The Next Sherwood Movie

This website was created to promote and build excitement for this next movie. The content is from this site's 2009 archived pages and a press release from the Baptist Press website. If you are interested in learning more about Sherwood Pictures and its current pictures go to their newer 2011 built website: http://sherwoodpictures.com/.

I have to admit Alex Kendrick, an associate pastor at the Sherwood Baptist Church from 1999-2011 did a great job of building up excitement for their films.

SPOILER ALERT: The fourth feature film by Sherwood Pictures, named Courageous, was distributed by TriSta It was released in theaters in September 2011. The film went on to win the Best Feature Film and the Jubilee Award at the 2012 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival, as well as the Epiphany Prize at the 2012 Movieguide Awards. Courageous was also the first winner of the K-Love Movie Impact Award (presented in 2013) and winner of the first Dove Award for Movie of the Year (also presented in 2013). Pretty impressive.

It was a very memorably night the evening I saw Courageous in NYC. The movie was everything you would expect from the awards it eventually won. However, it wasn't the movie per se that made that evening so memorable. Instead it was when we returned home to our garden duplex apartment into find four inches of water on the floors. Apparently a water main had broken earlier in the evening and gravity literally brought the water to our lovely home. We were especially concerned for our valuable carpets and oriental rugs, which were dirty and soaked. While I scrambled to find a NYC company the specialized in this kind of clean up, my wife was grabbing everything that she could quickly salvage and move up to our second floor, including our carpets and mats. Luckily when I called a company claiming to specialize in local oriental carpet cleaning in NYC, someone answered. They sent a team over that evening and according to the insurance agent their immediate response helped minimize the damage and reduce the cost of restoration and cleaning. They are our heroes! We have watched Courageous on DVD several times since then. You can even rent it from Netflix if you are interested.
Now to return to the website's 2009 message to visitors.

On November 15, 2009 we will find out the movie’s title and its story line. Until then, let's see if their first three films have any clues about ... The Next Sherwood Movie!

Is it Courageous?

What IS it? Does ANYBODY know?

A Hint

From their first movie, Sherwood Pictures has been focused on more than entertaining moviegoers. Theirs is a true ministry endeavor. And each step along the way, they have seen the audiences grow and the impact enlarged.

After much prayer, creative brainstorming, more prayer, wise counsel, and still more prayer, Sherwood Pictures is ready to move ahead with their fourth motion picture.

On November 15, 2009 we will find out the movie's title and its story line. Until then, let's see if their first three films have any clues about ... The Next Sherwood Movie!

While we hope you enjoy this light-hearted endeavor, we sincerely hope you will join with us in praying for the impact of The Next Sherwood Movie. Thanks!

Call it mission media . . . or entertainment with purpose. Sherwood Pictures calls it "reaching the world from Albany, Georgia." As the movie-production arm of Sherwood Church, Sherwood Pictures harnesses the power of story to take the greatest story to people where they are.

Sherwood's first film, Flywheel (2003), took faith to business. Its second film, Facing the Giants (2006), inspired audiences with courage and hope. Its most-recent film, FIREPROOF (2008), shows what can happen when God redeems a marriage.

In each of their motion pictures, utilizing masterful storytelling and increasingly strong production quality, Sherwood Pictures is setting the standard for faith-based films.
To further distinguish Sherwood Pictures from typical film studios, as an extension of the Sherwood Church ministry, Sherwood Pictures productions use all-volunteer casts and predominantly volunteer crews. Sunday school classes handle catering.
Sherwood Pictures operates under the leadership of Sherwood Senior Pastor Michael Catt, Executive Pastor Jim McBride, and Associate Pastors Alex Kendrick and Stephen Kendrick.
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As part of Nashville-based Provident Music Group, Provident Films utilizes more than three decades of experience in bringing high-impact entertainment to faith-based audiences. The Provident Films team has experience working on some of the most popular faith-based films, including FIREPROOF, the leading independent film of 2008, and Facing the Giants, the surprise theatrical hit of 2006.

Viewer's Note: I would really like to see more movies that treat the subject matter as perfectly as this film. But you guys should do a better job of promoting this masterpiece. When I searched online for it I could not find it. That search result should have been #1 in Google! Use search engine optimization so your site can be found when people search for you. You can get experts, like TNG/Earthling to help you figure this out, but I know you'll get your message out to a lot more people if you do. Anyway don't want to dwell on criticism. Amazing cinematic work that will live longer than us. : Willis Jones II

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UPDATE

Baptist Press Press Release

Next Sherwood film to spotlight fatherhood

by Michael Foust, posted Monday, November 16, 2009

"Courageous," a movie about fatherhood that the church hopes will convict men to rise up and be spiritual leaders of their children and families.

