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END-TIMES THRILLER'S TV ADS DROPPED
Television ads promoting tonight's opening of "Megiddo," the apocalyptic drama financed by the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), were dropped after viewers complained they were in bad taste.

Some people said they were offended by the way photographs from last week's terrorist attacks were shown along with footage from the biblically themed film, which tells of an end-times battle between good and evil, said associate producer Stephen Blinn. TBN dropped the segment earlier this week. Blinn said the ad had not been intended to capitalize on the tragedy but to offer people a message of hope, "and say, 'Here is something available that can help a lot of people.'"

Producers scrapped Tuesday's planned gala premiere. But they decided to go ahead with this weekend's scheduled release - even as other Hollywood releases were delayed for concern their content was inappropriate - after being encouraged by church leaders that "Megiddo" could provide comfort. Co-producer Dave McQuade said that some theater chains who had initially considered dropping "Megiddo" because of its violent content had decided to go ahead with it after seeing it. The film is due to open on around 350 screens.

Reproduced with permission from Charisma News Service

END-TIMES THRILLER PREMIERE CANCELLED
Tonight's Hollywood premiere of "Megiddo," the follow-up to the successful end-times thriller "The Omega Code," has been cancelled. Producers Gener8xion Entertainment said the decision had been made to "honor the victims and our nation during this time of grieving."

However, Friday's nationwide release is going ahead - although on what is expected to be a reduced scale. The film is likely to open on considerably less than the 400-plus screens that had been anticipated, as at least two theater chains are thinking about dropping the apocalyptic movie because of its violent content.

In a statement at the "Megiddo" Web site, producer Matt Crouch said the decision to go ahead with the release had been made after prayer and consultation with pastors. "The overwhelming consensus is that we are releasing a movie containing an answer to the question that we did not even know would be asked."

Replacing tonight's premiere will be a memorial broadcast on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, where Crouch served as a vice president before establishing his own production company. Jack Hayford, Robert Schuller and Rod Parsley are among the leaders who will speak about last week's attacks.

Crouch said that "Megiddo" "offers the hope of an ultimate triumph over all acts of evil and presents a future without sorrow, fear or pain...Who could have foreseen that it would be a motion picture that rallies the resiliency and determination of the American people in the midst of catastrophe?"

Reproduced with permission from Charisma News Service

'HARDBALL' COURT MOVE STRUCK OUT BY JUDGE
A man who pioneered a Chicago inner-city ministry yesterday lost his bid to block the release of a new Keanu Reeves movie that he claims misrepresents him as a drunk who bullies foul-mouthed youths. U.S. District Judge Charles Kocoras ruled against Bob Muzikowski, who argued that ''Hardball'' -- set to open in previews tomorrow and in theaters nationwide Sept. 14 -- is clearly based on him and is filled with lies, "The Chicago Sun-Times" reported.

'Look, I'm not Roger Ebert, up here to tell you what I think of this movie,'' Kocoras said. Muzikowski, a Little League coach, was unhappy with Reeves' character's drinking, noting that he once had a drinking problem, but hasn't touched liquor in 17 years and never did when coaching kids. A successful businessman, Muzikowski also maintained that the real-life Little Leaguers pray before games, and they don't curse.

A lawyer for the film's studio, Paramount Pictures, called "Hardball'' a "sweet movie'' and said the Little League coach played by Reeves -- who is also a compulsive gambler and ticket scalper -- isn't Muzikowski, the "Sun-Times" reported. ''If it's not a true story, why are they filming on my block?'' asked Muzikowski, who was featured in "Hardball: A Season in the Projects," a 1994 book about a Chicago Little League.

END-TIMES THRILLER IS A ‘TRACT’ FOR CHRISTIANS
The makers of “The Omega Code,” the Christian end-times thriller that took Hollywood by surprise two years ago with its unexpectedly large audience, are out to prove that they are not one-hit wonders. Producer Matt Crouch wants Christians to turn out in force to support “Megiddo,” the sequel that opens on 450 theaters next month.

“This is a ministry project,” he said. “On Sept. 21, I hand this project over to the body of Christ and say, ‘Now it’s yours. I built you a tract and put it in a neutral location. Invite someone.’”

