Only recently has the decades-old faith-based film genre burgeoned into an industry capable of producing a steady stream of competitive, compelling and culturally relevant media that makes an impact outside the walls of the local church. As evidenced by multi-million dollar-grossing movies like last year’s Soul Surfer and Courageous and the TV ratings success of Proctor & Gamble and Walmart’s Family Movie Nights, there’s an active and engaged audience seeking these viable products in the Christian realm and beyond.

In light of its increasing growth and popularity, the faith-based film industry will host the inaugural Faith In Film Conference on Tuesday, April 17th, in Nashville. The free, non-ticketed event will offer panel seminars and networking opportunities for creators of new faith-based film, television and documentary projects.

The three-hour conference, funded by Film-Com and hosted by the Faith in Film Community, will consist of seminars conducted by industry leaders from Proctor & Gamble/Walmart, Provident Films, Mission Films, The Idea Agency, Odyssey, LifeWay, Renaissance Center and Propeller. The two-part panel discussion will analyze the current appetite and commercial viability in the marketplace for faith-based projects as well as evaluate a film project’s most marketable target audience, in and/or out of the CBA market.

A screening of 10 new, faith-based projects will be presented at the AT&T Tower to a panel of industry executives for feedback and possible funding and distribution support on Wednesday, April 18th.

“Each year, the Film-Com Financing & Distribution Market receives a number of faith-based projects in-progress,” says Film-Com’s Andy van Roon. “This conference is designed to help creators of these new projects to best configure their concepts, approach production and assemble marketing and distribution plans according to faith-based marketplace trends.”

The Faith In Film Conference will take place at the Nashville City Club on Tuesday, April 17^th from 2:30-5:30 p.m. Donations will be accepted at the door. Free validated parking is available under the 4th & Commerce Ave. Tower.

Faith In Film Conference

Tuesday, April 17th 2:30-5:30 p.m.

Introduction: Dan Merrell, CEO Propeller

Keynote: Mitchell Galin, Chairman, Faith In Film Conference

Panel 1: Current State of Faith-Based Projects for TV / Feature / Documentary

Panelists will discuss what they feel is currently the appetite and commercial viability in the marketplace for their respective genres

• Lance McAlindon (P&G Wal-Mart)
• Maur Dunbar (Odyssey)
• Steve Hall (Renaissance Center)
• Cindy Bond (Mission Films)
• Seth Willenson (Executive Producer)

Panel 2: Marketing: Directing to the Core or Crossing Over

Panelists will discuss the fundamental question for evaluating the commercial viability of a faith-based project and determining its primary marketplace: Does it have the potential to cross over into the secular marketplace or should it stick to the primary CBA Market?

• Dan Johnson (The Idea Agency)
• Scott Mills (LifeWay)
• Ben Howard (Provident Films)
• Barry Landis (Book Publishing)
• Dan Merrell (Propeller)

Panels immediately followed by a reception, concluding at 6 p.m.

Have you seen the trailer for BLUE LIKE JAZZ the movie? In it, the Don Miller character says – “I am ashamed of Jesus.” For me personally, I would like to go on record as saying…  “I am ashamed of the Jesus people see in me.”

I’ve seen the movie many times.  It made me remember how much I loved the book and the idea of a confessional where CHRISTIANS voiced their sins against humanity to the world.  This book opened my heart, mind, soul and body to experience a new faith in a better Jesus – a better Jesus than the one I was brainwashed into believing as a child.

The book, the trailer and the movie have made me once again reevaluate my spiritual core.  What do I believe in exactly?  Who, or what, am I ashamed of when it comes to faith?  Why should I keep silent and not confess what I know to be true about my thoughts and my experience with Jesus Christ?

When Propeller agreed to market the film, we lost a dissenting employee immediately.  I knew right then that this film was going to polarize Christians, even though the book and the movie’s goal is actually to broaden the dialogue, not silence it.

Not soon after, we received word that if we worked the film, a past client would no longer work with us in the future.  This was gut-wrenching as we admire them and their work.  Again, the team agreed to move forward realizing relationships and dollars were being forfeited.  On the surface, it seemed to be a ridiculously bad decision to make.  And yet, many other marketing firms and freelancers joined us, also potentially forfeiting friendships and future business.  We stood by these artists and their art, as unperfected and under capitalized as both were at the time.

