Behind the Scenes of New Movie – Fireproof

For a behind the scenes look at the new movie, FIREPROOF, take a look at this short video.

The movie is coming out in theaters September 26, 2008.  Mark your calendars.

More than Entertainment

This new feature film, from the same people who brought us Flywheel and Facing the Giants, aims to be more than entertainment. It is a message to married couples.

Christian Film News reports that Fireproof “mirrors the problems of many marriages, in this case through a firefighter whose high-stress job spills into his home life. Hitting on the pressures that are all too frequently seen in married life (from indifference to insults, and from Internet pornography to emotional affairs), this story opens with a couple’s disintegration.”

Kirk Cameron, who plays Caleb (the lead role), comments on the set:

“Today we’re burning down a house which is really what Fireproof is all about, it’s symbolic of protecting your marriage to the point that it’s safe enough so that when the flames and the heat come, your marriage will not burn to the ground, unlike this house behind you.”

Movie makers aren’t relying merely on cinematic appeal to get the message out. In August this year they are planning more than 150 pre-screenings in theaters nationwide. At that time they also plan to release The Love Dare devotional book (inspired by the same one Caleb’s father gives him in the movie), a book for those seeking to win back the love of their spouses. Around the same time, Fireproof: The Novel, will be released from a major Christian publisher.

Beginning in January 2009, the movie will be brought to churches for group viewings, and The Love Dare Small Group Study will be released to launch church-based marriage enrichment programs such as workshops, retreats, Sunday school and other special events.

Taking on Pornography

One film critic who was given a chance to screen the film writes:

“One thing I really admire about this film is that it takes on the issue of pornography addiction without becoming entirely consumed by the issue, or making us dislike the leading male character. He’s got a problem, but we want him to succeed. We’re in the struggle with him. The film resists the urge to judge Caleb for his addiction, but rather presents it as another obstacle (and a rather difficult one) he needs to overcome in order to regain his wife’s trust.”

Read his entire review of the film on his blog.

Prayer: A Wind in Their Sails

Pastors and Fireproof co-writers Alex and Stephen Kendrick prayed for an idea that would impact not only the church but the culture as a whole: they felt the Lord direct their thoughts to marriage.

Since that time the whole project has been immersed in prayer. Just flipping through the movie’s production blog makes the set of the movie look less like Hollywood and more like a mission trip. Each day the filming begins with a short Bible study and a time of prayer led by Alex and Stephen. After a long day of shooting, the filming ends with prayer.

Executive producer of Fireproof, Jim McBride, says, “Whenever we have scenes on the set with a lot of drama and emotion, or if a particular actor is nervous, we have everybody who’s not involved with the scene gather and pray.”

Stephen Kendrick says,

“Prayer is the wind in the sails of this movie. We know what prayer can accomplish when a willing and sovereign God is on the other side of our prayers. We can tell a significant difference when we don’t pray and when we do. When we don’t pray, it’s like driving with the parking brake on. With prayer, we just fasten our seat belt and hang on.”