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Erin Bethea, who portrays Catherine Holt in “Fireproof,” enjoys a light moment during a live broadcast by the Moody Broadcasting Network after the movie’s Hollywood premiere Sept. 25. Bethea is cast opposite Kirk Cameron, who portrays a Georgia firefighter whose marriage in on the verge of collapse.
ALBANY — Theaters nationwide continue to pack in the crowds to see the Kendrick brother’s newest cinematic release, “Fireproof,” following its Sept. 25 Hollywood premier.
The movie, which focuses on the failing marriage of a firefighter and his wife, opened on 839 screens – up considerably from the 216 screens their previous production, “Facing the Giants,” was playing on two weeks after its debut. Fireproof opened at number 4 in the nation and, based on the important per-screen average closely watched by the movie industry, generated the second-highest revenue. It was beaten only by “Eagle Eye,” a thriller that showed in four times as many theaters and cost 160 times as much to make.
Fireproof, with its $500,000 production budget, generated $6.5 million in that first weekend’s sales.
The movie opened on 60 screens in Georgia following its Hollywood rollout, with theaters in Lithonia, Carrollton, Griffin, Fort Benning, and Thomaston being added as late as Oct. 3. An up-to-date listing of Georgia showings can be located by visiting www.fireproofthemovie.com and selecting the “Tickets and Theaters” menu option.
Fireproof, the third movie from Sherwood Pictures – the media arm of Sherwood Baptist Church here – sends the message that marriages are worth saving and that Christ can provide the foundation against marital storms.
“I am praying that thousands of marriages will be turned around and homes will be strengthened because of this movie, but if only a handful are saved, every day’s hard work on this will have been well spent,” co-writer Alex Kendrick told The Index following the Hollywood screening.
“I can sleep well at night knowing that I was faithful to the Lord for the vision he gave Stephen and me. We were obedient, and that’s what matters.”
Debut just two years after ‘Facing the Giants’
The movie was screened at the ArcLight Theater, which boasts a prestigious Sunset Avenue address and was the same location where Facing the Giants received its debut almost two years ago to the day.
Fireproof is the third release in cinematic storytelling produced by the Albany church. While not connected by a shared storyline, the movies do share a common theme based loosely on morality plays. The Kendrick brothers are showing they can showcase the best of Christianity against the worst of secular values.
Flywheel dealt with morals as an automobile dealer was tempted with unscrupulous business practices; Giants dealt with issues of infertility and lack of a spiritual commitment. Fireproof follows along that line, adding a couple whose marriage is on the rocks and whose future looks grim.
Joe Westbury/Index
Actor Kirk Cameron, who portrays troubled Georgia fireman Caleb Holt in “Fireproof,” gives Hollywood media an overview of the new movie. Cameron expressed an interest in working with brothers Alex and Stephen Kendrick two years ago after viewing their popular “Facing the Giants” release. Like the Kendricks, Cameron is committed to using media to take the gospel outside the four walls of the church.
Fireproof comes on the heels of the wildly popular Facing the Giants, which received its Hollywood debut at the same theatre. A lot has changed in that short span of time, Alex Kendrick says.
Sherwood pastor Michael Catt, who shares the vision for a strong church-based media ministry, nurtured the brothers’ interest in making Hollywood-quality movies as an extension of the church’s ministry. The overarching goal: To impact the world from Albany.
Movie is about character transformation
Alex Kendrick, when asked at the premier about his favorite scene, told reporters he would be tempted to refer to the action packed scenes with the train or the house fire. But to be honest, he said, it would have to be the scenes that dealt with the transformation of character.
“That’s really what this movie is all about,” he explained. “In today’s world marriage has been so watered down, so redefined, that we hardly recognize it. Stephen and I and the 1,200 volunteers at Sherwood worked hard to give an example of two hardworking spouses who drifted apart and who no longer loved each other.
“We wanted to show how it happened and then offer an option to divorce through a life-changing personal encounter with Jesus Christ. There is not a marriage on this planet that could not be strengthened or improved by viewing this movie.
“But,” he continued, “this movie is not just about marriages that are falling apart and is not just for troubled couples. It’s for healthy as well as not-so-healthy marriages and the individuals who want to make their relationships even better.”
That theme may be catching on in the general population. The week leading up to the national release, ticket sales for Fireproof were the most requested of any other movie on the Fandango ticket purchase site with 25 percent of its sales. And “The Love Dare” paperback book was number 14 on Amazon.com and in the Top 50 with Wal-Mart stores.
Joe Westbury/Index
Michael Catt, pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, is interviewed by the Moody Broadcasting Network at the ArcLight Theater after the Hollywood premiere of the new movie “Fireproof.”
Joe Westbury/Index
Alex Kendrick, who co-wrote “Fireproof” with brother Stephen, fields questions from reporters at a reception at the Los Angeles Fire Department Historical Society Museum and Memorial after the movie’s Hollywood premiere.