I was baffled at the outrage in the Christian artistic community to the film.  Is there really only one message, one approach to reaching the masses for Christ?  No wonder so many outsiders look in at us and say “no thanks.” I have to agree with Mahatma Gandhi when he said: ”I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

A colleague, who is also working on the film with us said this in regard to how so many were reacting: ”Christians have perfected the circular firing squad.” It is true, and for this we must once again apologize to the world for our very unChristlike behavior.  Shoot, even Jesus called his betrayer “friend.”  We can do better.

We can certainly argue the theological merit and content choices of films like BLUE LIKE JAZZ the movie (even I asked for some changes in the film that were not made) but can we not agree the film’s intended audience does not also deserve to see a radically different exploration of faith and judge for themselves?  Or should all Christian media efforts clone only what has been successful to date?  Successful due to its narrow appeal to the Christian subculture, with little relevance to those outside that culture.  Come on, man.

I love movies.  I see almost 150 in the theater every year.  I own lots on VHS, DVD, Blu-ray and my computer.  I L-O-V-E movies.  I have paid serious bucks for framed posters sporting autographs of cast and crew of my favorite films . They hang proudly all around me – Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones, Braveheart, Gladiator, Blade Runner, Casablanca, Back to the Future, Chinatown, Chariots of Fire, Forrest Gump and many, many more.  I love these movies either because they juiced my adrenaline, jumpstarted my brain or wrenched my heart.  Each were inspirational to me, many delivering a spiritual truth that the filmmakers may have not intended at all.  So what?  It’s art, I can interpret it how I like.  For me, they all preach.

ACT OF VALOR inspired me to MAN UP for Christ like no other “Christian” film I’ve seen in years.  I doubt the filmmakers were hoping for that reaction, but it got me to see the film three times with friends in tow.  We all agreed – great movie, and “We can do better as men.”  What’s more inspiring than Navy Seals putting it all on the line for a cause they believe in?  To a man we agreed to rededicate ourselves to be as good at what we do as they are at what they do – loyal husbands, exemplary fathers and selfless soldiers.

I have been on this journey with the BLUE LIKE JAZZ the movie marketing team now for 6 months.  They are amazing people, led by Don Miller and Steve Taylor, who love Jesus like crazy and are pouring everything they have into the film’s success.  We are a passionate, tight knit family, reluctant to let go of the community we’ve developed these past many months made up of ourselves, our partners and our fans.  Many of us will be hanging out together on release day in Nashville working our smart phones, tablets and laptops to the bone reaching out to you to play a big role in what we’re doing by buying tickets to our movie.  Why would so many of us lay it all on the line (friendships, client relationships) for a movie?  Because we each deeply believe in the cause behind the movie.

BLUE LIKE JAZZ is more than what it appears to be on the surface.  It is the dawn of a new era for Christian artists. Don and Steve have put their stake in the ground and are attempting to redefine the genre.  They believe that films made by Christians can depict their characters as they are in real life, without whitewashing their onscreen behavior (that includes language, and lewd behavior).  They believe that films made by Christians can actually reach out to those outside the church (as opposed to “preaching to the choir”) encouraging an open and frank dialogue on faith and its relevance to the modern world.  They hope that many will follow in their footsteps, broadening the dialogue and experimenting with new approaches to what has previously been defined as Christian art.  There is a whisper of a statement being made.  There is a slight beginning of a movement here. Don’t miss that.

It’s hard to be first.  It’s been brutal for Steve Taylor the past 5 years getting this to screen.  When the film opens next Friday, April 13th, he will have put everything he has on the line.  I promise you there will be nothing left – his bank account will be dangerously low and his energy will be beyond depleted.  He, and Don, have rolled the boulder up the hill as far as they can.  It’s our turn now.

I am not ashamed of liking BLUE LIKE JAZZ THE MOVIE and choosing to work on it. And I am not afraid of those who punish, dismiss or abandon me for doing so.

