson serving as the on-screen setting.

The non-profit film company based in Fort Atkinson specializes in producing Biblically-based entertainment, including such shows as the family-friendly comedy series "Fifth Pew From the Front" and the puppet-populated "Movie Critters" and its follow-up 30-minute series.

Company founder Steve Zambo announced the feature film will be based on the novel, "The Christmas Edition," which was written by Robin Shope. Shope, an author now living in Dallas, Texas, has written a series of novels that are set in Wisconsin, known as The Turtle Creek Edition series.

...Without revealing too much of the story, "The Christmas Edition" movie will be based on a struggling family-owned business in a small Wisconsin town. It focuses on relationships, secrets, trust, faith and the hope that Christmas and its message provide.

"The Christmas Edition is one of her series of books, like The Valentine Edition and The Easter Edition," Zambo explained. "They all take place in Wisconsin."

Zambo recalled how one day, he received an invitation via Facebook to do the movie adaptation.

"I had known she was an author because a mutual friend had written some other books with her," Zambo said. "So I joined, and she said 'take a look at my books.' I did, and right about then we had made the decision to make some more features, like our project 'Scrooge's Next Christmas.' But that is a bigger budget movie, and we needed a bridge picture, like the movie 'Facing the Giants,' which was filmed by a small group in Georgia."

So Shope sent Zambo the books, read by his daughter.

"She knew we needed to do a picture that we could do within a reasonable budget, and my daughter said, 'Here Dad, read this.'

And Zambo decided to adapt The Christmas Edition for the screen.

Read the full article here.

Read our interview with Robin.
Read our review of The Christmas Edition.

Poster for Karen Kingsbury Like Dandelion Dust movie

It's looking like we'll see the movie based on Karen Kingsbury's novel "Like Dandelion Dust" sometime in 2009. It's classified as "complete", but no word yet on an official release date. Visit the official blog to learn more. The movie's been accepted into some noteworthy festivals.

Summary of novel:

Jack and Molly Campbell enjoyed an idyllic life with their adopted 6-year-old son, Joey. One phone call shatters their world when they learn Joey's biological father has just been released from prison and discovered a loop hole in the adoption papers and now lays claim to his son. He wants to start a new life by taking back his son. When a judge upholds the biological father's claim and Molly and Jack learn they must give Joey over to this brutal man they devise a plan. How far would you go to protect your family?

Read our interview with Karen Kingsbury.

Jenkins Entertainment to make Riven movie

According to Dallas Jenkins, Jerry's son and the co-founder with him of Jenkins Entertainment, Jerry's novel Riven is to be a movie.

Says Dallas at his blog:

"We've also decided that Riven, the book my Dad wrote that came out last year (and for my money, is his best book), is going to be the second film in the Jenkins/Pureflix partnership. We will be talking to screenwriters in the next couple of weeks and hope to be in production by the end of the year. I'm actually going to send a letter to Joe Eszterhas, the famous screenwriter of Basic Instinct, Flashdance, Music Box, and Jagged Edge, among others, who recently became a Christian. I know it's a long shot, but I think he'd be interested in some of the films we're doing. His books are incredible (any aspiring filmmaker should read The Devil's Guide to Hollywood), including his recent one, Crossbearer, which is about his conversion. Maybe Riven will strike a chord, or perhaps Youngest Hero, which is about baseball, one of his great loves. We'll see."

Read the rest of the blog here.

Read our review of Riven.
Read our interview with Jerry B. Jenkins.
Read our interview with Dallas Jenkins.

House opening numbers

According to Christian Retailing:

House, the first R-rated Christian horror movie adapted from a book by best-selling writers Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker, had a modest opening in theaters at the weekend.

The film based on the 2006 Thomas Nelson novel took $355,000 in receipts at 363 box offices according to boxofficemojo.com, earning 24th spot in the chart led by Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, which grossed more than $63 million from its debut at 4,000-plus theaters.

Read the full piece here.

Read our review of House the movie here.

The Note now available on DVD

Just in from author Angela Hunt regarding the movie based on her novel The Note:

"If you watched the film adaptation of "The Note" on the Hallmark Channel . . . or even if you didn't . . . you might be interested to know that "The Note" DVD is now available at your favorite rental place or to purchase at your favorite store. The DVD contains the film, of course, plus two "featurettes": interviews with Genie Frances and yours truly.

In the video interview, I was able to explain the parable of "The Note" more fully, and give the reasons why I wrote the book. If you rent or buy the DVD, please take the time to watch the interviews. I hope you enjoy them."

