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Ex-Discovery and AOL Executive Announces Creation of New Christian Film Group

by Staff
September 14, 2007

(christiansunite.com) -- Intending to groom a new generation of Christian filmmakers, high-tech video innovator George Escobar has launched Advent Film Group, LLC (AFG) to train students who will one day direct big-budget films with moral integrity. Expecting this new film production and distribution corporation to carve inroads into Hollywood, Escobar announced the completion of principal photography on AFG's first film, Moot Courting (working title), at Patrick Henry College (PHC) in Purcellville, Virginia.

"Our mission is to change culture for Christ through media," Escobar said, noting how homeschoolers will play a key role.

"We are drawing from the outstanding talent and strength of the homeschooling community," he said. "If homeschoolers can turn the public education monopoly upside down, they can do the same for cinema."

High profile homeschooling advocates, Dr. Michael Farris, founder and Chancellor of PHC (the nation's only Christian liberal arts college established to serve homeschooled students), PHC President Dr. Graham Walker, and Michael Smith, President of Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), have endorsed and enthusiastically support Advent.

Escobar says Advent is a response to an increasingly unprincipled film industry making "fuzzy faith-based" movies, as well as to the distressing lack of qualified Christian filmmakers needed to fill key positions as directors of big budget movies.

Case in point: Amazing Grace and The Chronicles of Narnia, two successful Christian-themed movies, were both directed by secular filmmakers. Though legions of Christians working in the industry were available, apparently none could be entrusted to direct major motion pictures.

"As a Christian community, we have not done our job to raise up superbly qualified, born-again film directors," Escobar observes.

A born again believer and homeschooling dad, Escobar is a former American Film Institute Producing Fellow and recent VP of Product Development for Discovery and Executive Director for AOL Video. Citing the success of Facing the Giants, a film made for $100K that earned $10 million in box office sales and sold over 1 million DVDs, Escobar says new digital technologies give independent filmmakers a foothold in an industry ruled by multimillion dollar budgets. The timing is right, he believes, for skilled Christian filmmakers to impact the market.

"Our budgets are 'right-sized' to our self-distribution campaign and network," explains, Escobar. "It's sustainable."

AFG's three-year plan includes producing five films touching on themes with a biblical worldview important to family audiences. Participants will eventually direct future films on the AFG production slate, found at www.adventfilmgroup.com.

Ex-Discovery and AOL Executive Announces Creation of New Christian Film Group (http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion06385.shtml)

Off the main page......................

About AFG
Advent Film Group, LLC is a film production and distribution company founded in 2007 by professional filmmakers who are boldly Christian. We exist to champion the mission and vision of Patrick Henry College and other like-minded organizations to shape our culture for Christ through media.
 
Our productions uphold the Biblical values that define America’s founding.

Exciting news indeed!

Now what we need are exhibitors willing to show the finished product.  My dream has been to return to the theatre (something I did for 25 years) with a "family friendly" and evangelical cinema (and perhaps one day a chain of such theatres).  But the lack of financing has stopped me.

God bless their efforts.

AMEN Chaplain Bob,

I myself have been on TV, a movie, (in Los Angeles 70's) and on stage (80's-90's) here where I live. Though I am no longer able to do any of this again. I look forwards to viewing Advent Film Group films.

Amen!

We are in desperate need of truly Christian filmmakers who want to glorify GOD. I will pray that they do just that.

Love In Christ,
Tom

It was great to find the article about Advent Film Group (AFG) on this forum. I thank all who have visited and those who have made comments. I'm George Escobar the Founder/Executive Director of AFG. You'll find a short video clip about AFG and our recent production. You'll also learn about how the Lord brought investors to fund AFG in a truly miraculous way.

Our movie "Come What May" is about the battle for the heart and soul of a young man, Caleb, a new believer, who goes to Patrick Henry College, a conservative Christian college. His mother is a feminist constitutional attorney while his father, a new believer himself, had led Caleb to Christ. His mother ends up before the U.S. Supreme Court arguing to oppose a parent's right to be notified if their child is having a abortion. Caleb, in turn, takes the opposite argument before the National Moot Court championship, except he and his debate partner go for the jugular... they present a superb case to "Overthrow Roe" altogether. This will be the first time in cinema history an audience will see how this is actually possible.

I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have about AFG. I'll visit this forum often to check in. Or send me email: staff@adventfilmgroup.com

May God Bless you all!

George Escobar

Now I missed this thread and it was great to have the man himself come and comment.

How if we can get a character in the film to be chatting with PR on the forum ;)