Christian Task Force Develops New Rating System for Films

A task force made up of representatives from Christian retailers including ChristianCinema.com and The Dove Foundation, developed a new rating system for DVDs and theatrical films to equip customers with information about content.

“No one wants to be surprised with unexpected language or uncomfortable situations depicted on the screen when the family settles down to view entertainment,” said Ron Forster, owner of The Open Door in Terre Haute, IN, and a member of the task force. He said the ratings help give consumers information they need to confirm a purchasing decision and assist retailers by providing definitive information about the content.

The Dove Foundation's new rating system, which should be finalized this summer, adds categories for films  that are "Faith Based," "Faith Friendly," in addition to their already popular "Family Approved" Seal.

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Want to See a Family Movie? There's an App for That!

Dove Foundation launches a mobile app for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

The Dove Foundation announces the launch of mobile apps for the new generation of smart phones, including a FREE app for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Dove is a nonprofit advocacy organization that encourages Hollywood to produce more family-oriented movies and DVDs. The Foundation publishes reviews of all the latest movies and DVDs on its website at www.dove.org.

“Many families who rely on our online reviews asked us to make them available in a mobile format,” added Rolfe. “We are grateful to Six Voices, a technology company in Grand Rapids for setting up our iPhone/iPod Touch app.”

The Dove mobile app offers smart phone owners several key advantages. One advantage is that people can gain instant access to Dove’s comprehensive reviews even when away from their home computers.

While standing in the theater trying to decide which movie to see, people can type in www.dove.org on their iPod Touch, iPhone or any other smart phone and read Dove’s reviews instantly before purchasing their tickets. The same application applies to anyone browsing through the DVDs in a retail store.

Another nice feature of the mobile app is that it renders Dove’s reviews in a special, easy to read format designed for the small screens on mobile phones. “The technology we use recognizes whether the inquiry is coming from a computer or cell phone,” said Director of Operations, Scott Rolfe. “That way, people don’t have to memorize two web addresses to get their information on various platforms.”

With the help of technology partner, Six Voices, Dove is looking into other advanced technologies that that will help deliver to families everything they need to remain informed in this exciting, and challenging age of new media.

The Dove Foundation is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1991 whose mission is to encourage and promote the creation, production, distribution and consumption of family-friendly entertainment. Nearly 200,000 unique visitors each month rely on Dove’s in-depth movie and DVD reviews at www.dove.org to determine what is appropriate for their families.

Six Voices is a mobile technology company that transforms ideas into reality. “You dream it, Six Voices will deliver."

CRYSTAL DOVE SEAL WINNERS

You voted and you won! It’s not often that families can influence the entertainment giant called, Hollywood. Voting for your favorite family-friendly movie in the annual CRYSTAL DOVE SEAL awards is one of the very few opportunities to do so.  Here are the winners in each of seven major categories.

 If you are one of those who complain that Hollywood is not producing enough wholesome family-oriented movies, here are seven selections that you can choose from when you want to enjoy a high-quality, uplifting entertainment experience.  You can add your vote to those already cast by purchasing or renting the DVDs of these CRYSTAL DOVE SEAL award-winning titles.

The Dove Foundation is proud to be able to represent discriminating families by presenting this cherished award to the key executive of each winning entry.  Recipients will be permitted to display the CRYSTAL DOVE SEAL on all promotional materials as well as on the packaging of the winning DVDs.

We wish to exhort the producers of these award-winners to continue producing more of the same kind of wholesome, entertaining stories that can be watched with impunity by families everywhere. 

Click here for the winners.

World's Largest Sound Stage Opens in Grand Rapids, Michigan

The state's largest film production studio, featuring the world's largest sound stage, has officially opened for business today in Avastar Park in Walker, Michigan, a suburb of Grand Rapids.

Hanger42 Studios, owned by a group of local investors, has invested $45 million into purchasing and renovating 450,000 square feet of the former Lear Corp. auto parts manufacturing plant at 2150 Alpine Ave. NW. The investors plan to turn the massive space into production-ready studios, office space and post-production suites.


"This is a project that has been in the works for quite some time and represents a true public-private sector partnership. We couldn't be more excited to now officially open for business and are very appreciative to the Michigan Film Office for all the support it has provided," said Joe Peters, a principal with Hanger42 Studios, in a release.