Alex and Stephen Kendrick, associate pastors at Sherwood Baptist Church, said the script -- which the two brothers have not finished -- will focus on the lives of four policemen and their struggle to be better fathers. Not all of them succeed. It will be the fourth movie from the church, which saw its last two films, Facing the Giants (2006) and Fireproof (2008), surprise movie observers and gross $10 million and $33.5 million, respectively, despite relatively small budgets by Hollywood's standards. Fireproof was the top grossing independent film last year. The church gets only a small slice of the revenue and puts it toward various ministries.

The target date for filming Courageous is spring 2010, with release likely in early 2011. A budget has not been set, although it probably will be more than it was for Fireproof, which cost $500,000 to make.

The movie is being filmed at a time when 36 percent of all children live without their biological fathers and 40 percent of all births take place outside of marriage.

The announcement -- attended by a large contingent of Christian and secular media-- would have gone largely unnoticed if not for the success of its recent films, particularly Fireproof, which spawned a New York Times best-selling book, "The Love Dare" and also launched a marriage movement. The church, affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, is praying that Courageous sparks a fatherhood movement.

"The media often portrays fathers as weak, selfish, often immoral," Alex Kendrick told church members. "But we know the healthier home is when a father is engaged and involved with a purpose.... It is our desire that when men walk out of the theater, they will ask themselves what kind of man they are and -- if they are a father -- what kind of father they are."

He added to a standing ovation, "Is this [movie] likely to be controversial? You bet. But are we going to back down from what the Lord has told us to do? No way."

The controversy, Alex Kendrick told Baptist Press, cannot be avoided in a movie that tells men they should be the spiritual leaders of their families.

"We want to say, 'Fathers, it is your job to nurture and to lead your children in the admonition of the Lord. The steering wheel of your family is supposed to be in your hands, not your wife's, not anybody else's. This is your job.' Your job is to serve and protect and to teach about the Lord."

The movie has already impacted Stephen Kendrick's marriage. He said in writing the script he became convicted so much that he started leading his family in evening discipleship, reading the Bible to his wife and four kids, and leading in discussion. The effect on his children, he said, has been "incredible."

"My heart's desire is if we can call men to spiritual leadership in their homes and to be praying over their kids and their families and to be feeding them the Word ... there's no telling what God will do," Stephen Kendrick told BP.

The movie will spotlight one of the officers and how he is led to be a better father following a tragic event in his family. At one point the policeman tells his friends, "I do not want to be a good enough dad. I want to be a good dad honorable to God." He searches the Bible and writes out a "code" for what kind of father he wants to be, and he asks his three police buddies to hold him accountable. All of them are inspired by watching the change in his life, but not all of them end up being godly fathers.

Courageous, the Kendricks said, gets much of its inspiration from the Old Testament prophet Joshua and his declaration in Joshua 24:15, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." The movie gets its title from God's urging of Joshua to be "strong and courageous."

The movie's theme and title were decided after a year of prayer by the Kendricks, senior pastor Michael Catt and executive pastor Jim McBride. Even before the church shot its first film, Catt said, it was decided that the four must be in agreement over every major decision.

"We don't do any of this with a 3 to 1 vote," Catt said. "We have to be in harmony and unity because we believe that God blesses unity."

Courageous, Alex Kendrick said, is not a "Fireproof Part 2."

"Fireproof was centrally focused on marriage. This one is not," he said. "It will have aspects of marriage but this one is centrally focused on men living with integrity -- especially in light of their role as fathers. We're going after the hearts of men with this movie and calling them to take God at his Word."

The film's script, McBride said, "will dictate the budget," which they hope to know in about two months.

More Background on Sherwood Pictures

Sherwood Pictures, the faith-based film production arm of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia, was established in 2003 with the mission of creating films that not only entertain but also inspire Christian values and promote positive social change. Over the years, Sherwood Pictures has garnered widespread attention and acclaim for its unique approach to filmmaking, often involving volunteers from the local church and community. The studio has produced several successful films, including Facing the Giants (2006), Fireproof (2008), and Courageous (2011), which have impacted audiences around the world.

The Founding and Philosophy of Sherwood Pictures

Sherwood Pictures was founded by Alex Kendrick, an associate pastor of media at Sherwood Baptist Church, who envisioned using film as a medium to spread Christian messages. The company’s first film, Flywheel (2003), was made on a modest budget of $20,000 and featured volunteer actors from the church community. The film’s success established Sherwood Pictures as a credible player in the faith-based film industry and set the tone for future productions.

