NAIMA LETT – BLOG – HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN
“Heaven Is For Real” Is For You (Release 4/16)
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©Sony Pictures


THIS ONE’S FOR YOU, FAM!

Sony Pictures had you in mind, family of faith, when they produced HEAVEN IS FOR REAL, an inspirational film from the best-selling book (8+ million copies sold) that spent over 2 years on the New York Times List and 17 consecutive weeks at #1.

HEAVEN IS FOR REAL is “based on the true story of the 4-year old son of a small-town Nebraska pastor who experiences heaven during emergency surgery”. The film opens in theaters next week, April 16th, my youngest brother’s birthday (shout out Kamau), just in time for Easter.

THIS AIN’T NOAH

HEAVEN ain’t NOAH. :=) How so? HEAVEN’s filmmakers and audience are on the same page.

Boy was I crucified over Paramount’s NOAH, mainly on social media where we’re still learning to respectfully communicate, when I wrote in my blog Oh Noah! about my plans to see the film in IMAX. Folks flipped out.

Why? Because Christians ignored Paramount’s disclaimer and erroneously expected a biblical-based film. I did not. I saw the film to dialogue with wider culture and THANK GOD I did! I spent all last week talking it in interviews, over meals and at the national media conference where I was invited as a presenter. Look for my interview with Dr. Darrel Bock for The Table podcast at alma mater Dallas Theological Seminary on 04/22.

MORE CONTROVERSY?

Though, HEAVEN ain’t NOAH, it still comes with its share of controversy. Who knew? Apparently some folks believe that Colton Burpo, the 4-year old (now 14) did NOT see heaven and that his father Todd Burpo should’ve NOT written about it. One review I read said teaching kids about heaven should be like Santa Claus and teaching kids about hell is child abuse. Hmmm…

The film explores this natural tension that arises when a community has to decide what to do with a 4-year old’s testimony. What would you do if you almost lost your child and when he came back, he told you that he saw Jesus? It gets real.

FULL DISCLOSURE

Full disclosure: Columbia Pictures/Sony Senior Vice President DeVon Fraklin (The Karate Kid, Hancock, Jumping the Broom), who oversaw production of HEAVEN IS FOR REAL, is our friend and brother in Christ, and a group of us supported his pre-screening a couple of weeks ago. Of course, we want the film to do well its first week in theaters so that he can keep making family-friendly, faith-based films! But that’s not why I’m saying this film is for you.

Truthfully, this is the kind of film you’ve been asking HOLLYWOOD for: one that deals with the Christian faith respectfully, honestly and positively. Made for $14 million, the film’s production value is solid. There’s no bad acting here. The film stars Academy Award® nominee and Emmy® award winning actor Greg Kinnear (As Good As It Gets, Invincible), and the director/co-writer is Academy Award® nominee and Writers Guild Award winner Randall Wallace (Braveheart, Secretariat).

The relationship between husband and wife is real, and there are hugs and kisses, but no gratuitous sex scenes, no profanity (that I can remember), and the PG rating is for medical situations. The film centers around the story of a 4-year old boy, so it’s kid-friendly. The movie is simple and easy: People of faith making a movie about people of faith to encourage people of faith.

EASTER PLANS

So, next week, in between foot-washings and 7 Last Words of Christ programs on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Resurrection Sunday (we’re doing HOPE ARISE! @ Hope in the Hills), gather the family and friends and go have a good time at the theater with this sweet film that was made with you in mind.

Lots of love from the LaLa!
(Actually I’m sharing at the National Keystone Conference for Boys and Girls of America in Anaheim next to Disney. 4 weeks of travel and conferences down, 2 more to go. Pray for your girl!)

Naima
Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®

Are you going to see HEAVEN IS FOR REAL?

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