BLUE LIKE JAZZ THE MOVIE has been damn hard to bring to the screen. But as each impossible obstacle has surfaced, HUMAN BEINGS have risen to the task to overcome. When there was no money to complete the film, Kickstarter backers stepped up. When the film was done and there was no money for prints and advertising, investors (including Don Miller himself) stepped up. When marketing firms were threatened with loss of future work, only one that I know of backed down and caved to the pressure.  Everyone else, stepped up. We have never had enough money or time to get this film to market.  We still don’t.  But it’s happening, regardless of these insurmountable obstacles.

Maybe, in God’s providence, this is how it was meant to be all along.  Maybe we are in the middle of another GIDEON story where God so deprived his commander of men and munitions defeat was assured.  Until Gideon and his small band of jar stompin’, horn-blowin’ guerillas won the day with little to no effort (since God had it under control all along).

Or maybe we fail, as some are hoping we do.  Some don’t want to see any more BLUE LIKE JAZZ clones hit the big screen or populate bookshelves or get downloaded on iTunes.  They prefer their dialogue denominationally controlled and Biblically scripted.  As for me, I am all in, having sacrificed colleagues, friends and business to be a part of the BLJ experiment.

I am nakedly unashamed and foolheartedly unafraid.  So be it.

And I have no idea what’s going to happen when the film opens on the 13th.  None of us really do. But no matter what happens, we’ve put it all on the line for a cause worth fighting for, a film worth debating, and a Jesus worth discussing. I leave you with this thought, a shout out to Steve and Don, so eloquently stated years ago…

Here’s to the Crazy Ones.

The misfits.

The rebels.

The troublemakers.

The round pegs in the square holes.

The ones who see things differently.

They’re not fond of rules.

And they have no respect for the status quo.

You can quote them, disagree with them,

disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them.

About the only thing that you can’t do, is ignore them.

Because they change things.

They invent. They imagine. They heal.

They explore. They create. They inspire.

They push the human race forward.

Maybe they have to be crazy.

How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art?

Or, sit in silence and hear a song that hasn’t been written?

Or, gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels?

We make tools for these kinds of people.

While some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.

Because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world,

are the ones who do.

- Dan Merrell

The Captain of Propeller, one of many marketing companies unashamed and unafraid to work on BLUE LIKE JAZZ the movie. BLUE LIKE JAZZ opens in theaters nationwide April 13.

Last month, Vineyard Music artists John and Marie Barnett emerged from the confines of their secluded West Montana ranch to spend time at HearItFirst.com’s Nashville headquarters. The veteran worship leaders performed acoustic songs for the HearItFirst staff and filmed live promotional videos featuring music from their latest releases: John’s Never Look Back and Marie’s Heaven Came Down. HearItFirst viewers will be given exclusive access to heart and artistry behind both artists.

Beyond music performances, the videos provide insightful commentary from the Barnetts regarding their decades-long marriage, life on a ranch located in the middle-of-nowhere, songwriting process and God’s work through their music in live worship settings. Take a look at HearItFirst.com today.

Starting February 14th, the first Love Language Challenge will begin. Thousands have already signed up to take part in this five week challenge that invites married couples to give the gift of TRUE LOVE to their spouse.

Northfield Publishing (an imprint of Moody Publishers) has partnered with Propeller to create the initiative which seeks to engage participants by consistently speaking each other’s love language; while also sharing with friends through social media networks, like Facebook and Twitter. Whether by email or smart phone app, users will receive a weekly challenge to show love to their spouse in THEIR SPOUSE’s love language. Grooters Productions handled digital development.

Based upon the best-selling book, The 5 Love Languages® by Dr. Gary Chapman, this challenge is meant to be a fun and easy way for users to show love to their spouse. Throughout the challenge, users will receive reminders to complete their weekly challenge. They will also receive Conversation Starters that will help initiate a deeper, more meaningful dialog with their spouse throughout the five weeks.

Participants who sign up prior to or on February 14^th will be entered to win one of several prizes which include:

• One of 5 Kindle Fire® tablets  with 5 books from Dr. Gary Chapman
• One of 5 $100 Visa Gift Cards
• One of 5 autographed copies of the The 5 Love Languages Gift Edition by Dr. Gary Chapman

For more information or to sign up for the challenge, visit The Love Language Challenge online.

