Saturday, February 23, 2008

"The Passion of the Christ" Producer on "Life On the Rock" this week

Steve McEveety, producer of many of Mel Gibson's films including "Braveheart", "We Were Soldiers",, and "The Passion" was interviewed Thursday on EWTN's youth show, "Life on the Rock". You can view it online or see the encore presentation at 11PM this Sunday evening 2/24.
He discussed how his faith was renewed by producing "The Passion" and how this has led to his work in promoting good films, such as "Bella" for whom he acted as Executive Producer, and the formation of his own company MPower Media. MPower has two branches, one which is working on a powerful new technology which will remove all sexual content from your TV shows, commercials including. Imagine that! What a boon for weary Catholic parents who are afraid to let even our teenagers handle a TV remote!
He says it will be a couple more years until it's available, but I can't wait to sign up. Of course, there won't be much left to watch on TV after the sexual content is gone, but I know my favorite shows will make the cut!
The other branch of McEveety's company will be producing films which may not be expilicitly religious in nature, but will promote good moral values, like "Bella". One of the films his company is promoting in conjunction with Focus on the Family is called, " The Star of Bethlehem". McEveety says, "it's a good film for Easter". I will review it here.
Another project will be a feature film based on the bestselling book, "Left to Tell" by Rwandan refugee, Imaculee Ilibizaga. Imaculee, a Tutsi, spent three months hiding from Hutu neighbors who, because of the genocide sweeping the nation, sought her to kill her. She hid in the bathroom of a Hutu neighbor, a Protestant Pastor, with seven other women, with only her rosary to keep her from going crazy. It's a story akin to "The Diary of Anne Frank" and has the spiritual impact of "The Hiding Place". I will make certain to keep readers informed when this powerful story is portrayed on film. My girls (14 and 10) were completely mesmerized by "Hotel Rwanda" which has no real spiritual component, though the love of the main character for his family was central to the story. I was initially afraid to let them watch it for fear of the frightening themes, but this experience has shown me that young people have to see films which show them the power of love and faith in difficult situations. Gabbi, 14 was deeply impacted by Corrie' Ten Boom's book, "The Hiding Place, and I remember reading at a tender age, "The Passing of the Night" by Col. Robinson Risner about his years in the Hanoi Hilton, a notorious Viet Cong Prison. I will never forget his 'Sunday service' where one prisoner whistled the "Ave Maria" for his fellow prisoners in solitary. I have often wondered since then if I could survive such an ordeal. It makes me appreciate and use my religious freedom before it's taken away
These stories, like those of the martyrs make great drama and sterling examples for our children when told properly, and Steve McEveety has proven himself worthy to produce the best in moral, Christian films.

1 comment:

Kerry said...

There is another great movie about the genocide in Rwanda that was made by Africans: "Sometimes in April". It is not one you can watch with the children (at least you'd want to preview it before hand to see what your kids could handle) as many of the atrocities are dealt with frankly.

I particularly like it because it was very honest about the conflicting loyalties many Africans faced. They wanted to help their fellow Rwandans, but also wanted to save their own families.

There is a little mention of faith (at a Catholic Girls' School) and it is portrayed very positively as the girls and one of the teachers make a united stand against the marauders.

I've seen it on HBO in the past month or so. I'm sure you can find it on video, too.

It REALLY is worth watching. I thought it was far better than "Hotel Rwanda", which I loved.