Christian film-makers pray investors see the light

By Louise Jury, Arts Correspondent

Published: 30 March 2007

Mel Gibson was widely mocked when he ploughed £14m into producing his movie on the last days of Christ, but he had the last laugh when it grossed more than £350m at the box office.

Since then, 20th Century Fox has opened its own Christian movies division, FoxFaith; and Walden Media, owned by the devout Presbyterian Philip Anschutz, has funded the wholesome film adaptations of C S Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia stories, as well as the anti-slavery movie about William Wilberforce, Amazing Grace.

And today, a production company exclusively dedicated to making Christian feature films will be launched in London.

Albion Productions, founded by the Christians David Fairman and Jon-Paul Gates, has received messages of support from the Catholic leader Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, and the Anglican bishops of Bristol, Bath and Wells, and Ripon and Leeds.

It is now seeking funding for its first production, Darkness into Light, a story written by Mr Fairman himself. It tells of a man propelled by a car crash back in time, to encounter Jesus in AD30. It is an exploration of what he calls "the biggest mystery of all time - the Resurrection".

Albion Productions is offering a touch of philanthropy alongside the lure of big screen glamour. "Investors will not only help to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world, but 10 per cent of the film's profits will go to Frishta, a Christian charity which builds orphanages for Indian street children," he said.

"Films are an ideal way to reach the whole community. Many people won't attend church but you can reveal the gospel to them in the cinema or through watching a DVD at home."

Mr Fairman was inspired to launch the new company after watching The Passion of The Christ. Its runaway success convinced film-makers that this was not just a fad. Disney, which distributed the first Chronicle of Narnia film, targeted church-goers with special screenings.

David Fairman's previous work includes three films: Cold Fish, in which a would-be journalist is lured into a world of violence and sexual game-playing; Lighthouse Hill, about a publisher who seeks the meaning of life after his best friend dies; and Messages, a thriller set in the spirit world.

"There's the audience for pirates and gung-ho movies and action movies and rom-coms, but also Hollywood is discovering an audience for films with a message," he said.

The company is seeking initial funding of around £1.5m, and he believes Christians may be willing to support it. "This is probably the first time that anyone [in the UK] has reached out to the Christian communities and said, 'There are a number of advantages to you, but the main thing is you will be spreading the word of the gospel'," he said. "But the audience we want for the film is not just Christian, but non-believers and non-Christians."

Investors should note, however, that not all movie ventures into religion have produced as spectacular results as Mel Gibson's. The Nativity Story, starring Keisha Castle-Hughes as the Virgin Mary, failed to win the crowds after being crucified by critics last year.