At a cost of $20 million, “Megiddo” is one of the most technologically advanced Christians films ever made, boasting more visually enhanced scenes than the mainstream blockbuster “Pearl Harbor.” Its visual and special effects budgets alone is larger than the entire “Omega Code” budget.

Crouch’s Gener8xion Entertainment production company is based near Universal Studios in California, where a decade ago thousands gathered to protest the controversial film “The Last Temptation of Christ.” But Crouch does not believe that approach will have lasting impact on the filmmaking world.

“Hollywood doesn’t care if you protest. It’s a business, and unless you operate in the influence of their system, they don’t hear you. Don’t write another letter — go buy a ticket [to “Megiddo”],” he said. “Whether you like the picture or not, support it. It’s biblically sound. If we buy tickets, we get heard by Hollywood.”

Reproduced with permission from Charisma News Service

MOVIE STUDIO MAKES FAMILY-FRIENDLY CUTS
A movie company has cut a deal with a family watchdog group to release censored versions of its movies. New Line Cinema, a subsidiary of Warner Bros., is sending edited video releases -- minus profanity, violence and sex -- to The Dove Foundation for a family-friendly seal of approval.

Dick Rolfe, an Assemblies of God layman who heads the Michigan-based group, told "The Washington Post" that the first video released under the agreement, Jim Carrey's "The Mask," did "very well, considering the little promotion put behind it." "Lost in Space," "The Bachelor" and "Blast From the Past" have also had the decency scissors taken to them, and Rolfe hopes other studios will follow suit.

He rejected arguments that editing movies challenged artistic integrity, pointing out that NBC paid $30 million to show "Titanic" on television knowing full well that the film's nude scene would be trimmed. "It seems to me that creative integrity is easily compromised in Hollywood if the dollars are there," he told the "Post."

New Line continues to release unedited versions of its films, too. Although studies have largely resisted the idea of tamer video releases, they have routinely approved edited films for television and in-flight screenings.

Reproduced with permission from Charisma News Service

DISNEY TAKES OVER '700 CLUB' IN UNLIKELY DEAL
The Christian Broadcasting Network's (CBN) "700 Club" program has a new home with Walt Disney - whose welcoming of "Gay Days" celebrants at its Orlando, Fla., theme park has in the past been criticized by CBN founder Pat Robertson.

The unlikely arrangement follows Disney's $5.3 billion purchase of the Fox Family Channel, which it is turning into ABC Family, "The Washington Post" reported yesterday. Disney inherited the agreement to continue to broadcast the "700 Club" and other CBN shows from Fox, which made the deal when it bought the Family Channel from CBN in 1997.

Disney chairman Michael Eisner said that CBN founder Pat Robertson had "never been in the group that's criticized us for our policies about insurance to all employees," referring to Disney's same-sex partners' coverage. Nor had he ever talked with Robertson about "problems" at Disney film production divisions or at ABC, he said.

But, the "Post" reported, Eisner "forgot" that Robertson had been a signatory to a full-page trade paper ad attacking the Disney-produced sitcom "Ellen" for its homosexual character, and once warned that Orlando would be visited by earthquakes and terrorist bombs because Disney World hosted a "Gay Days" event. According to the Associated Press, Eisner said that he spoke last weekend with Robertson, who said that he supported the transaction. "He believes that Disney and what we stand for is not inconsistent with what he stands for."

Reproduced with permission from Charisma News Service

Inner-City Ministry Angered by Hollywood Treatment
Man who inspired Keanu Reeves movie criticizes forthcoming feature

A remarkable inner-city ministry has been given a Hollywood makeover -- and the man whose life story forms the basis for a forthcoming Keanu Reeves movie is very unhappy about it. Bob Muzikowski has even considered a lawsuit against the makers of "Hardball," due out in September.

While the drama about an inner-city Little League program has a disclaimer at the end saying it is a work of fiction, Muzikowski maintains that it draws largely from a 1994 book about his work in some of Chicago's poorest neighborhoods.

Near West Little League -- the largest inner-city baseball program in the country, which Muzikowski helped found -- has run for 12 years and was recognized by President George Bush Sr. with one of his "Points of Light" awards. Muzikowski is furious that "Hardball" features a lot of bad language from the young black characters, reinforcing racial stereotypes.

"You never see the white kids in 'Bad News Bears' or 'Mighty Ducks' using this language," said the man profiled in the book "Hardball: A season in the Projects." "I have never been cursed out once. None of the coaches have been addressed like this. These kids are unbelievably respectful to their coaches."