The Family Research Council has partnered with Students for Life and Propeller client Tupos Ministries, an Orlando, Fla.-based Christian ministry organization, to educate audiences on the staggering effects of abortion and inspire Americans of all ages to engage in the discussion of how our society can affirm and protect life. The “Hear the Silent Cry” movement is reaching audiences through a radio and internet campaign that provides information on life issues, corrects common myths about abortion, and encourages audiences to celebrate the inherent dignity of every human life, from conception to death.

As the  39^th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision approaches, the effects of the legalization of abortion on America’s youth are staggering, with more than half of the women receiving abortions between the ages of 15 and 24. Women in the same age range account for just 13.5 percent of the population. A new movement calls on audiences across America to hear the silent cry of the victims of abortion and come to their defense.

“Every year in January we set aside time to recognize and reaffirm the Sanctity of Human Life. We do this to honor the more than 50 million babies who have been killed since the Supreme Court made abortion legal in 1973, and to continue the work of restoring the culture of life upon which America was founded,” said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council. “If we are going to restore the culture of life, holding that all human life is a gift to be treasured, those of us with a voice must speak up.”

Recording artist Robert Pierre is also lending his voice to the movement, dedicating his song “Silent Cry” to the campaign in the hopes that it will inspire his peers to unite in defense of the unborn and support of women facing unplanned or difficult pregnancies. Pierre, a student at the University of Central Florida, leads worship at Harvest Bible Chapel in Orlando, which draws more than 900 attendees each week.

“My generation is being scarred by the abortion epidemic, and it’s time for us to stand up for ourselves and those who cannot defend themselves and realize there is a better way,” said Pierre. “’Silent Cry’ is about taking a minute to stop and take note of the tragic effects abortion can have – not just in terms of lives lost, but the scarring effect abortion can have on mothers who often struggle with their impossible decision in silence.”

“We have a responsibility, regardless of our age, gender, education, social status, church, or any other factor, to stand up in defense of those who cannot defend themselves,” Pierre said. “I’m blessed to have the song be part of the Hear the Silent Cry movement and to help get this important message out.”

Pierre will perform the song at the 2012 Students for Life Conference in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, January 22. On the morning of the March for Life, Monday, January 23, Pierre will perform at a youth rally at Paul VI Catholic High School outside D.C. in Virginia. That afternoon, following the March for Life, he will perform at the Students for Life / Rock for Life Youth Rally in Lower Senate Park near the U.S. Capitol. The sanctity of life events are held annually in remembrance of the more than 50 million babies lost to abortion since the Supreme Court issues its Jan. 22, 1973, Roe v. Wade ruling, which made abortion legal. The song is available as a free download at www.hearthesilentcry.org.

Although cinematic history already boasts a strong lineage of underdogs who defy colossal odds to save Christmas, there’s certainly always room for another. This year’s unlikely big-screen holiday hero is Arthur, the product of a comically dysfunctional family who assumes an urgent mission after becoming privy to Santa’s ultra-high-tech present-delivery operation beneath the North Pole.

Propeller is partnering with Sony Pictures to raise awareness for animated feature film Arthur Christmas, releasing nation wide November 23rd. ”This is a terrifically entertaining film that families are going to love,” says Propeller CEO Dan Merrell. “It’s a heartfelt message on the value of every single child in the world and how family — Santa’s family, in this case — can pull together and accomplish the impossible.”

Working alongside Sony, Propeller has taken on a variety of roles to market the film to faith-based audiences, including executing a PR strategy with entertainment firm Rogers & Cowan, promote through Christian radio and pitch for review on faith-centric movie web sites. Additionally, Propeller will enlist mommy bloggers to spread the word and alert the movie-going databases of Christian family organizations aligned with the campaign.

The faith-based marketing launch for Arthur Christmas, comes at the heels of a similar, successful campaign with Sony Pictures for 2010’s Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs. Featured on Arthur Christmas are the voice talents of James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Billy Nighy and Imelda Staunton.

Six weeks following the opening of Sherwood Films’ COURAGEOUS, the film continues to experience tremendous success at the box office.