Click here to purchase at CBD.com
Click here to purchase at Amazon.com

Read our interview with Angela Hunt.

House movie receives R rating

According to Christian Retailing, the movie based on the book House by Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti has received an "R" rating from the MPAA.

Says the article:

"The film was given the adults-only stamp by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) for "terror and violence," making it the only Christian-themed movie other than Mel Gibson's The Passion of The Christ to receive such a rating.

Producer Ralph Winter said in a statement that the makers were "at a loss" when they learned of the decision, which was based on the general tone of the film rather than specific parts. They wanted to make cuts to win a PG-13 rating, but were told by the MPAA that "the whole story was just too intense."

Read the full piece here.

Read our latest interview with Ted Dekker.

The Wager DVD debuts at #1 in retail sales

The Wager starring Randy Travis (Genius Products, May 13, 2008) debuted in the #1 spot in CBA Retail sales.

“The Wager landing in the number one retail spot is a pleasant surprise and shows us that despite a tough economy, consumers and families are still interested in quality entertainment that has a solid, moral message,” says Russell Wolfe, managing partner of Outreach Cinema who produced The Wager.

Based on the best-selling book by Bill Myers, The Wager is a powerful parable examining how to live while your life is tested. Travis plays an actor who is nominated for a prestigious award and just as he has overcome industry blacklisting and persecution for his beliefs, he finds himself in the fight of his life. The Wager unfolds as Travis’ reputation, marriage and career are destroyed and he seeks help from others and makes life-changing decisions to survive.

The Wager is released by Genius Products, LLC, a leading independent home-entertainment distribution company that produces licenses and distributes a valuable library of motion pictures, television programming, family, lifestyle and trend entertainment on DVD and other emerging platforms.

Pure Flix Entertainment (www.pureflix.com) produces and distributes film projects to churches and consumers that are enlightening, life-altering, and sometimes humorous with clear portrayal of forgiveness, redemption, love, and faith that will engage people in their pursuit of God.

Read our review of The Wager here.

Mandie and the Secret Tunnel movie

The first Mandie movie (based on the book) is soon to be a movie. From the official website:

In 1899, Mandie's life changes when her Cherokee friends help her escape to a mansion that holds the hidden secrets of her past and the key to her future!

"MANDIE and the SECRET TUNNEL," is the first feature-length movie based on the MANDIE books written by Lois Leppard.

Set in the early 1900s, this series boasts a delightful cast of characters who, in the tradition of LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE and ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, learn valuable lessons as they conquer hardships and celebrate life’s triumphs.

The movie is now in the final stages of post-production, and MandieMovies.com is your source for the latest news and behind-the-scenes information!

Watch the trailer (Windows Media) by clicking here.
Large Quicktime version here.
Small Quicktime version here.

(Movie still below. Click to enlarge.)

The List coming to DVD June 10th

In a world of secrets, where evil has reigned for over a hundred years, there lives a treacherous blood covenant and vast fortune guarded by a dark prophecy that will change the life of one man forever in the gripping suspense drama The List, debuting on DVD June 10th from Fox Home Entertainment. Featuring captivating performances from veteran screen legend and Golden Globe® nominee Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange, Halloween), Chuck Carrington (“Jag”), Hilarie Burton (“One Tree Hill”) and Will Patton (Remember the Titans, Armageddon), The List is based on the first novel by best-selling author Robert Whitlow and timed to coincide with his latest book release, Deeper Water.

After being shaken by the news of his father’s mysterious death, Renny Jacobson (Carrington) is mystified to discover that his father has left him nothing but a reference to an obscure entity called “The Covenant List of South Carolina, Ltd.” Setting out on a quest to learn the truth, he uncovers a treacherous blood covenant and vast fortune guarded by a dark prophecy that will change his life forever. Joined in the spiritual battle by some unlikely and courageous heroes, he soon finds he must fulfill the prophecy spoken in 1863 and destroy the power of “The List,” or risk losing the true treasure that has changed his life. Highlighted by DVD features including audio commentary by writer/director Gary Wheeler (Final Solution) and actress Hilarie Burton, The Power of Prayer featurette, deleted scenes and more, The List DVD is available for the suggested retail price of $26.98 U.S./ $37.98 Canada.

Synopsis:

Renny Jacobson is shaken by news of his father’s mysterious death. Although they were never close, he is stunned to discover that his father has left his substantial estate to charity, leaving his son with nothing but a reference to an obscure entity called “The Covenant List of South Carolina, Ltd.” Setting out on a quest to learn the truth about “The List,” he meets another descendent of a family bound to the secret society and soon discovers that they are both inheritors of an ancient and sinister secret – as well as a vast fortune. Having signed the covenant with his own blood, he is unprepared to fight the evil forces that now seek to devour everything – and anyone – he holds dear.