Muzikowski also is troubled that the movie shows white coaches mistreating black children. "Right now all the gangbangers like us," he said. "They're saying, 'Hey coach, how you doin?' But put out a movie that shows a white, drunk coach hitting a black kid in a Little League uniform? Give me a flak jacket. Thanks, Hollywood."

Having battled substance abuse and served prison time before giving his life to Christ, Muzikowski now says: "I knew Satan so intimately myself I can spot him a mile away out here." He carries over a no-nonsense approach to ministry from his tough background and is critical of most Christians' avoidance of the inner cities.

"It's a stain on American Christianity," he said. "Despite what the Bible says, we tend to flock in groups and go where it's safest and best for us. That's really the antithesis of what Christ did for us when He chose to come down to earth." Muzikowski has even turned away groups that wanted to visit with an evangelistic program.

"If you're not going to stay for the whole summer, don't come," he said. "That sounds harsh, but I've seen kids pray to receive Christ on Friday who will blow your head off Monday. You have to disciple them. If you don't have any intention of being open to a long-term relationship, don't do it. Discipleship is a long process. It takes time."

In addition to running the league, Muzikowski is trying to start a Christian school. Most of his ministry funding comes from local businessmen, but he believes in using federal funds being made available to faith-based programs, too. "We should accept the money if there aren't any real strings attached. The most effective, long-term, positive, life-changing works being done in the inner city nationally are faith-based and Christ-based. Almost everything that's effective is faith-based. To ignore that is ridiculous."

The full story of Bob Muzikowski's ministry is told in the July/August 2001 issue of "New Man" magazine.

Reproduced with permission from Charisma News Service

"Beverly Hills Cop" Actor Finds God
Seeking a date, he finds God instead
Actor Judge Reinhold admits he was only interested in going to church because he wanted to date a woman he met on a movie set about five years ago. She told the actor, known for his goofy onscreen role, that she only went out with men who shared her Christian faith.
"I said, `OK, what do I have to do,'" Reinhold recently told the Hope Community Church congregation in Fort Worth, Texas, "The Fort Worth Star-Telegram" reported. "I wasn't on some burning spiritual quest here."
But Reinhold was soon on his way as the gospel shattered his childhood perception of Christianity as a religion of money-hungry televangelists. The son of a devout Catholic mother, Reinhold discovered that the Bible was a manual for life and not a book to judge others. He accepted Jesus as his savior shortly afterward, the "Star-Telegram" reported. "I had an undeniable encounter with God," said Reinhold, who has occasionally spoken in churches since his conversion. "I couldn't believe it. It was like a spigot of water just poured onto my heart ... just pure love."
Reinhold's life previously was pure Hollywood fantasy. After starring in box office hits such as "Animal House," "Stripes," "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and the "Beverly Hills Cop" trilogy, Reinhold became obsessed with getting all the movies, money and women he could. Instead, he became an alcoholic and a drug user.
Since his conversion, however, Reinhold has turned down roles that go against his newfound faith. His current project is about Bill Tomes, a missionary who brought peace between gangs in Chicago's housing projects, the "Star-Telegram" reported.

Reproduced with permission from Charisma News Service

'Left Behind' Moviemaker Attacks Lawsuit Motives of Co-Author
The litigation is 'about the money,' producer says
Filmmaker Peter Lalonde has fired the latest round in an increasingly acrimonious war of words that has soured some of the runaway success of the "Left Behind" evangelistic thriller series. The Canada-based producer who made the movie version of the first of the multimillion-selling rapture novels has attacked co-author Tim LaHaye's motives in suing over the film.

In a lengthy press release issued last week, Lalonde said that while LaHaye claimed to have taken action because production agreements had not been honored, and he was disappointed at the movie's spiritual content, it seemed that "despite his protestations to the contrary, it is about the money."

In the five-page statement Lalonde said: "Perhaps we were wrong to hold our peace for so long, but the damage that is being done to Christian filmmaking is simply too great to stand back any longer." He said that LaHaye's "personal, malicious, win-at-any-cost attack" was "one of the ugliest acts I have seen one Christian commit against another." He was "shocked and saddened."

