Mac Powell, co-founder of the GRAMMY Award-winning Christian rock band Third Day, will release his solo Christian debut “New Creation” on Oct. 15 on his new label, Capitol Christian Music Group. Today the pre-order for the album is available along with two new songs, “Love Is The Reason” and “The Center Of It All.” “After the Third Day farewell tour, I took some time to pursue being an independent artist, and I think it was really helpful in getting me… Read more
Aretha Franklin receives a biopic worthy of a Queen in the new film “Respect,” releasing this week from MGM. Directed by Liesl Tommy and written by Tracy Scott Wilson, the movie traces Franklin’s rise to fame from a young girl growing singing in her father’s church to becoming a legendary music icon. The film stars Jennifer Hudson (“Dreamgirls”) as Franklin, Forest Whitaker as her father, Rev. C.L. Franklin, Marlon Wayans as Franklin’s first husband Ted White, Audra Macdonald as Franklin’s… Read more
This Friday, Sundance Film Festival Award-winner “CODA,” written and directed by Siân Heder, releases on AppleTV+. The film follows the main character Ruby (Emilia Jones), a “child of deaf adults,” attempting to break away from her parents (Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur) to pursue her own love of music. Academy Award-winner Matlin, Kotsur and Daniel Durant, all Deaf actors, play her family members. In a recent roundtable interview, Matlin spoke about the attention the new film has received, her own journey… Read more
“Respect,” the long-awaited biopic of “The Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin releases this week from MGM, giving viewers a closer look at the journey of the legendary music icon. Starring Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, the film traces Franklin’s early days as a young girl singing for her father’s church to her musical breakthrough on the international stage. Liesl Tommy, a veteran director of theater and episodes of “Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings” and “Jessica Jones,” makes… Read more
Unborn souls interview for a chance at life in the new Sony Pictures Classics drama “Nine Days,” written and directed by Edson Oda and starring Winston Duke, Zazie Beetz, Benedict Wong, Tony Hale, Bill Skarsgård, David Rysdahl, and Arianna Ortiz. The film, a Sundance Film Festival favorite, centers on a remote house in the desert where Will (Duke) conducts interviews and guides a variety of candidates through the vetting process for a chance to be born. Oda, a Los Angeles-based… Read more
It’s been thirty years since Amy Grant released the groundbreaking project “Heart in Motion,” which propelled the Christian music icon into the pop music stratosphere. The album, produced by Brown Bannister, Michael Omartian, and Keith Thomas, produced five top 10 Billboard singles, including the chart-topping “Baby Baby,” and sold more than five million albums. Celebrating the anniversary, Grant has been sharing memories on social media and playlists on digital outlets celebrating the music that still resonates with many listeners today…. Read more
After making the film festival rounds where it created buzz and garnered acting awards, the heartwarming indie drama “Christmas in July” is finally getting its moment in the sun . . . or maybe snow? The movie, centering on a young man who is detangling family and relationship dynamics to create a special memory for his ailing grandmother, will release to select theaters this week and on digital demand on July 20. The film stars Reiley McClendon, Bonnie Johnson, Lacy… Read more
Lionsgate has released a first look featurette of its upcoming biopic “American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story” starring Zachary Levi (“Shazam!,” “Chuck”), Anna Paquin (“X-Men”), and Dennis Quaid (“I Can Only Imagine”). The film, directed by Jon Erwin and Andrew Erwin, is set to arrive in theaters in December 2021. The trailer shows Levi stepping into the role of the two-time Most Valuable Player and Super Bowl MVP and speaking in behind-the-scenes clips about his familiarity with his story. “Everybody… Read more
When the production of the Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect” was first announced, as someone who covers topics of faith in the entertainment world, I wondered if the film would embrace the spiritual side of the legendary singer. Even though known as “The Queen of Soul” with an astounding collection of classic hits like “Chain of Fools” and “You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” Franklin’s church roots always seemed to shine through her career. The fact that Academy Award,… Read more
In the new sports drama ’12 Mighty Orphans,’ Luke Wilson steps into the shoes of high school football legend Rusty Russell, coaching an underdog team from a Fort Worth orphanage to victory. The true inspirational story, directed by Ty Roberts, also stars Vinessa Shaw, Martin Sheen, Wayne Knight, and Robert Duvall. Roberts (“The Iron Orchard”), who wrote the screenplay with Lane Garrison and Kevin Myer, recently spoke to Reel Faith’s DeWayne Hamby on how the project came to be, the… Read more
