(theadvocate.com)
I had the opportunity to interview, for the National Catholic Reporter, former presidential candidate Rick Santorum by phone Oct. 22 about his new role as CEO of a faith and family media company, EchoLight Studios, and its first Christmas film, “The Christmas Candle,” a historical drama that takes place in England around 1900, which opens in theaters Friday. The film is based on the novel by Max Lucado and has high production values and features singer Susan Boyle as the sacristan’s wife.
NCR: Rick, you are the CEO of EchoLight Studios. How did you get involved?
Santorum: During my campaign for president, I met a man in Texas who hosted a fundraiser in his home for me, and after the election, we stayed in touch. He talked to me about an investment idea, a studio that distributed Christian films. I was interested, and the more I got involved, well, they offered me the CEO position this past summer.
Why did you accept this position?
I have always felt like someone who is involved in the culture and that it’s important to have an impact on the culture. But I kept running up against how pop culture is changing the moral imagination of children and everyone. I wanted to get engaged in telling our story and not just let others tell theirs. [If we let this happen] then we are not holding up our end with the new evangelization. Talking on a street corner is not working today. As CEO of EchoLight Studios, it’s a unique opportunity to change hearts and minds and souls.
What’s the best part of your new role?
To produce and distribute these kinds of films — this is the exciting part. Because EchoLight is a spinoff of an existing company [Group 1200 Media], we have a platform to distribute motion pictures on multiple platforms, TV and DVD streaming especially, and produce them, too. Group 1200 Media is a small content distribution company based in Texas whose real niche is taking content from Japan and distributing it in the U.S. We are able to use their expertise and existing connections, though EchoLight has theatrical releases as well.
What is your role in the new film coming out for Advent, “The Christmas Candle”?
My job with this project is to create this part of our company that does theatrical releases.
Do you see EchoLight as speaking primarily to the Christian Protestant audience?
Click here to continue reading my interview with Rick Santorum where he speaks more about “The Christmas Candle”.
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