The overarching philosophy of Sherwood Pictures is rooted in its belief that films can serve as powerful tools for ministry. The company's productions are deeply intertwined with the church's mission, and every step of the filmmaking process is bathed in prayer. The goal is to create films that not only entertain but also address real-life challenges faced by individuals and families, offering solutions rooted in faith and Christian teachings. This approach has led to the creation of films that resonate deeply with Christian audiences while also appealing to a broader demographic seeking family-friendly content.

Filmography and Themes

Sherwood Pictures’ early films focused on specific aspects of Christian life and values. Flywheel dealt with personal integrity, particularly in the business world, while Facing the Giants tackled themes of overcoming adversity through faith. Both films were well-received by Christian audiences and demonstrated Sherwood Pictures' ability to create compelling stories that reflected the struggles and triumphs of everyday life.

The studio's breakthrough came with Fireproof (2008), a film that addressed the challenges of marriage and the power of faith in restoring relationships. Starring Kirk Cameron, the film tells the story of a firefighter whose marriage is on the brink of collapse but is ultimately saved through a renewed commitment to faith. Fireproof was the highest-grossing independent film of the year, earning over $33 million at the box office. The film's success was further amplified by the release of The Love Dare, a book featured in the movie, which became a New York Times bestseller and inspired a movement of couples seeking to restore their marriages through faith.

In 2011, Sherwood Pictures released Courageous, which focused on the theme of fatherhood and the role of men as spiritual leaders in their families. The film was produced on a $2 million budget and grossed eight times that amount within its first ten days in theaters. Courageous was praised for its emotional depth and its exploration of the societal impact of absent fathers. The film's message was so powerful that it inspired numerous fatherhood programs within Christian communities, as well as discussions about the importance of strong male role models in families.

Production Model and Community Involvement

One of the most unique aspects of Sherwood Pictures is its production model, which relies heavily on volunteers from Sherwood Baptist Church and the local community. Most of the cast and crew for each film are volunteers who are passionate about the mission of spreading Christian values through film. This approach not only keeps production costs low but also fosters a sense of community and ownership among those involved in the filmmaking process.

The success of Sherwood Pictures' films is a testament to the dedication and hard work of these volunteers. From acting and set design to catering and makeup, every aspect of production is handled by members of the church and community who view their work as part of a larger ministry effort. This communal approach to filmmaking has helped create a strong bond between the films and their audiences, as viewers can sense the genuine passion and faith that goes into each production.

Impact on the Christian Film Industry

Sherwood Pictures has played a significant role in legitimizing the Christian film industry and demonstrating that faith-based films can be both commercially successful and culturally impactful. The studio's success has paved the way for other Christian filmmakers to enter the industry and has contributed to the growth of faith-based films as a viable genre within the broader film landscape.

In addition to its financial success, Sherwood Pictures has also received widespread recognition for its ability to address real-life issues through the lens of faith. Films like Fireproof and Courageous have sparked conversations about marriage, fatherhood, and personal responsibility within Christian communities, and have led to real-world changes in the way people approach these aspects of their lives. For example, the release of The Love Dare inspired thousands of couples to renew their commitment to each other, while Courageous led to the creation of fatherhood programs that encourage men to take an active role in their families' spiritual lives.

The studio's influence extends beyond its films, as Sherwood Pictures has been featured in numerous media outlets, including USA Today, Good Morning America, and Fox News. This media attention has helped raise awareness of the growing Christian film industry and has further solidified Sherwood Pictures' reputation as a leader in faith-based filmmaking.

Cultural Significance and Legacy

Sherwood Pictures views its films as modern-day equivalents of the stained-glass windows that were once used to tell biblical stories in churches. Just as those windows helped convey the message of the Bible to illiterate congregations, Sherwood's films aim to communicate Christian values and principles to contemporary audiences in a way that is engaging, accessible, and relevant.

The cultural significance of Sherwood Pictures' films cannot be overstated. By addressing universal themes such as love, family, and faith, the studio has created films that resonate with audiences around the world. Sherwood's films have been translated into multiple languages and distributed to over 125 countries, ensuring that their messages reach as many people as possible.

In many ways, Sherwood Pictures has redefined what it means to create Christian films. The studio's emphasis on high-quality storytelling, combined with its commitment to promoting Christian values, has set a new standard for faith-based filmmaking. Sherwood's films have not only entertained millions of viewers but have also inspired positive change in their lives, making the studio's impact both profound and lasting.

TheNextSherwoodMovie.com was developed as a promotional platform to build excitement around Sherwood Pictures' upcoming films. The studio's commitment to producing films that inspire, challenge, and uplift viewers has made it a leading force in the Christian film industry. Through its unique production model, community involvement, and dedication to spreading Christian values, Sherwood Pictures has created a lasting legacy that will continue to impact audiences for years to come.

TheNextSherwoodMovie.com