Advent Film Group
Encyclopedia
Advent Film Group is an independent
Christian film
production and distribution company
founded in 2007 by George Escobar. The company trains young Christians to be filmmakers, and it created the 2009 drama film, Come What May
, with talent like Kenneth Jezek
and his wife Karen Kelly
. Currently the film group is in post-production of their latest feature film Hero
.
Advent Film Group has been endorsed by Michael Farris, founder and chancellor of Patrick Henry College
; Graham Walker
, president of Patrick Henry College; and Michael Smith, president of Home School Legal Defense Association
(HSLDA).
(Fireproof
, Facing the Giants
, Flywheel
). The conversation challenged him to rethink his entire career path, with the purpose of using his skills and talents for the glory of God. In January 2007, Escobar founded Advent Film Group, basing out of northern Virginia.
Advent Film Group has a unique goal: to “turn the whole film school model upside-down.” The aim is to train young Christians to be excellent filmmakers, and enable them to tell stories that uphold Biblical values and speak about issues relevant to our culture today. To accomplish this, AFG is effectively tapping into the homeschooling community both as a creative talent pool, and as an audience for their family friendly films. Heavy emphasis is placed on maintaining a clean and compelling storyline, while striving for increased production value.
Their first feature film, Come What May
(aka Moot Courting), was a collaborative effort between AFG and Patrick Henry College. 40 homeschooled students served on the cast and crew alongside a handful of industry professionals. Students learned not only about production, but also the business, legal, financial, marketing and distribution process involved in making and releasing a full-length movie.
Contrary to the normal distribution process, Come What May was given a virtual release online through the American Family Association
(AFA) and GodTube
(now called Tangle
), and shown free to the viewer during the two weeks before the 2008 U.S. elections. It was then released on DVD in the spring of 2009, and due to it’s strong pro-life message quickly became a popular film for church screenings. Come What May was also the winner of the Redemptive Storyteller Award for 2008 from the Redemptive Film Festival.
(formerly One Good Man). Co-written and directed by Manny Edwards (Brightline Pictures), this new family movie focuses on fathers and sons, with baseball as an engaging backdrop. Principal photography was completed in October 2009, and is now in post-production. The film is already gaining grassroots support from promotion through influential family and men’s ministry organizations, such as Iron Sharpens Iron.
AFG's latest project is Red September. Written and directed by Michael Collender, this political drama focuses on the bipartisan forces in Congress and elsewhere that opposed the courageous Congressional struggle against the passage of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
. To impact the public during the primary season and the 2012 election as a whole, AFG's expected release date for the film is March 2012.
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
Christian film
Christian film
The Christian film industry is an umbrella term for films containing a Christian -themed message or moral, produced by openly Christian filmmakers to a Christian audience....
production and distribution company
Distribution (business)
Product distribution is one of the four elements of the marketing mix. An organization or set of organizations involved in the process of making a product or service available for use or consumption by a consumer or business user.The other three parts of the marketing mix are product, pricing,...
founded in 2007 by George Escobar. The company trains young Christians to be filmmakers, and it created the 2009 drama film, Come What May
Come What May (film)
Come What May is an American direct-to-video drama film released on March 17, 2009 by Advent Film Group. The filmmakers intentionally released it on DVD and not to theaters. George Escobar said, "Going straight to DVD will allow church groups to become the distributor." The film tells the story of...
, with talent like Kenneth Jezek
Kenneth Jezek
-Career:Kenneth Jezek is best known for starring in the TV Soap Opera The Days of Our Lives, playing Lars Englund, in 1986 and 1987.Prior to transitioning into acting, he was a professional dancer, often touring and teaching master jazz and tap classes in the United States, Europe, and Canada...
and his wife Karen Kelly
Karen Kelly
Karen Kelly is a camogie player and teacher, winner of two Soaring Star awards in 2009 and 2011 and played in the 2009 All Ireland junior camogie final. The leading scorer in her side's impressive march to the final, Karen has won two National League medals, Munster titles in the Junior and...
. Currently the film group is in post-production of their latest feature film Hero
Hero (2010 film)
Hero is a Christian film by Advent Film Group and Brightline Pictures. The story is written and directed by Manny Edwards, who co-produced and co-directed Come What May with George Escobar...
.
Advent Film Group has been endorsed by Michael Farris, founder and chancellor of Patrick Henry College
Patrick Henry College
Patrick Henry College is a private, independent college with Evangelical Christian basis that focuses on teaching classical liberal arts and government, located in Purcellville, Virginia, United States The first college in the United States founded specifically for Christian home-schooled...
; Graham Walker
Graham Walker (academic)
Graham Walker, Ph.D., is American academic, professor, and president of Patrick Henry College since 2006. Walker received his Ph.D. in political philosophy from Notre Dame in 1988 and is a former Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Oklahoma Wesleyan University...
, president of Patrick Henry College; and Michael Smith, president of Home School Legal Defense Association
Home School Legal Defense Association
The Home School Legal Defense Association is a United States-based "nonprofit advocacy organization established to defend and advance the constitutional right of parents to direct the education of their children and to protect family freedoms."...
(HSLDA).
