News
October Baby on DVD September 11th
Surprising Shelf Life For Entertaining Films With Faith Message
NASHVILLE – Sept. 5, in
the year of our Lord 2012 – The faith-focused film
OCTOBER BABY surprised Hollywood with a No. 8 box office opening
against tough competition and went on to post more than $5.3
million in ticket sales, strong numbers for an independent
movie. Even with the big-budget HUNGER GAMES opening the same
weekend, OCTOBER BABY earned the No. 3 spot for per screen
average sales.
If recent trends hold, OCTOBER BABY—with its critically praised,
compelling story about the value of every life—will have even
more success with its Sept. 11 DVD and Blu-ray launch.
“OCTOBER BABY is part of a growing trend of films that entertain
and enlighten audiences while communicating a core message of
faith,” said Ben Howard, senior vice president of the movie’s
distributor, Provident Films. “Experience shows the combination
of entertainment, message and broad-based support can yield long
life for a DVD.”
Three well-known faith films make the point:
COURAGEOUS—a faith-film about the importance of fatherhood and
parenting—opened in theaters Sept. 30, 2011, as the nation’s No.
4 box office draw and debuted on DVD Jan. 17. It has never
dropped below No. 7 on SoundScan’s video rankings, which
includes children’s and music titles.
FIREPROOF—encouraging people to strong faith-based
marriages—claimed the No. 1 independent movie spot for 2008,
with DVD sales launching Jan. 27, 2009. It has never dropped
below SoundScan’s No. 12 ranking.
FACING THE GIANTS’ DVD hit stores Jan. 20, 2007, and it has
never dropped below No. 34 on SoundScan.
Besides general fan loyalty, churches and organizations use
these films to teach and discuss, often with accompanying study
guides. Many organizations partner with the films in grassroots
support. OCTOBER BABY, a movie about forgiveness, includes the
little-known reality of survivors of failed abortions. (Hear
moving stories from actual survivors at
EveryLifeIsBeautiful.com.) Surrendering the Secret, an
organization that helps women deal with the emotional fallout of
past abortions, is one of the countless ministries eager to use
the DVD.
Retailers can add to the excitement for the faith-based DVDs.
For example, Family Christian Stores—a national chain—donates an
OCTOBER BABY DVD to local pregnancy resource centers with every
preorder.
Faith-focused and patriotic films in general outperform other
types of movies and DVDs, according to a Movieguide survey. For
2011, the report says, of the top 25 DVDs of theatrical movies,
52 percent contained some patriotic or faith content.
Alternately, material on the political left accounted for 8
percent.
A production from Jon and Andrew Erwin and American Family
Studios with Provident Films, OCTOBER BABY weaves a dramatic,
romantic, humorous story of one young woman’s search for the
truth after a life-changing discovery rocks her world. DVD
distribution in the Christian retail market is through Provident
Distribution, while Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
distributes to all other domestic distribution channels.
OCTOBER BABY Stars John Schneider (Smallville, Dukes of
Hazzard), Jasmine Guy (A Different World) and newcomers Jason
Burkey and Rachel Hendrix. In the movie, as the curtain rises,
Hannah hesitantly steps onto the stage for her theatrical debut
in college. Yet before her first lines, she collapses. Medical
tests point to one underlying factor: Hannah’s difficult birth.
This revelation is nothing compared to discovering that she was
actually adopted . . . after a failed abortion attempt.
Bewildered, angered and confused, Hannah embarks on a journey
with Jason, her oldest friend. In the midst of her journey to
discover her hidden past and find hope for her unknown future,
Hannah sees that life can be much more than what you have
planned.
To learn more, visit:
OctoberBabyMovie.net