Filmmakers Answer James Dobson's Call for a New Generation of Christian Leaders
by Staff
March 25, 2008
(christiansunite.com) -- Advent Film Group (AFG), founded to rebuild culture for Christ in cinema, heeds Dr. James Dobson's call for a new generation of Christian leaders "to carry the banner when this generation of leaders is gone," Dobson told an audience of nearly 1,400 at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) convention. "The question is, will the younger generation heed the call? Who will defend the unborn child in the years to come?"AFG's first film answers Dobson's appeal directly and immediately. Advent is training a new generation of Christian filmmakers, drawn from the homeschooling community nationwide, to make socially relevant stories with moral integrity and fidelity to a Biblical worldview. AFG recently completed "Come What May," the story of two Patrick Henry College (PHC) students who battle to overturn Roe v. Wade at the National Moot Court Championship. This film should inspire hope and herald new leadership when the audience sees exactly how Roe can be overturned. Advent's new movie features Dr. Michael Farris, the real-life founder and Chancellor of PHC playing the role of "debate coach." Patrick Henry College is a true-to- life national powerhouse in debate and moot court competition. (www.phc.edu/news/docs/20080131Media.asp)
Advent's filmmakers are charged to go beyond the film industry's "fuzzy faith-based" movies by tackling tough moral and social issues head-on. AFG also seeks to address the distressing lack of qualified Christian filmmakers needed to fill key positions as directors of big-budget movies. Case in point: "Amazing Grace" and "The Chronicles of Narnia," two successful Christian-themed movies, were both directed by secular filmmakers. "Though legions of Christians work in the industry, apparently none could be entrusted to direct major motion pictures," Escobar observes.
A born again believer and homeschooling dad, Escobar is a former American Film Institute Producing Fellow and recent VP of Product Development for Discovery and Executive Director for AOL Video.
Advent is attracting wide attention because of its homeschool roots and Hollywood-insider savvy. "We have a powerful new model that combines digital filmmaking, homeschool student leadership training, social relevancy, and Web 2.0 marketing. We are providing a fresh alternative to Hollywood fare. "Homeschoolers have already successfully turned the public education monopoly upside down; we will now do the same in cinema."
About AFG
Advent Film Group was founded by Christian filmmakers to champion the mission and vision of Patrick Henry College and other like-minded organizations to shape our culture through media. See the movie trailer at www.adventfilmgroup.com.