History
When George Escobar (former Vice President of Product Development for Discovery, Executive Director for AOL/Time Warner) attended the 2006 San Antonio Independent Film Festival, he met and spoke with Stephen Kendrick, co-founder of Sherwood PicturesSherwood Pictures
Sherwood Pictures is an American Christian film production company in Albany, Georgia, United States. It is unusual among production companies in that it is a ministry of a local church, Sherwood Baptist Church. The company uses mostly volunteers in their productions...
(Fireproof
Fireproof (film)
Fireproof is a 2008 American Christian drama film released by Samuel Goldwyn Films and Affirm Films , directed by Alex Kendrick, who co-wrote and co-produced it with Stephen Kendrick...
, Facing the Giants
Facing the Giants
- Official listing :# Come Together - Third Day# Voice of Truth - Casting Crowns# Facing the Giants Theme - Mark Willard# I'm Finding You - Bebo Norman# The Deathcrawl - Mark Willard# Completely - Ana Laura...
, Flywheel
Flywheel (film)
Flywheel is an American Christian drama film about a car salesman who intentionally overcharges his customers until reaching a turning point in his life where he decides to end his shady business practices and become a Christian. Alex Kendrick both directed the film and starred in the lead role,...
). The conversation challenged him to rethink his entire career path, with the purpose of using his skills and talents for the glory of God. In January 2007, Escobar founded Advent Film Group, basing out of northern Virginia.
Advent Film Group has a unique goal: to “turn the whole film school model upside-down.” The aim is to train young Christians to be excellent filmmakers, and enable them to tell stories that uphold Biblical values and speak about issues relevant to our culture today. To accomplish this, AFG is effectively tapping into the homeschooling community both as a creative talent pool, and as an audience for their family friendly films. Heavy emphasis is placed on maintaining a clean and compelling storyline, while striving for increased production value.
Their first feature film, Come What May
Come What May (film)
Come What May is an American direct-to-video drama film released on March 17, 2009 by Advent Film Group. The filmmakers intentionally released it on DVD and not to theaters. George Escobar said, "Going straight to DVD will allow church groups to become the distributor." The film tells the story of...
(aka Moot Courting), was a collaborative effort between AFG and Patrick Henry College. 40 homeschooled students served on the cast and crew alongside a handful of industry professionals. Students learned not only about production, but also the business, legal, financial, marketing and distribution process involved in making and releasing a full-length movie.
Contrary to the normal distribution process, Come What May was given a virtual release online through the American Family Association
American Family Association
The American Family Association is a 501 non-profit organization that promotes conservative Christian values, such as opposition to same-sex marriage, pornography, and abortion, as well as other public policy goals such as deregulation of the oil industry and lobbying against the Employee Free...
(AFA) and GodTube
Godtube
GodTube is an online video sharing platform which strives to have Christian content. It is owned by Salem Web Network, the Internet division of Salem Communications...
(now called Tangle
Tangle
Tangle may refer to:*Tangle , an Australian television series*tangle.com, a Christian social networking site*Tangle theory, a branch of knot theory invented by John Horton Conway*Sea tangle, another name for kelp...
), and shown free to the viewer during the two weeks before the 2008 U.S. elections. It was then released on DVD in the spring of 2009, and due to it’s strong pro-life message quickly became a popular film for church screenings. Come What May was also the winner of the Redemptive Storyteller Award for 2008 from the Redemptive Film Festival.
Current projects
AFG’s next film is HeroHero (2010 film)
Hero is a Christian film by Advent Film Group and Brightline Pictures. The story is written and directed by Manny Edwards, who co-produced and co-directed Come What May with George Escobar...
(formerly One Good Man). Co-written and directed by Manny Edwards (Brightline Pictures), this new family movie focuses on fathers and sons, with baseball as an engaging backdrop. Principal photography was completed in October 2009, and is now in post-production. The film is already gaining grassroots support from promotion through influential family and men’s ministry organizations, such as Iron Sharpens Iron.
AFG's latest project is Red September. Written and directed by Michael Collender, this political drama focuses on the bipartisan forces in Congress and elsewhere that opposed the courageous Congressional struggle against the passage of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (Division A of , commonly referred to as a bailout of the U.S. financial system, is a law enacted in response to the subprime mortgage crisis...
. To impact the public during the primary season and the 2012 election as a whole, AFG's expected release date for the film is March 2012.
Training
Advent Film Group continues to provide various training opportunities, including internships, production volunteer positions, and film workshops (also on DVD), as well as their free online introductory course.Filmography
- Come What MayCome What May (film)Come What May is an American direct-to-video drama film released on March 17, 2009 by Advent Film Group. The filmmakers intentionally released it on DVD and not to theaters. George Escobar said, "Going straight to DVD will allow church groups to become the distributor." The film tells the story of...
(2009) - HeroHero (2010 film)Hero is a Christian film by Advent Film Group and Brightline Pictures. The story is written and directed by Manny Edwards, who co-produced and co-directed Come What May with George Escobar...
(in post-production)
External links
- Official website
- Advent Film Group at ChristianCinema.comChristianCinema.comChristianCinema.com, Inc. is a Christian film production company founded in 1999, by brothers Bobby Downes and Kevin Downes. In addition, the website reviews both theatrical and DVD released movies , carries news articles about Christian film and media, and often interviews filmmakers...
- Former Prison Fellowship Senior Executive Joins Advent Film Group