Two years ago, Sherwood Pictures and Provident Films released “Facing the Giants,” a movie about how a high school football team discovers that with God, nothing is impossible. Produced by a church on a “shoestring” budget, “Facing the Giants” became the surprise hit of the year, touching the hearts of more than 1.5 million people in theaters nationwide. In 2007, the film came out on DVD and was the best-selling entertainment product (DVD or CD) in Christian stores for the entire year.
With a budget five times larger than that of “Facing the Giants” – though still tiny by Holly¬wood standards – “Fireproof” is aiming to build upon the momentum from the first two films and spread its pro-marriage message at a time when it’s desperately needed.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease and Control, the marriage rate in 2005 was 7.5 per 1,000 total population while the divorce rate was 3.6 per 1,000 population.
And, more recently, a poll by Gallup’s 2008 Values and Beliefs survey earlier this year found that an alarming 70 percent of Americans now believe that divorce is “morally acceptable.” The latest figure – the highest on record – represents an 11 percent increase from just 7 years ago and a 3 percent increase from 2 years ago.
The acceptability of divorce among Americans was ranked higher than all of the other 16 ethical issues surveyed – including the death penalty, gambling, pre-marital sex, homosexuality, abortion and medical research on animals.
Knowing this, pro-family groups have been rallying behind “Fireproof,” especially in mobilizing people to watch the film on the opening weekend.
“Opening Weekend is the key to any movie's success,” the film’s promoters stated in the “Fireproof” website, FireproofTheMovie.com. “If a movie does well on Opening Weekend, it plays longer in the theaters where it opens and expands into other cities.”
And all around the country, “Fireproof” supporters are helping ensure a high-impact opening weekend. “Action Squads” have been forming to purchase show times in communities where the movie is opening. In towns where it's not scheduled to open, the Action Squads are purchasing enough tickets in advance to bring it there to open.
In the Gulf Coast area of Mississippi, for example, Hilton and Rebecca Glass are working with churches and businesses in four counties to come together to purchase 5,000 tickets, film promoters reported late last month.
“Their goal is that every firefighter, police officer, and emergency responder in those counties will be able to see ‘Fireproof’ on opening weekend with their spouse or date,” they added.
Meanwhile, in Chattanooga, Tenn., Action Squads all over the city are buying out show times for the opening weekend and St. John United Methodist Church, which is starting a sermon series about relationships on Sept. 7, is selling their Action Squad Show Time tickets to church members at a reduced rate and providing couples with as many tickets as they are willing to use as an outreach tool with their unchurched friends. St. John’s is also planning to offer childcare at the church so that the parents can have a date night at the movies.
In an interview with MovieGuide last month, Alex Kendrick, who produced "Fireproof" while his brother directed it, said over 50 marriage ministries are supporting the movie.
Culture
'Fireproof' Supporters Mobilize Moviegoers for High-Impact Opening
Posted: Friday, 29 August 2008, 8:43 (EST)
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