LaHaye's action is against Namesake Entertainment, with whom the movie deal was originally made, and Cloud Ten Pictures -- the company run by Lalonde and his brother, Paul, hired by Namesake to make "Left Behind: The Movie." The lawsuit claims that LaHaye was fraudulently induced to sign the contract, and that the original agreement was not honored. Writing partner Jerry Jenkins has chosen not to be part of the action on religious grounds.

The Cloud Ten statement said that a simple reading of the contract disproved LaHaye's allegations that a $40 million budget had been promised, and the agreement was limited to one movie. It also disclosed what it said was communication between LaHaye and his agent in which LaHaye threatened "WWIII" if rights to a video series of the spin-off children's series were not returned.

The statement said that there seemed to be evidence in court files "to demonstrate a nasty war being waged against both Namesake and Cloud Ten by LaHaye where the threats of a lawsuit, the undermining of investor confidence, and public attacks on the film were all used in an attempt to leverage the children's books from the producers." The dispute had caused "great harm to the inroads being made by Christian filmmakers in the high-stakes game of Hollywood filmmaking," it said.

The "Left Behind" series has been a publishing phenomenon, drawing mainstream media attention. But the movie version has seen mixed success. There was criticism of the decision to release it on video first last year -- when it sold almost 3 million copies. The plan was to generate Christian support for local theatrical releases last month, but the hoped-for audiences were not realized, and reviews were poor.

Christopher Rudd, LaHaye's attorney, dismissed the Cloud Ten statement as "a PR war... If they like to have their claims in the press rather the court, it's appropriate for readers to draw inferences [from that]." The move was an attempt to damage LaHaye's standing in the public eye and "cast him in negative light."

LaHaye was not motivated by money, and had made unsuccessful attempts to resolve the dispute without going to the courts -- where a trial date has yet to be set -- Rudd said. LaHaye was disappointed that the quality of the movie was not what he had hoped, Rudd added.

Reproduced with permission from Charisma News Service

'LEFT BEHIND' Sets Christian Movie Record
The weekend theatrical release of "Left Behind -- The Movie" had the best opening ever in the box office for an evangelical Christian movie.

The end-times thriller from Cloud Ten Pictures made about $2.6 million from moviegoers, the Associated Press (AP) reported. According to "Daily Variety," the previous record for a Christian film was set in 1999 by "The Omega Code," which opened at $2.4 million and eventually made $12.6 million for its domestic run.

In a reversal of typical marketing strategy, Cloud Ten released "Left Behind" to theaters after its home video debut last fall. Producers of "Left Behind" had hoped that the film would top the box office for its opening weekend, by having the film shown on at least 2,000 screens. It actually opened on 874 screens. The movie also has been financially hurt by overzealous churches that illegally showed the video version to their congregations. Meanwhile, the rapture thriller has garnered lukewarm reviews from the secular press.

Byron Jones, vice president of entertainment at Cloud Ten, said the movie didn't have a better opening at the box office because many of the theaters were too small to handle ticket demand. Jones said Cloud Ten hopes to add 200 venues by next weekend. "We were shooting for No. 1, but that's a combination of enough theaters and enough seats," he said. "It's strictly a numbers game, and we didn't have that. The competition for the screens is very tough right now."

Hollywood ‘Dumps Its Junk’
Don’t be surprised if you can’t find much you want to see at the cinema. Hollywood deliberately releases most of its controversial films during the first quarter of the year according to a Christian network that is urging prayer for an end to the tactic.

Studios unveil their “artistically junky…morally deficient films” in the early part of each year because they save their “quality” productions for the final quarter so they are eligible for nominations for an Academy Award, says Stephen Wistar in the latest Hollywood Prayer Digest. They know that if their film bags an Oscar they can re-release it and make more money, he adds.

One major studio told a Christian magazine it did not release any family films in the first three months of the year, concentrating instead on “films which appeal to young males.” They included the likes of the horror movie “Scream II,” which Wistar writes “may have contributed to as many as a dozen or more copycat murders in the [United States] in the late 1990s.”
He asks Christians to pray that God would “change the mindset of American producers. Let them produce films with content [that] glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ at any and every season of the year.”

Reproduced with permission from Charisma News Service

Churches Jumping the Gun on Evangelistic Movie Release
'Left Behind' screenings are illegal and unhelpful, makers say
Makers of the film version of a best-selling rapture thriller say numerous churches are costing the project thousands of dollars in lost profits by illegally showing the movie to their congregations.

