Love Dare Blog

Fireproof takes #4 weekend box office spot

2008-09-30T21:46:43Z

SAMUEL GOLDYWN FILMS’ FIREPROOF ABLAZE: INDIE FILM FAR SURPASSES INDUSTRY EXPECTATIONS TO OPEN AT #4 IN THE COUNTRY WITH $6.8 MILLION HIGHEST OPENING WEEKEND OF 2008 FOR ANY FILM RELEASED ON FEWER THAN 1,000 SCREENS* NEW YORK CITY Sept. 29, 2008: Samuel Goldwyn Films’ FIREPROOF, starring Kirk Cameron, far surpassed industry expectations to place #4 at the box office for the weekend. Produced by Sherwood Pictures in Albany GA, FIREPROOF is the company’s third film following FACING THE GIANTS – also released by Goldwyn, which went on to gross more than $10 million. With an all-volunteer, 1,200-person cast and crew, FIREPROOF opened on 839 screens, grossing $6,804,764 with a per-screen average of $8,111. It was the highest opening weekend box office* of the year for films released on 1,000 screens or fewer. Directed by Sherwood’s Alex Kendrick and co-written with his brother, producer Stephen Kendrick, FIREPROOF stars Cameron and newcomer Erin Bethea in a story about a firefighter who must learn how to rescue his own marriage. On both FACING THE GIANTS and FIREPROOF, Goldwyn, Provident Films, and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's Affirm Films unit united to devise and execute a marketing strategy blending traditional theatrical marketing and an aggressive grassroots and faith-based outreach. Provident held screenings across the country, providing resources and materials for pastors and churches to spread the word about the film. Through its vast network and databases, Provident created opportunities for leaders to bring the film to their respective areas and generate excitement in their communities. Communities across the U.S. are using the film as a tool to support local firefighters, police, and other first responders’ groups with divorce rates up to 90 percent. As first responders and their spouses spend a night at the movies, volunteer babysitting brigades on are the job, freeing up couples to go. Parents buy tickets for their married children. Churches buy for members and use the movie to kick off marriage courses. High advance sales accounted for 40 percent of all Fandango.com sales as of Friday morning. In the week before its opening, FIREPROOF pre-sold more than $1 million in tickets – far above the predicted blockbusters. Meyer Gottlieb, president of Samuel Goldwyn Films, said: “Congratulations to Alex and Stephen Kendrick for showing once again that they know how to make a movie both entertaining and substantive. FIREPROOF will make you laugh, cry, and reflect. I’m confident audiences will continue to support it.” "The success of FIREPROOF is an example of the combination of great writing and storytelling, proper setup and marketing execution, all directed at an underserved audience hungry for filmed entertainment that meets their needs in many ways,” said Terry A. Hemmings, president & CEO, Provident Music Group. “Opening weekend turnout is a testament to grassroots marketing,” said Provident Executive Vice President Ben Howard. “We spent nine months getting this movie and its message to the right people . . . now it’s charging away on its own momentum.” Michael Catt, senior pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church and executive producer, said: “We believe good stories can have a good effect. This film was made by a small army of people who poured into something bigger than themselves – into not just a movie, but a movement to restore and uplift marriages across the country.” Bob Rubin, executive vice president, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, which oversees the Affirm Films label, one of the film’s acquisition partners, said: “The faith market is a vast and underserved community with a growing appetite for filmed content that is both inspirational and entertaining. We are delighted to be part of the team that brought FIREPROOF to audiences nationwide.” A book entitled The Love Dare was only a plot device in the film until audiences repeatedly requested copies for themselves. The book also debuted in stores this weekend, having pre-sold 600,000 copies. Written by the Kendrick brothers, The Love Dare finished the weekend at #12 on Amazon.com and currently is in its seventh printing. In coming weeks, Goldwyn plans to expand film’s release to more than 1,000 screens. SHERWOOD PICTURES This is the third movie by Sherwood Pictures, its second theatrical release. FLYWHEEL, produced in 2004, has sold 200,000 DVDs. FACING THE GIANTS in 2006, earned $10.1 million at the box office and has sold more than 1.6 million DVDs (in 58 countries and 14 languages). PROVIDENT FILMS Provident Films is a division of Provident Music Group, designed to produce and distribute faith-based films. Sony BMG Music Entertainment’s Provident Music Group is one of the world’s leading Christian music companies. Provident Music Group operates under the umbrella for Sony BMG Nashville. SAMUEL GOLDWYN FILMS Samuel Goldwyn Films is a major, independently owned and operated motion-picture company that develops produces and distributes innovative feature films and documentaries. The company is dedicated to working with world renowned and emerging writers and filmmakers and, committed to filmed entertainment that offers original voices in uniquely told stories. This steadfastness is best exemplified by the Oscar-nominated THE SQUID AND THE WHALE, SUPER SIZE ME, AMAZING GRACE and Julie Delpy's hit comedy 2 DAYS IN PARIS. Goldwyn's 2008 slate also includes PRICELESS, a romantic comedy starring Audrey Tautou, Oscar-winner Claude Lelouch's ROMAN DE GARE, FUGITIVE PIECES based on the international bestseller by Anne Michaels, TRUMBO, the acclaimed documentary about Oscar-winner Dalton Trumbo and the critically hailed ELEGY, starring Oscar nominee Penélope Cruz and Oscar winner Ben Kingsley. ### * except Hannah Montana in 3D