DVD Features:

The List DVD is presented in widescreen format (1.85:1 aspect ratio) with English 5.1 Dolby Surround audio plus English and Spanish subtitles. DVD bonus features include:

· Commentary by writer/director/producer Gary Wheeler and actress Hilarie Burton

· The Power of Prayer featurette

· Deleted scenes

· DVD-ROM Content – Bible Study Guide

A recognized global industry leader, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC (TCFHE) is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming on VHS, DVD and Blu-ray Disc (BD) as well as acquisitions and original productions. The company also releases all products around the globe for MGM Home Entertainment. Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets – from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores and e-commerce – throughout the world. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC is a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, a News Corporation company.

Love's Unfolding Dream coming to DVD May 8th

CENTURY CITY, Calif. – An endearing story of faith and perseverance just in time for Mother’s Day, Love’s Unfolding Dream debuts on DVD May 6 from Fox Faith, the faith-based programming label from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Based on the sixth novel in the Love Comes Softly series by bestselling author Janette Oke, Love’s Unfolding Dream is a coming-of-age tale centering on heroine Missie Lahaye’s (Erin Cottrell, “Little House on the Prairie,” Love Comes Softly series) strong-willed daughter Belinda Taylor (Scout Taylor Compton, 13 Going On 30). Belinda is determined to transcend the conventional way of life and pursue a career in medicine, but along the way she falls in love with the town newcomer Drew Simpson (Patrick Levis, “The King of Queens”) and must explore and discover whether following her dreams and listening to her heart can coexist.

A truly successful and enduring franchise, the Love Comes Softly series has sold more than 30 million books and 3.5 million DVDs. Now in Love’s Unfolding Dream, fans are reunited with cast favorites and introduced to new teenage characters. Previous titles in the series – Love Comes Softly, Love’s Enduring Promise, Love’s Long Journey, Love’s Abiding Joy and Love’s Unending Legacy – rank as the highest rated films in the history of The Hallmark Channel and have all been mainstays on the Christian Booksellers Association top 10 adult titles chart. Love’s Unfolding Dream will be available at the suggested retail price of $22.98 U.S./$25.98 Canada. Prebook is April 9, 2008.

DVD Features:

The Love’s Unfolding Dream DVD is presented in widescreen format with English Dolby Surround Sound 2.0 and English and Spanish subtitles.

Synopsis:

From award-wining author Janette Oke comes the sixth chapter in the Love Comes Softly series, Love’s Unfolding Dream. As Missie’s daughter Belinda struggles to discover her own place in the world, she is torn between two loves – her dream of being a doctor and her fondness for a newcomer in town.

Spiderwick Chronicles coming February 14th

A fun-looking fantasy film based on the books by Holly Black and Tony Ditterlizzi. Rated PG, it looks like a movie the whole family can enjoy!

Summary:

Peculiar things start to happen with the Grace family (Jared, his twin brother Simon, sister Mallory and their mother) when they leave New York and move in a secluded old house owned by their great, great uncle Arthur Spiderwick. Unable to explain the strange disappearances and accidents that seemed to be happening on a daily basis, the family starts to blame Jared. When he, Simon and Mallory investigate whats really going on, they uncover the fantastic truth of the Spiderwick estate and the creatures that inhabit it.

Watch the trailer at Apple here.
Visit the official movie site here.

The trailer is also below:

Like Dandelion Dust movie news

The major motion picture "Like Dandelion Dust" based on the Karen Kingsbury novel, will begin filming in Florida later this month! Academy Award Winner Mira Sorvino has been cast to play the role of Wendy, and the screenplay was written by Academy Award Nominated writer Stephen J. Rivele. Also, Grammy winner Mark Mancina is attached to compose music for the film. Mancina recently composed music for the movie August Rush.

The independent film produced by Downes Brothers Entertainment will be distributed by 20th Century Fox.

Visit the Like Dandelion Dust official movie website here.