Hanger42 Studios bought the facility from John Buchanan, a partner in the local law firm Buchanan and Beckering, and Blue Bridge Ventures LLC CEO Jack Buchanan. They purchased the plant from Lear nearly four years ago, redeveloped the buildings and the property, and gained a Renaissance Zone designation for the site with help from local and state officials.

"The vision was always adaptive reuse for this building when my father and I purchased it in 2006, and it's rewarding to be able to collaborate with Joe to put this innovative project together," said Jack Buchanan, who studied film production in college and will serve as a consultant to the new enterprise.
"We've seen the early fruits of this with two films and I look forward to working with Hanger42 Studios in an advisory role. Based on the buzz and activity we've already created for the studio, I am highly optimistic about the future for Hanger42 Studios," he added.

Peters said they've hired Studio O+A, a San Francisco firm, to design the interior space with a
goal of eventually creating more than 50,000 square feet of production offices. A full range of concierge services, pre- and-post production space, a state-of-the-art screening room and ample office space will make up Hanger42 Studios.

"Hanger42 Studios concierge services will multiply the economic impact to the local West Michigan community and tie more companies, people and jobs to the growing film industry," said Peters, who expects up to 1,000 jobs to be created in the studio's first three years.

Courageous the Movie -stay tuned.

Courageous the Movie is the next release from Sherwood Pictures, creators of FIREPROOF.
http://www.courageousmovie.com/

Vote for the best Dove Family-Approved movies for 2009

You may now cast your vote online for your favorite Dove Family-Approved movie of 2009. Click on this link: http://www.dove.org/cdsballot09.asp The winners in each of 7 categories ADVENTURE, ANIMATED, COMEDY, DOCUMENTARY, DRAMA, LIMITED RELEASE and MUSICAL will receive the coveted Crystal Dove Seal trophy. Deadline for voting is February 15th.   




In preparation for this article I Googled the “ten best movies of 2009” and found a mere 2,080,000 entries.  One would think that this topic has been thoroughly covered. Upon further research, however, I found that the vast majority of the 2 million plus entries reflect the opinions of single bloggers.  Most of the rest were op-ed pieces written by film “critics.” Not much consensus there. A few websites reflect collective opinions from voters or members, such as the American Film Institute (AFI).
          Actually, voting is a very credible way of selecting the best of anything, so long as we acknowledge that the results reflect the subjective opinions of voters. There are absolutely no objective criteria where voting is concerned, even if someone can site the tangible basis for casting their particular vote. So, what separates one “best of” award from another?  The qualifications and commonalities of the voters.

          Acclaimed awards like the Critics Choice Awards and the Golden Globes represent the collective opinion of each group’s members/voters, most of whom are critics or pundits. Others like the Academy Awards, Producers’ Guild, Writers’ Guild, and Screen Actors’ Guild Awards represent peers voting for peers; hardly an objective group.
          Voters of their favorite Dove Family Approved movie of 2009 are joined by a set of common values based on traditional Judeo-Christian ethics and standards of behavior. Dove voters are mostly enthusiastic movie-goers who look for quality motion pictures that entertain without offending.  

          Major movie studios and independent filmmakers value the Crystal Dove Seal. This award is a tribute to you and the hundreds of thousands of other Dove families who care about making wise entertainment choices and acknowledging when Hollywood produces movies that reflect their values.

          Vote now and we will send you a copy of the results and the comments of each studio exec. You will also be included in a special drawing for some pretty nice Dove family approved DVDs.

          The polls are now open - vote today! 

Tiger Woods advised to turn to Christianity

On “Fox News Sunday” Brit Hume served up some personal advice to Tiger Woods. 

Hume says, “Tiger Woods will recover as a golfer, whether he can recover as a person, I think is a very open question as it’s a tragic situation with him. I think he has lost his family. It’s not clear to me whether he will be able to have a relationship with his children. But the Tiger Woods that emerges once the news value does out of this scandal, the extent to which he can recover seems to me depends on his faith.

“He is said to be a Buddhist. I don't think that faith offers the kind of forgiveness and redemption that is offered by the Christian faith. My message to Tiger would be, 'Tiger, turn to the Christian faith and you can make a total recovery and be a great example to the world."