Q: Who made Facing the Giants?
A: It was written, directed, produced and cast by two brothers – Alex and Stephen Kendrick, collectively known as Sherwood Pictures. Both are pastors at Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany GA. Sherwood’s first film, Flywheel, released in 2004, won several independent film awards-and is available through Blockbuster and NetFlix.

Q: What is Giants about?
A: It is about a down-and-out coach and football team at a Christian high school, struggling with the giants on the field and off. Failure, betrayal, fear and hopelessness overwhelm the coach as he deals with a lackluster team, disgruntled parents, financial pressures and the discovery that he and his wife can’t have children. As he turns to God, his life begins to change.

Q: What has been the response to the film so far? Do audiences consider it too religious?
A: Clearly the story turns on spiritual themes, but this film about football and faith carries wide appeal. Audiences love it. In two test screenings, an overwhelming 95 percent of people – 70 percent of those audiences were Christian – said they would recommend it to friends. Basically, anyone who likes Remember the Titans, Rudy, or Hoosiers should love Facing the Giants.

Q: Who stars in Giants?
A: No one stars; this is a movie of unknowns. All actors, with the single exception of University of Georgia head football coach Mark Richt, are Sherwood Baptist Church volunteers. Coach Richt, having seen Flywheel, agreed to make a cameo. Alex Kendrick played Coach Taylor primarily because he was the only volunteer able to spend five weeks on the set.

Q: How was the film financed?
A: Once again, members of Sherwood Baptist stepped up and donated film financing. They also supported the movie with their time and resources – even supplying meals and refreshments for crew and cast during filming.

Q: Distributors turn down a lot of films and ideas. How did Giants get on the radar of Provident Films, Sony Pictures and Samuel Goldwyn?
A: During final editing, someone mentioned that the film’s song by Third Day required permission from Provident Music. Unbeknownst to the Sherwood team, Provident had recently partnered with Sony Pictures to add Christian-focused films to their charter. When Terry Hemmings received the call for a church-made film to use Third Day’s music, he intended to decline, but he agreed to watch five minutes before giving his customary “no.” Fifteen minutes into the film, his office was full of people and he was booking a ticket to Albany. Within a short time, Sherwood had contracted with Provident and Sony via Samuel Goldwyn Films to release the film nationally.

Q: What did Sony/Goldwyn like about it?
A: The folks at Sony and Goldwyn were impressed with the high production values, the professional camera work and the storyline. They also are in aggressive pursuit of the family market, and snapped up this film.

Q: What will the church do with the proceeds?
A: Sherwood Baptist has broken ground on a $2.5 million, 40-acre recreational park for the Albany community. Giants proceeds go to that project. Proceeds exceeding that goal will flow into other ministry opportunities.

Q: When and where does the film open?
A: On Sept. 29, Goldwyn Mayer will open Giants in 400 theaters in 86 markets nationwide.

Q: How will the film be promoted? Leading into the film, we will organize pre-screenings with pastors, coaches and teachers – gatekeepers to the families and youth audiences. Current plans are to conduct 40 such pre-screenings in cities across the U.S. We will also promote the film through Christian and mainstream media outlets and work to place stories in mainstream and Christian media.

Q: What is your Football Greats advisory board?
A: The advisory board is a non-working and non-paid collection of respected former athletes, coaches and their spouses who are personal examples of faith and integrity on and off the field. Their names and endorsements will help this little film with no stars gain credibility in the eyes of the movie-going public. Currently the board consists of Mark Richt, Don McIlhenny (who scored the first touchdown for the Dallas Cowboys), Dan Reeves and Mrs. Tom Landry. Stay tuned for more heroes.

 

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Related articles in this issue:

Lights, camera, evangelize!

Pastor helps

MPAA "PG" rating is mixed blessing for Kendrick brothers

Facing the Giants Overview

The Open Door

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