story of the prodigal son, will hit the silver screen with a message of
redemption and unconditional love.
“It’s the story of the prodigal child brought forward
into modern time,” said the film’s distributor, Matt Crouch, chief
executive officer of Gener8Xion Entertainment, Inc. “What we were able to
do is put a film camera on a story that Jesus told, trying to describe His love
for man and God’s unconditional love for man.”
Preacher’s Kid, which opens in roughly 100
major-market theaters nationwide, stars Letoya Luckett, a former member of the
R&B girl-group Destiny’s Child, as Angie, a sheltered pastor’s daughter who
decides to strike out from her strict father’s home by joining the cast of a
traveling gospel play. She soon discovers that her “Christian” cast
members aren’t very Christ-like and she finds herself in compromising
situations and ashamed to return home.
“More of the underlining theme is that you can always
come back home,” said Stan Foster, the film’s writer, director and
producer. “With so much negativity going on in the world, with war and the
economy, this is one of those films that is a good family film and you can walk
away feeling good about life and about the family.”
Foster says the film, which is rated PG-13 for its mature
themes, is grounded in the Bible. He says the film is not “preachy”
but uses relatable characters to bring a message of redemption to both
Christian and non-Christian audiences.
“It resonates with each demographic for different
reasons,” said Foster, who also wrote the 2004 film adaptation of Bishop
T.D. Jakes’ book, Woman Thou Art Loosed. “[I wrote]
characters that were flawed. My bad characters have a little bit of good in
them, and good characters have a little bit of bad.”
“In my film everyone has a cross to bear,” he told Charisma.
“Redemption is inevitable.”
Crouch agreed. “Everything about the movie is on the
firm foundation that you’re watching a motion picture where Jesus is the story
teller and that He is trying to describe God’s unconditional love for man,”
Crouch said. “That’s what the story is.”
Foster and Crouch hope the film will have a strong debut
this weekend not only because of its redemptive message, but because 100
percent of its distribution proceeds will be given to charities helping the
victims of the recent earthquakes in Haiti.
“Ultimately the celebratory moment of opening weekend
and opening week that is upon us is somewhat filtered through the thought that
we’re celebrating at the same time that Haiti is suffering,” Crouch told Charisma.
Crouch believes it was a “God idea” to donate opening night
distribution proceeds to support relief work in Haiti because he was able to get
all of the necessary approvals and signatures within 24 hours.
“Obviously it was the Lord’s idea,” Crouch said.
“Possibly somewhere between $3 and $4 of every ticket, if you pay $10,
will go to Haiti.”
The money will be donated to several charities, including
Smile of a Child, Friend Ships and Samaritan’s Purse.
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