Today we are seeing on big and smaller screens a developing Renaissance with its heightened, multi-dimensional appeal of excellence in artistry and the growing Reformation of content with its appeal to universal absolute moral values. During the lifetime of Shakespeare, there was both a Renaissance of artistic expression in England and a Reformation of content in England due to the influence of Queen Elizabeth the First. (Stay tuned for future articles on this subject.) We see this happening again world-wide largely facilitated by modern technologies.
It is wonderful today with the ever expanding user-friendly options of technology to have access to the best of artistic events, performers, and directors through live broadcasts to big and smaller screens on television, local theater screens, and computers. Rich gifts to uplift human spirits around the world are available more and more widely on various types of screens around the world. The best of live Shakespearean performances are both broadcast in real time and filmed and then broadcast live with the best of Shakespearean actors and directors from legendary halls to theaters all over the world.
The Royal Shakespeare Company performing Romeo and Juliet; Photo Courtesy of Ellie Kurttz.
On March 15 Mojo Box Office reveals that Disney’s “Cinderella” is number one at the box office. This is part of the growing trend of popularity of best practice, family-friendly and redemptive movies with top actors and directors. Notable director, Kenneth Branagh, has directed this live action, update of “Cinderella” for Disney with some of the best actors. Popular British actor, Lily James, recently noted as Lady Rose MacClare on Downton Abbey, plays Cinderella. Australian actor Cate Blanchett is the Stepmother, British actor Helena Bonham Carter the Fairy Godmother, and Scottish Richard Madden the prince.
In the movie, Cinderella’s mother tells her “I want to tell you a secret that will see you through all the trials that life can offer: Have courage, and be kind.” Branagh also has said of Disney’s live action “Cinderella” that they have wanted Cinderella to be like a “Saint Joan character, a girl with faith.” This movie is part of the growing Renaissance of artistry and Reformation of content in the increasing trend of production of best practice, family-friendly, redemptive movies with top box office draw.
This growing Renaissance and Reformation in movies is also being seen on television. Some of the best in American television programming includes live broadcasts in real time or filmed then broadcast live from the following: Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, the Washington Mall, the Capitol Lawn and more. The Kennedy Center provides many live broadcasts of performing arts events from the following which call its home: National Symphony Orchestra, Washington National Opera, and the Susan Farrell Ballet. They offer almost daily live broadcasts of exquisite performances from around the world mid March and into the spring.
More and more modern technology is facilitating and providing broad, user-friendly access to the modern Renaissance of great artistic performances and to the Reformation of content for large and small screens.
For theaters and television, Roma Downey and Mark Burnett have produced best practice programing with uplifting content. Following the success of their The Bible for the History Channel, Burnett and Downey have produced a sequel, “A.D. Beyond the Bible” for NBC as a 12 episode series scheduled for debut on April 5, 2015. Covering the events that took place after the crucifixion of Jesus, “A.D.” follows the conflict around Christians and the beginning of the church. Best practice redemptive movies that include excellent cinematography, music, acting and more are being produced today with better and better artistry and content for home and theater viewing around the world.
NRB President Dr. Jerry Johnson asks Mark Burnett and Roma Downey about the diversity of the characters in “A.D.” Photo courtesy of National Religious Broadcasters
On March 15, Mojo Box Office, IMDB records, and ongoing research continues to show the growing trend in top box office drawing and staying power of best practice redemptive movies. Along with this development there has also been the growing phenomena of mainstream studios, directors, and actors involved with best practice production of redemptive movies that have been top box office films in theaters with staying power.
Redemptive movies are authentic, honest, and believable; but they entertain with stories that are also edifying, enlightening, and/or educational that reinforce universal ideas of unconditional love and absolute moral values. Best practice redemptive movies also include the best of artistry cinematography, directing, acting and more. (For the Christian the ultimate Redemption has been Christ’s redemption of mankind through the cross and redemptive media lines up with this reality and Biblical Truth.)
Holliday Grainger is Anastasia and Sophie McShera is Drisella in Disney’s live-action feature inspired by the classic fairy tale, CINDERELLA, which brings to life the timeless images from Disney’s 1950 animated masterpiece as fully-realized characters in a visually dazzling spectacle for a whole new generation.
To date, box office statistics, Fandango, and ongoing research make it clear that the past decade has been marked by an increasing number of best practice redemptive movies with top box office draw and staying power for all ages produced by mainstream studios, directors, and actors. IMDb records indicate a growing popular interest in family values/ redemptive movies, as well as the box office draw and staying power of such movies.
There has been a growing acceleration in production of best practice redemptive movies by independent and Hollywood studios and companies in the midst of international accelerating evil, darkness, and danger. It was clear in recent red carpet interviews in Hollywood at the Movieguide® Awards Gala events that studios executives, directors, actors, and their associates want to work more with best practice redemptive movies.
God’s Not Dead was one of many redemptive films release in the past year; Photo Courtesy of Pure Flix.
This past year of 2014 was especially marked by many successful redemptive movies by independent and mainstream studios and companies: “Heaven is for Real,” “God’s Not Dead,” “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies,” “The Good Lie,” “Unbroken” “The Giver” “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1,” “Selma,” and “The Son of God” and many more.
Mojo Box office reveals that 2015 has already been marked by popular, successful redemptive movies produced by independent studios and mainstream studios with notable actors, such as “McFarland, USA.” (After many weeks in theaters, this movie is still in the top ten this year.)
Further, exclusive interviews and ongoing correspondence with Movieguide® and Movie to Movement leaders has revealed that there are many more such excellent movies with notable of actors on the horizon and beyond, such as “Do You Believe” coming out in theaters March 20, “David and Goliath” April 3, “Little Boy,” coming to theaters April 24 and more in the future such as Disney’s “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair” for 2015. Stay tuned.
See more from this author at DianeHoward.com
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