"There's an FBI warning in front of the 'Left Behind' video that says 'not for public showing,' but everyone breezes by it," said Byron Jones, vice president of entertainment at Cloud Ten Pictures (CTP). "It's kind of like a stop sign. People drive right through it."
In an ambitious, trendsetting reversal of typical marketing strategies, the Canada-based company released "Left Behind: The Movie" on video first last October. The drama is based on the Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins' novels, which have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. The producers were hoping for millions of dedicated fans to create an unprecedented grassroots campaign, with local businesses, stores and churches signing up to sponsor the film's theatrical release on Feb. 2.

Jones said that 2.8 million copies of the video have been sold -- the most for an independent studio release in 2000. But the strategy has backfired somewhat. Some 80 churches nationwide have been contacted by CTP for illegally showing the film to their congregations. Jones said some churches "get very mad and upset" when told that the movie is an owned property and congregations are violating the law when they show it.

"We try to explain to them theaters will not give Cloud Ten screening rooms if it's being shown for free," he said. "TV networks will not broadcast it if it's being shown for free. We appreciate everyone's enthusiasm, but similarly a pastor would not lend out the church van for me to attend a company picnic to witness to my brother-in-law."

The controversy is the latest speed bump the movie has encountered. Late last year, the producers apologized to some Christian booksellers who were angry and disappointed that secular outlets were able to sell the video at highly discounted prices.

Bill Sharp, youth pastor at Romeo United Methodist Church in Romeo, Mich., said "Left Behind" has been shown twice there. The latest screening attracted 200 people, some traveling from as far as Detroit, 35 miles away. Sharp said that he did not remember reading the FBI warning on the video. He said that he had not been contacted by CTP.

"At the time we showed it, there was no intent to do anything illegal," he said. "It was done with good intentions. If we did something that we weren't supposed to do, then it's not right. By doing what we did, we probably helped the movie."

But Jones said the church showings have done an estimated financial damage in lost profits of more than $500,000. Moreover, the showings hinder the film's theatrical release. CTP had hoped to see "Left Behind" top the box office during its opening weekend, by releasing it on 2,500 screens nationwide. So far only 800 screens have been booked.

Jones said CTP has no plans to take legal action against the churches, despite inquiries from several law firms. "A Christian company like us will often forgive and forget," said Jones, the son of a Pentecostal pastor. "A secular company may not in the future."

Reproduced with permission from Charisma News Service

'JESUS' MOVIE AUDIENCE PASSES 4 BILLION MARK
More than 4 billion people have seen the "Jesus" film-though some of the massive aggregate audience is made up of repeat viewers.

Paul Eshleman, director of The "Jesus" Film Project, announced recently that the movie--regarded as the most translated film of all time--is currently available in 638 language versions and has been seen in 234 countries. A dramatized audio version of the film is available in 124 languages. Eshleman estimated that "through the current translations, 90 percent of the world -- approximately 5.6 billion people -- could listen right now to the 'Jesus' film in their mother tongue."

Despite its widespread distribution, the film still needs to be translated in languages of people who have never heard the gospel, Eshleman said. For example, the film is only available in 28 of Nigeria's 435 languages.

Technicians for the film's master studio in Orlando, Fla., finish a new translation of the movie on the average of every four days. Currently, 280 additional translations are in process. Eshleman hopes to see at least 100 more translations of the feature-length film completed during 2001. Produced 20 years ago by Campus Crusade for Christ, the evangelistic film of the life of Christ is based on Luke's gospel and ends with an invitation for the viewer to pray to become a Christian.

Reproduced with permission from Charisma News Service

'The Omega Code' Ranked Top Film of 1999 by 'Daily Variety'
"The Omega Code," the successful apocalyptic thriller funded by the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) that took Hollywood by surprise, was the No. 1 limited-release movie of 1999.

New Study Shows G-Rated Films Do Better at the Box Office
Americans want more wholesome films and less nudity and gratuitous sex and violence from Hollywood, says the Dove Foundation, a nonprofit educational organization based in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Chuck Norris - A Man of Faith "It is important to make your peace with Christ while the opportunity exists. Life is so fragile that you never know when it's going to be over. It could be over in the blink of an eye, and then it's too late to accept God's gift of salvation." New Man Magazine