Denver billionaire backs films with moral message

Biblical epics such as "The Ten Commandments" used to be top box-office hits. But in recent years, films about the Bible have been harder to find at the multiplex.

Yet those are the key components of a new major motion picture, "Joshua." The movie opened Friday in Colorado Springs and other selected cities.

The film and the company behind it have a strong Colorado tie: Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz is bankrolling new entertainment businesses he hopes will bring positive, family-friendly movies to the big screen.

The Anschutz name is well-known for ranking high on lists of the world's wealthiest people. Less well-known is the fact that Anschutz is a committed Christian who believes in the power of film.

"Joshua," a $9 million drama, is released by Epiphany Films, the "faith-based" division of Anschutz's 2-year-old Beverly Hills, Calif.-based Crusader Entertainment.

His other company, New York-based Walden Media, plans a 2004 release for "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," based on the beloved book in the "Chronicles of Narnia" series.

"Joshua" is based on the best-selling book of the same name by retired Catholic priest Joseph Girzone. It explores the question: "What would Jesus do if he were here today?"

Most Crusader projects won't feature such an explicit religious message, but all will emphasize positive, family-friendly fare.

The company's second project, due out this summer, is "Children on Their Birthdays," a World War II-era drama based on a Truman Capote story about two 12-year-old boys who have a crush on the same girl.

And this fall, the company plans to release "Swimming Upstream," a drama starring Academy Award-winning actor Geoffrey Rush as Australian Olympic swimmer Tony Fingleton, who triumphs over his father's temper tantrums and alcoholism.

"We're ramping up pretty rapidly," says Bob Beltz, a former Denver pastor who serves as a consultant and spokesman for Anschutz.

Anschutz is intensely private and declined to be interviewed for this story. His Denver-based Anschutz Corp. declined to provide information about the company or Anschutz.

"Mr. Anschutz believes that the media are perhaps the most powerful force in shaping culture today," says Beltz. "Historically, we've been bombarded with negative entertainment, and this has created a toxic culture.

"But he believes he has been provided with an opportunity for film to be used in a positive way."

Last year, more than half the films made in America were R-rated, said Beltz, citing figures compiled by Movieguide, a Christian film publication. But 17 of the 20 top-grossing films were rated G, PG or PG-13, he said.

"These are the most profitable films, and there's an opportunity here to do good and to make money doing it."

Published profiles say Anschutz was born in Kansas in 1939, took over his family's ailing oil business when he was 20 and created successful businesses in gas exploration, railroads and sports franchises, including the Los Angeles Kings hockey team.

Denver-based Qwest Communications, founded by Anschutz in 1993 and now America's third-largest long-distance provider, has been less profitable. The firm's stock value has taken such a beating that Anschutz's ranking on Forbes magazine's annual listing of the world's wealthiest people fell from 16 in 2000 to 54 in 2001. Forbes estimated Anschutz's 2001 net worth at $5.1 billion.

Making movies isn't Anschutz's only cinematic venture. His Regal Entertainment Group has purchased three bankrupt theater chains and now owns 17 percent of the nation's movie theater seats.

Yet Anschutz isn't a typical movie mogul. He's from Colorado - not the media capitals of Los Angeles or New York - and he's a major Republican donor said to be on friendly terms with President George Bush. He's a member of Denver's Cherry Hills Community Church, an evangelical megachurch co-founded by Beltz.

Some members of the Hollywood news media corps have greeted Anchutz's full-fledged entry into the movie business with alarm, in part because of his support for Amendment 2, the controversial gay rights-limitation measure approved by Colorado voters in 1992 but later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Anschutz gave $10,000 to Colorado for Family Values, the group that sponsored Amendment 2, in the final week before Election Day, making him the largest contributor during that crucial period. (During a similar period, entertainment executive David Geffen gave $20,000 to those fighting Amendment 2.)

Beltz says Anschutz is a "mainstream Christian" who has no plans to take over Hollywood or impose his values on others. "He is sometimes portrayed as a raving fundamentalist, but that couldn't be further from the truth."

