Premiere
The location of the world premiere of the
faith-based movie Chosen (2021) was not California’s Hollywood last
Saturday evening (11/13/2021), but Mansfield, Ohio. Crossroad Church on
Park Avenue West hosted the event. The movie’s producer, several cast members
and a large crowd were present for the first showing of Chosen. The
crowd was very well dressed, there was even a sprinkling of formal evening gowns
and tuxedos.
Producer
Jason
Campbell, president of JCFilms, which produced the film, made some introductory remarks at the premier.
Camp bell indicated that Chosen was one of 40 faith-based and family films his
company has made. His desire in making these films “to change the culture for
good.” He also indicated that another film was in the works and to be soon
completed called Duplicate Divinity, which is also being filmed in
Mansfield.
Production
Chosen was shot in Mansfield and even included several members
of Crossroad’s staff, who were part of the cast, including the Lead Pastor
Dave Vance and the Worship Arts Pastor Ernesto Alcantara. The movie stars Dean
Cain, Kevin Sorbo, Heather Habura, and Eddie McClintock and will be released
Fall of 2021. The film deals with adoption and foster care, which is a growing
concern in America.
Plot
The
movie is a multi-plot movie which follows the lives of several children,
families and situations all involving either adoption of fostering of children.
It is simultaneously entertaining, inspiring, and educational. One moment you
are laughing and the next you become tearful. It is heartwarming and heart
wrenching. Family is a theme and boy, does our society need to hear that today!
Unfortunately, many kids are passed from home to home in
the foster care system, some never really find their forever family.
Purpose
Chosen should
empower and motivate people of faith, especially, increasing awareness, advocacy,
and involvement of the plight of children in need of adoption and/or fostering.
In Ohio nearly 16,000 children are being cared for in foster care every day. And
that number is expected to increase as the number of foster parents declines. There
has also been an increase in teen suicides.
Chosen highlights the beauty and potential of adoption and foster parenting, but it also shows challenges that many adoptive and foster parents face. The movie depicts how communities and people of faith can come together to help overcome these many challenges. In the movie Child Protective Services (CPS) is positively portrayed, which is far from reality, but it does show how CPS should operate ideally. There are a great many problems within the foster care system today – child trafficking, abuse, and exploitation. However, God-empowered Christians and churches can take back some of the spiritual ground that has been lost. Matthew 25:35 challenges us all, “For I was hungry, and you gave Me food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you took Me in;”
The JCFilm’s website states that more than making a film for
entertainment, the company’s goal is to leave a lasting effect on the lives of
those involved in adoption and foster parenting in Ohio and around the world. Campbell
is quoted as saying, "We don't just want to make a film. We want to make a
film that will change and benefit the lives of children… This is more than just a film; it is a movement to empower people of
faith to get involved.” Campbell has called the movie “a blueprint for what churches
and communities can do to help” improve adoption and fostering of children.
“Realistically,
not everyone can be a foster or adoptive parent, we get that. But everyone can
give a helping hand,” Campbell remarked. “Thus, we are creating Ohio Helping
Hands to follow the blueprints echoed in the film to help people find ways
to support foster and adoptive families. Simply put, Ohio Helping Hands
will provide parents and children in foster care or adoption situations with
programs that promote safety, permanency, and community.”
Promotion
Watch
for Chosen to come to a theater near you later this fall and buy a
ticket to the movie, and/or buy the DVD. Visit the website, https://OhioHelpingHands.org, and see what the Lord would have you do.