Saving Sarah Cain DVD coming January 15th

CENTURY CITY, Calif. – At her estranged sister’s death, a self-absorbed, metropolitan newspaper columnist becomes the legal guardian of her five Amish nieces and nephews in the heartwarming family drama Saving Sarah Cain, arriving January 15, 2008 on DVD from Fox Home Entertainment. Based on the beloved best-selling novel The Redemption of Sarah Cain by award-winning novelist Beverly Lewis, Saving Sarah Cain takes business woman Sarah Cain on a journey from her single-life as an accomplished, big-city professional to a new life as the caretaker of five Amish orphans. Now she must determine whether to make a new life for them in Portland or to sacrifice her successful career and raise her newfound family in the heartland of Amish Country.

Directed by Michael Landon, Jr. (The Last Sin Eater, Love’s Abiding Joy) and featuring triumphant performances from Academy Award^® and Golden Globe^® nominees Elliott Gould (M*A*S*H, Ocean’s Eleven) and Tess Harper (Tender Mercies, Crimes of the Heart), Saving Sarah Cain is a touching and uplifting story of love, sorrow and redemption that unites a family together.

DVD Features:

Widescreen

English, French and Spanish Subtitles

Closed Captioned

Making-Of Featurette

Deleted Scenes

Trailers

Click here to buy from Christianbook.com

Walden Media's Nim's Island trailer

Based on the novel by Wendy Orr, the movie version stars Jodie Foster (Contact, Flightplan), Abigail Breslin (Ultimate Gift, Signs, Little Miss Sunshine), and Gerard Butler.

Summary:

Anything can happen on Nim's Island, a magical place ruled by a young girl's imagination. It is an existence that mirrors that of her favorite literary character, Alex Rover - the world's greatest adventurer. But Alexandra, the author of the Rover books, leads a reclusive life in the big city. When Nim's father goes missing from their island, a twist of fate brings her together with Alexandra. Now they must draw courage from their fictional hero, Alex Rover, and find strength in one another to conquer Nim's Island.

The movie releases to theaters April 4th.

Watch a high-res version of the trailer here.

Update: The Note coming December 8th to Hallmark Channel

Best-selling novelist Angela Hunt's book The Note is coming to the silver screen on December 8th (9/8 C). Tune in to the Hallmark Channel for this book to movie adaptation.

Click here for the official site to watch clips, see the gallery, read about the story, and more.

Says Angela at her blog: THE NOTE, if you're not familiar with the story, is about a newspaper reporter who finds a note that washes up from a plane crash. The message is simple: "T--I love you. All is forgiven. Dad." She decides to make it her goal to deliver the note to the intended recipient. And since her newspaper column isn't doing so well, she decides to write about her quest in the paper.

Update: The Note is going to be re-aired at the Hallmark Channel on December 18th at 9:00 pm EST.

Read our interview with Angela here.

Expiration Date by Eric Wilson to be movie?

According to Eric Wilson himself, his novel Expiration Date is soon to be a feature film.

In Eric's latest update he says:

"Expiration Date is still under development, by Fireside Entertainment, for the screen. A script is in the works, and the director is already looking at locations for shooting the film."

Read our review of Eric's The Best of Evil here.
Read our review of Dark to Mortal Eyes here.
Read our interview with Eric here.

Angela Hunt's "The Note" to be Hallmark movie

According to a Variety.com article by John Dempsey:

The Hallmark Channel has commissioned "The Note," a holiday-themed TV movie to star Genie Francis and Ted McGinley and premiere on Dec. 8.

Co-produced by Lightworks Pictures (a Faith & Values company) and WildRice Prods., telepic concerns a lonelyhearts columnist who stumbles on a note written to an unidentified child by a passenger who dies in a plane crash. The columnist's editor tells her to go all out to find the child before Christmas and write about her progress in the column.

Read the full article here.

In a comment on her blog, Angela says in response:

"I have seen a script, but I am also aware that scripts can change even as the cameras are rolling. I know that the script changes the location, but most of the major details remain. At this point I am pretty much out of the picture.

As you know, if you've read it, THE NOTE is a parable story--a prodigal daughter story, in fact. The thing that is most important to me is that the aspects of the parable remain true.

And I have one final hope--no matter how the movie differs, I am hoping that the movie will drive sales of the book--because the entire Truth is in the book, and reinforced by the discussion questions.

I have heard--but this may change--that the air date will be Dec. 22. I'll let you know if I hear anything different. I would expect them to be filming any day now, so let's pray for the process.

General Hospital's Luke and Laura--LOL! I never would have believed that "Laura" would be playing "Peyton."

Prince Caspian movie poster

Thanks to our friends at Infuze for pointing out the unveiling of the Prince Caspian movie poster (they got it from Cinematical).

Click the pic for a larger version. And be sure to zoom in on the Pevensie siblings on the bottom right to see how they've aged for this film.