Georgia Church Producing Third Film: Fireproof

Oct. 29, 2007

[Between the Lines]

Makers of Surpirse 2006 Hit, Facing the Giants, Now Tackle Marriage

ALBANY, Ga.-Oct. 29, 2007-Fireproof (www.fireproof themovie.com releasing fall 2008), the third film from Sherwood Pictures, makers of Facing the Giants, looks into Middle America to strike a universal nerve- this time not with football but marriage. "Fireman Caleb Holt will run into a burning building to save someone he doesn't know, while he watches his own marriage burn to the ground," said Alex Kendrick, co-writer and director of Fireproof. "While this fire captain successfully wrangles an energetic bunch of wise-cracking firefighters, he's losing hope about saving his marriage."

"Fireproof is not the absence of fire, but the ability to withstand it," said Stephen Kendrick, Alex's brother who is co-writer and producer. As week two of Fireproof production (www.fireproofthemovie.com) wraps, Sherwood Baptist Church looks as if it will again be "reaching the world from Albany, Georgia"-a claim that sounds glib only until you know that this church three hours south of Atlanta surprised Hollywood and circled the globe with Facing the Giants (www.facingthe giants.com).

"Marriage touches almost every life," says Michael Catt, senior pastor of Sherwood Church. "In my lifetime, the divorce rate has climbed to one out of two marriages, and the marriage rate has dropped 30 percent. What if we can make a dent in those statistics?"

More than 500 church members, on the set and behind the scenes, are personalizing the pain behind those numbers and introducing hope with Fireproof. As with the church's first two films, the production is driven by volunteers (one professional film crew of eight men works at a discounted rate)-church members act, cater, baby sit, answer phones, pray, handle wardrobe, make-up, set design, and support sound, lights, and every area of filmmaking. What's different on the church's second major film project? "We've got more than one camera!" jokes Alex, "Plus, I don't have to both direct and play a major role."

The lead this time goes to Kirk Cameron, best known from the 1980s television series "Growing Pains." Cameron plays firefighter Caleb Holt opposite church member Erin Bethea playing public relations executive, Catherine Holt. Like his fellow actors and crew, Cameron's work is volunteer, though the production will donate to Camp Firefly, the not-for-profit family camp he and his wife founded in 1991.

"Fireproof has action, danger, humor and drama," said Stephen. "But Caleb's toughest challenge requiring the most courage is not a fire. It comes from his own father, who asks him to commit to 40 days in something he calls The Love Dare." "God seems to be raising the bar in every area," Alex said. "We can't wait to see the final product. Everything we learned making Flywheel and Facing the Giants is going into this movie."

Also going into the movie is twice the professional crew and a bigger budget. Sherwood's first film, Flywheel: The Directors Cut releases on DVD on Nov. 13 (www.flywhe elthemovie.com) through Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Provident Films

Even at this early stage, Sherwood expects Fireproof to outreach Facing the Giants, which drew $10 million- plus at the box office, remains a bestselling DVD, and sparked enthusiastic reactions nationally and internationally among sports teams, fans, churches and teens. Even more universally, if events on the set are any indicator, Fireproof will affect every family it touches.

"Almost everyone we know, including the cast and crew, has been affected by a broken marriage or relationship in their own family or among close friends," Stephen Kendrick said. "This story challenges common misconceptions about love, and dares people to try God's design for relationships and romance." More than twenty sets and a production office were provided at no cost by local businesses and municipalities in the Albany area.

"We have heard from tens of thousands of people who wrote to tell us how Flywheel and Facing the Giants affected their lives," Pastor Catt said. "Fireproof aims to positively affect marriages and relationships. I believe it will open some eyes and just might help save some failing marriages."