The Genesis Initiative

A new company in Hollywood, dedicated to providing authentic Catholic films is always good news. The Genesis Initiative states in its mission statement:
The Genesis Initiative’s purpose is to ensure that great movies, reflecting great Catholic stories and themes, are properly produced as magnificent works of art so we can re-establish a Catholic presence in the culture for future generations.

The Genesis Initiative has some ambitious projects in mind; feature length films on Our Lady of Fatima, Blessed Father Junipero Serra, and 16 Carmelite Nuns who died trying to quell the violence of the reign of terror in 16th Century Spain. These are stories of courage and miracles which should be told, and if they are done well, may be quite successful.

Take a look at their website and see if you can support their work.

"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.