New Fox Unit to Produce Christian Films (LA TImes)
The company that brought TV viewers racy and irreverent programs such as "Nip/Tuck," "Temptation Island" and "The Simpsons" has found religion.
In the biggest commitment of its sort by a Hollywood studio, News Corp.'s Fox Filmed Entertainment is expected to unveil plans today to capture the gargantuan Christian audience that made "The Passion of the Christ" a global phenomenon.
The home entertainment division of Rupert Murdoch's movie studio plans to produce as many as a dozen films a year under a banner called FoxFaith. At least six of those films will be released in theaters under an agreement with two of the nation's largest chains, AMC Theatres and Carmike Cinemas.
The first theatrical release, called "Love's Abiding Joy," is scheduled to hit the big screen Oct. 6. The movie, which cost about $2 million to make, is based on the fourth installment of Christian novelist Janette Oke's popular series, "Love Comes Softly."
"A segment of the market is starving for this type of content," said Simon Swart, general manager of Fox's U.S. home entertainment unit.
[...]
Fox might seem an unlikely studio to pioneer a religious label, given its history as a purveyor of salacious TV programming. Yet people in the Christian community say the company has gained credibility as the voice for conservative America through its Fox News Channel. (read more)
Technorati Tags: evangelicalism+film, Film, Jesus+Film, Fox, FoxFaith
I personally would like to see their FoxFaith version of the O.C.
Do you think this decision might be $$$$$ based?
Posted by: Matthew D | September 20, 2006 at 08:41 AM
...every corporate decision is $$$ based.
Posted by: shawn | September 20, 2006 at 03:01 PM
Rupert Murdoch...case closed.
I would LOVE a Christian version of the OC coach...perhaps I could play the witty fat kid in it?
Posted by: Kevin Cawley | September 20, 2006 at 04:26 PM