COURAGEOUS premiered September 30th on 1,200 screens, garnering $9 million in revenue and one million viewers. It finished opening weekend as the #4 movie in the country; though, considering it opened against films showing on nearly three times as many screens, COURAGEOUS’ per-screen average of $7,752 almost doubled its closest competitors.  Sherwood’s previous effort FIREPROOF earned nearly $7 million on opening weekend.

Even before the film’s completion, Propeller began engaging national ministry partners throughout the United States – setting up partnerships for grassroots promotion, holding private screenings and working with ministry and police leaders to develop teaching curricula relevant to the film’s central theme of men upholding their responsibilities as leaders to their families.

In addition, the film, based on the lives, trials and conquests of four small-town police officers and their role as fathers, has received critical praise from major entertainment press outlets including TIME and Box Office Mojo. Variety magazine responded to COURAGEOUS by saying, “Time and again, the pic effectively emphasizes how the deputies are reminded on a daily basis what eventually can happen to at-risk children who don’t have fathers involved in their lives. Little wonder, then, that they’re moved to ask God’s help to hone their own paternal skills.”

After six weeks in theaters, COURAGEOUS has grossed over $31-million in total box-office revenue.

Abingdon Press, Baker Publishing Group, EMI CMG Distribution, Provident Distribution, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Tyndale House Publishers, Word Distribution and Zondervan have partnered with World Vision to create an enhanced CD compilation to generate awareness of, and help fight world hunger.

The Feed the Flock Enhanced CD which will only be sold in Christian retail stores participating in Christian Store Week will be available Saturday, October 1, 2011 – Monday, October 10, 2011 for just five dollars.  Its purpose is to heighten awareness and educate consumers about the effects of hunger and how each person can make a difference.

Participating artists include Francesca Battistelli, Brandon Bee, Group 1 Crew, Kutless, Dara Maclean, Nichole Nordeman and Amy Grant, Robert Pierre, Sanctus Real and Holly Starr.  The CD also features enhanced material that includes portions of the a video and participants’ guide from “Stuck” by Jennie Allen and books by Randy Frazee, Kyle Idleman, Mark Mittelberg and Mike Slaughter.

This exclusive Feed the Flock Enhanced CD is dedicated to World Vision’s efforts in feeding hungry children globally and in the United States, and all have participated pro-bono in order that a one-time donation earmarked for World Vision food aid programs may be made on behalf of the Christian retail community.

World Vision is a Christian relief, development, and advocacy organization working in nearly 100 countries and dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.

For more information on World Vision go to: www.worldvision.org.

For more information on Christian Store Week visit: www.christianstoreweek.com

Propeller has been prepping for a big August at retail with the nationwide home video releases of two Provident Films: Soul Surfer: The Incredible True Story of Bethany Hamilton and The Grace Card.  Following a very successful box-office run this past Spring, Soul Surfer released on DVD/Blu-Ray August 2. The Grace Card DVD hits stores August 16.Propeller is overseeing the retail marketing displays that will appear in Christian stores nationwide.  For Soul Surfer, you’ll find the new release of the DVDs and correlating product from Zondervan, Thomas Nelson, Outreach and Regal/Gospel Light all in one place.

Throughout six straight weeks, Soul Surfer rode an incredible wave in movie theaters across the country, finishing in the top 5 twice and in the top 10 four more weeks. On opening day, the film was a worldwide trending topic on Twitter. It’s a film that touched lives and had audiences cheering for the true story of Bethany Hamilton, a young surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack, yet courageously overcame all odds to become a champion through sheer determination and unwavering faith.

The Grace Card, starring Academy Award-winning Louis Gosset Jr., Michael Joiner and Michael Higgenbottom, opened in theaters last February and was endorsed by Dove Foundation CEO Dick Rolfe as a well-crafted film “with a powerful message of redemption and forgiveness.” The story follows Mac McDonald, a police officer embattled by nearly two decades of bitterness and pain after the loss of his son in an accident. Ultimately, Mac comes to a place of rebuilding relationships and healing deep wounds by extending and receiving God’s grace.

For more information, visit www.soulsurferthemovie.com and www.gracecardmovie.com.