Beltz says Anschutz was raised Methodist and made "a significant recommitment to the faith of his childhood" in the 1980s while Beltz was a pastor at Cherry Hills.

"He is a solid, mainline, committed believer in Jesus who is not out to convert Hollywood. He just wants to use film as a positive influence in culture."

Anschutz is gambling that his vision for moral, family-friendly movies will catch on with moviegoers.

"When we started doing this two years ago, the environment in Hollywood was not extremely receptive, but since (Sept. 11) there has been a major shift," Beltz said. "At the moment, we feel like we're in the right place at the right time."

Pope: Priests Must Stay Celibate
Sat Apr 20, 3:14 PM ET

By NICOLE WINFIELD, Associated Press Writer

VATICAN CITY (AP) - In a strong message days before a summit of U.S. churchmen on a sex abuse scandal, Pope John Paul (news - web sites) II said Saturday that priests must live celibate lives and avoid scandalous behavior. Bishops, he said, must investigate such behavior and take action to end it.

Photos

AP Photo

In comments to Nigerian bishops, the pope didn't directly refer to the scandal rocking the American Church. But the timing of his message appeared to be a clear signal of his position going into the summit and a firm policy statement that he doesn't tolerate the type of behavior shown by some American churchmen.

The scandals, in which several churchmen have been accused of abusing children and teen-agers, have shaken confidence in the American Church, cost it millions of dollars in settlements and raised questions about bishops' mishandling of the investigations.

The pope summoned American cardinals to a summit Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss the matter — an extraordinary measure that has underscored the urgency that the Vatican (news - web sites) now appears to feel is necessary to deal with the issue.

In his comments to the Nigerians, the pope didn't refer to sex offenders or pedophilia, focusing on the broader issue of the need for priests to live a life of poverty and celibacy.

The Vatican has spoken out about problems in the African Church of priests breaking their vow of celibacy and having relations with women.

"The value of celibacy as a complete gift of self to the Lord and his Church must be carefully safeguarded," John Paul told the Nigerians.

"Behavior which might give scandal must be carefully avoided, and you yourselves must diligently investigate accusations of any such behavior, taking firm steps to correct it where it is found to exist," he said.

John Paul's comments Saturday were his most extensive remarks about celibacy since the revelations of sex abuse began pouring out in the United States earlier this year. He broke his long silence in a pre-Easter letter to priests last month, decrying the scandal caused by some.

In the meetings this week, the cardinals will be looking to the Vatican for guidance and backing on a wide range of issues, foremost among them whether the church should ever consider reassigning sex offenders and creating a uniform American policy for reporting abuse claims to police.

In the United States, the Church is accused of covering up misconduct by priests, in some cases by moving known abusers from job to job.

Cardinal Bernard Law, head of the Boston archdiocese, has faced growing criticism since acknowledging he transferred a priest to another parish despite knowing of sexual misconduct allegations against the man. That defrocked priest later was sentenced to prison.

More from > World - AP Europe
Next Story:		Russia Bars Bishop From Diocese Sat Apr 20, 5:38 PM ET - (AP)

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1 posted on 4/20/02 7:14 PM Eastern by Notwithstanding
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... found a related article on the General Interest thread posts ...

Hell Freezes Over Again -- Eagles Tour, But They Won't Play New York (my title)
Variety

An excerpt ...

"The event will be presented by Anschutz Entertainment Group's Concerts West division. The deal represents a major coup for the underdog concert promoter, which has been fighting an uphill battle for business against industry behemoth Clear Channel Entertainment.

The Eagles pact follows Concert West's earlier success in wooing teen queen Britney Spears' upcoming national tour. Meanwhile, Clear Channel has struggled in recent months with sales declines amid a tough economic backdrop, resulting in the ouster of co-chiefs of music Rodney Eckerman and Irv Zuckerman earlier this week."

Interesting to see this billionaire is an 'active force'.

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