Dream In Soul – Creativity for the Kingdom:

The music is blaring, the lights are low and hundreds of young people are on the move, filling their nights – and cups – with crazy, “harmless” fun. It’s a typical night in the life of a college student… right?

Not for everyone. Stephanie Rodnez saw scenes like these when she entered college six years ago and felt a stirring in her heart when witnessing many of her friends falling away from their relationships with God. So many students who had been committed to Him gradually took their hearts back to engage in “college life”- consisting of everything from getting drunk and partying hard to being promiscuous – and anything else movies and TV deem is normal.

Nearing graduation Stephanie felt God telling her to change her career plans and use her talents to glorify Him. Despite initial hesitation she heeded the call, and her independent film company Christ Effect Entertainment was born. The company presents Christian media for young adults that encourages them to stay firm in their faith no matter what the culture and media throws at them. There are two films already in distribution and plans to expand into television, books, and even a nightclub.

Now finishing up her graduate degree in business at Nova South Eastern University in Miami, FL, Stephanie is rallying up other young people with a passion for God to battle the messages and lifestyles bombarding young adults today. With her warm, joyful personality and creative, youthful productions Stephanie draws others in to see the truth of God’s love, and she’s striving to make a mark for “Godlywood” one young audience at a time.

In Take 1 of the interview Stephanie chatted with Dream in Soul about how and why she got started with Christ Effect Entertainment, the growth of the Christian film industry, and about the work she hopes has a powerful effect for Christ in this generation:

Dream in Soul: Hi Stephanie, thanks for speaking with me today. I wanted to first ask you when did you feel the calling to make films?

SR: Ah, well it’s actually really cool. I was 14 or 15 and was in love with journalism, in love, in love, in love… I didn’t want to do anything else. I did this internship at the Sun Sentinel (a local Florida newspaper) for six weeks, and I fell even more in love with it. So I’m like alright Lord, this is what I’m going to do for the rest of my life, I’m going to write stories for newspapers.

One day I’m sitting in front of my TV screen at home in the summer, and I was just flipping through the channels and I was like wow, there’s not a lot of stuff here for young adult Christians. I heard the Holy Sprit telling me – that’s what I want you to do.

I was like, I am not doing movies. I already have a job lined up at the Sun Sentinel and I don’t even like making movies that much. I was like no way, Lord if you want me to do this, you have to make me love it. So when I got back to school in the fall I started working on my own film and I fell in love with the whole process. And the rest is history (laughs)! He put me on the path, He taught me what I needed to know, and now, praise God it’s everything I’m passionate about, and I love doing it.

Watch Stephanie in action as she’s planning her upcoming movie “Youth of Christ,” in this webisode from her day-in-the-life of an indie filmmaker series:

DS: So how did it go from making the film to starting your own business? Tell me about Christ Effect Entertainment.

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If you haven’t seen it yet be sure to check out the film Preacher’s Kid, produced by Gener8Xion Entertainment and staring LeToya Luckett, Kierra “KiKi” Sheard, Trey Songz, and Essence Atkins. The story is based on the ‘Prodigal Son,’ with a contemporary urban twist. Check out the website www.preacherskidfilm.com for theater listings and to request the film in your area.

Movie Synopsis: Tired of being a Preacher’s daughter and longing to experience more of life, 20-something ANGIE KING strikes out on her own for the very first time and joins a traveling gospel show. In this modern-day rendition of the fable of The Prodigal Son, she soon discovers life on the road is tough but fears going home with nothing to show for herself, or worse, to a father who no longer loves her…

To Save A Life is a powerful film from New Song Pictures that recently premiered in select theaters around the nation, and is getting positive reviews. The movie’s tagline is “Some People Are Just Dying to Be Heard,” and the plot is based around the social lives of teens, mainly the primary character Jake, and how prevalent and real the issues of depression and suicide are today. The story has a great message of faith that shows the impact of spreading compassion to others who are hurting. Check out the trailer below:

Plot Summary: Jake Taylor has it all: friends, fame, a basketball scholarship and the hottest girl in school. What could be better?

Enter Roger Dawson. Roger has nothing. No friends. No hope. Nothing but putdowns and getting pushed aside. Things couldn’t get worse…could they? Jake and Roger were best friends when they were kids. But the politics of high school quickly pulled them apart. Now Roger doesn’t fit in Jake’s—or anyone’s circle—and he’s had enough. He walks onto campus with a gun in his pocket and pain in his heart and makes a tragic move.

Jake’s last-ditch effort can’t stop Roger, and the sudden tragedy rocks Jake’s world. Something breaks loose inside and sends him questioning everything. Most of all, he can’t shake the question, Could I have saved Roger? In a quest for answers, Jake finds himself looking for the next Roger and reaching out to the outcasts and lonely. But he quickly finds that crossing class castes threatens all his world is built on. And it could cost him his own friends, his girl, his dreams and even his reputation. Is it worth the price to find the answer to his ultimate question: What do I want my life to be about? (Summary from Tosavealifemovie.com)

To Save a Life looks like a heart-moving film for everyone to be inspired by. Not only has it been getting great reviews for it’s content and quality, the movie’s website also shares testimonies of people who were changed after watching it- one even of a person who had once attempted suicide. To learn more about the film and to find theaters near you where it is playing visit www.ToSaveALifeMovie.com.

Below Randy Wayne, the actor who plays Jake the main character of the film, shares his thoughts on what he hopes the movie portrays:

Tyler Perry’s latest movie “I Can Do Bad All By Myself” will be in theatres September 11th. It seems it will be another signature Tyler Perry blend of comical circumstances and spiritual redemption. The film stars ‘Madea’, Taraji P. Henson, Mary J. Blige, Gladys Knight, Adam Rodriguez, Pastor Marvin Winans, and Brian White.

“You will laugh, you will feel good, you will shout and rejoice! Go see this film! Gladys Knight is singing the house down, Pastor Marvin Winans is preaching and singing and giving me chills every time I watch it (and I have watched it over and over and over).” – Tyler Perry talking about “I Can Do Bad All By Myself”

You can visit www.icandobadmovie.com to learn more about the movie. Check out the trailer below:

 

Movie synopsis from website:

When Madea, America’s favorite pistol-packing grandma, catches sixteen-year-old Jennifer and her two younger brothers looting her home, she decides to take matters into her own hands and delivers the young delinquents to the only relative they have: their aunt April. Initially wanting nothing to do with the kids, April learns along the way that she can change her old ways and become a better person. But it takes a lot of work and the help of a handsome Mexican immigrant who moves in with April to push her to change.

There is also a Gospel and Blues contest where you can enter your video for a chance to win. Learn more at http://www.icandobadgospelcontest.com

“I Can Do Bad All By Myself” Contest Details

Just in time for Tyler Perry’s newest movie, “I Can Do Bad All By Myself”, an exciting contest has arrived that lets Tyler Perry fans put their singing skills to the test to appear on BET and win cash!

Fans can get started by visiting www.icandobadgospelcontest.com to submit a video of their gospel or blues performance. Songs may be performed solo or with a group, and everyone from jazz musicians to church choirs are welcome to submit.

The winning videos will be chosen by Pastor Marvin Winans of Perfecting Church in Detroit. Judging will be based on originality, talent and creativity with the first place winner receiving a spot on BET and a $2,500 gift card. Four runners-up will receive Tyler Perry prize packages. Contest runs through September 7.

(Contest Details From GospelMusicChannel.com)

Update: On September 8th, Tyler Perry did a live chat with fans talking about the film. You can see a clip of it below:
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Not Easily Broken, the movie based on Bishop T.D. Jakes‘ book of the same title, comes to theaters on January 9th, 2009. The uplifting drama stars Morris Chestnut and Taraji P. Henson, and tells the story of a husband and wife’s struggle to keep their marriage together when life’s situations press upon them. I’m really excited to see the film, and am sure anything produced by Bishop Jakes will be inspiring and moving!

Here’s part of the plot summary from the movie’s website:

Chronicling the story of one couple’s love, loss and ultimate faith in one another, “Not Easily Broken” follows the lives of Dave (Morris Chestnut) and Claire (Taraji P. Henson) Johnson in their second decade of marriage. Dave’s dreams of major league baseball success were dashed by an injury in college, leading him to a steady but unfulfilling career as the head of a small construction firm. Clarice is basking in the glow of real estate stardom, creating a life that revolves around her rise to the top. She has become blind to Dave’s needs, the most important being his desire to become a father and start a family with her.

They face a total disruption in their lives when a car crash seriously injures Clarice, whose meddling
mother, Mary (Jennifer Lewis), blames Dave for her daughter’s leg injuries and derailed career. Help comes in the form of kind-hearted physical therapist and single morn Julie Sawyer (Maeve Quinlan), whose son Bryson (Cannon Jay) is coached by Dave and his pals Brock (Eddie Cibrian) and Tree (Kevin Hart) in Little League baseball. Though Clarice is helped by Julie’s care, she becomes concerned that her constant criticism of Dave has pushed her husband away possibly into the arms of the empathetic Julie. Soon Dave and Clarice must face a married couple’s most serious questions: are we really meant to be together, and if we are, how do we fight to keep what we have built as man and wife?

To learn more about the movie, cast, and more, click here to visit the website.

Pam Perry, president of Ministry Marketing Solutions and founder of the Chocolate Pages Show and Network, did an interesting interview with Morris Chestnut about his role in the movie. You can see the video of the interview below:

“Not Easily Broken” Interview with Morris Chestnut – Host Pam Perry, Chocolate Pages