Day 1: Love is patient

2008-09-26T21:39:19Z

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

—Ephesians 4:2 NIV TODAY’S DARE The first part of this dare is fairly simple. Although love is communicated in a number of ways, our words often reflect the condition of our heart. For the next day, resolve to demonstrate patience and to say nothing negative to your spouse at all. If the temptation arises, choose not to say anything. It’s better to hold your tongue than to say something you’ll regret.

Day 2: Love is kind

2008-09-26T21:38:42Z

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

—Ephesians 4:32 TODAY’S DARE In addition to saying nothing negative to your spouse again today, do at least one unexpected gesture as an act of kindness.

Day 3: Love is not selfish

2008-09-26T21:37:54Z

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor. —Romans 12:10 TODAY’S DARE Whatever you put your time, energy, and money into will become more important to you. It’s hard to care for something you are not investing in. Along with restraining from negative comments, buy your spouse something that says, “I was thinking of you today.”

Day 4: Love is thoughtful

2008-09-26T21:36:57Z

How precious also are Your thoughts to me. . . .How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.

—Psalm 139:17–18

TODAY’S DARE Contact your spouse sometime during the business of the day. Have no agenda other than asking how he or she is doing and if there is anything you could do for them.

Day 5: Love is not rude

2008-09-26T21:35:10Z

He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be reckoned a curse to him. —Proverbs 27:14 TODAY’S DARE Ask your spouse to tell you three things that cause him or her to be uncomfortable or irritated with you. You must do so without attacking them or justifying your behavior. This is from their perspective only.

Day 6: Love is not irritable

2008-09-26T21:34:01Z

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.

—Proverbs 16:32 TODAY’S DARE Choose today to react to tough circumstances in your marriage in loving ways instead of with irritation. Begin by making a list below of areas where you need to add margin to your schedule. Then list any wrong motivations that you need to release from your life.

Day 7: Love believes the best

2008-09-26T21:33:45Z

[Love] believes all things, hopes all things.

—1 Corinthians 13:7 TODAY’S DARE For today’s dare, get two sheets of paper. On the first one, spend a few minutes writing out positive things about your spouse. Then do the same with negative things on the second sheet. Place both sheets in a secret place for another day. There is a different purpose and plan for each. At some point during the remainder of the day, pick a positive attribute from the first list and thank your spouse for having this characteristic.

Day 8: Love is not jealous

2008-09-26T21:32:07Z

Love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire.

—Song of Solomon 8:6 NIV TODAY’S DARE Determine to become your spouse’s biggest fan and to reject any thoughts of jealousy. To help you set your heart on your spouse and focus on their achievements, take yesterday’s list of negative attributes and discreetly burn it. Then share with your spouse how glad you are about a success he or she recently enjoyed.

Day 9: Love makes good impressions

2008-09-26T21:31:06Z

Greet one another with a kiss of love. —1 Peter 5:14 TODAY’S DARE Think of a specific way you’d like to greet your spouse today. Do it with a smile and with enthusiasm. Then determine to change your greeting to reflect your love for them.

Day 10: Love is unconditional

2008-09-26T21:30:26Z

God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

—Romans 5:8 TODAY’S DARE Do something out of the ordinary today for your spouse—something that proves (to you and to them) that your love is based on your choice and nothing else. Wash her car. Clean the kitchen. Buy his favorite dessert. Fold the laundry. Demonstrate love to them for the sheer joy of being their partner in marriage.

Day 11: Love cherishes

2008-09-26T21:29:22Z

Husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies.

—Ephesians 5:28 TODAY’S DARE What need does your spouse have that you could meet today? Can you run an errand? Give a back rub or foot massage? Is there housework you could help with? Choose a gesture that says, “I cherish you” and do it with a smile.

Day 12: Love lets the other win

2008-09-26T21:28:25Z

Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

—Philippians 2:4 TODAY’S DARE Demonstrate love by willingly choosing to give in to an area of disagreement between you and your spouse. Tell them you are putting their preference first.

Day 13: Love fights fair

2008-09-26T21:27:30Z

If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.

—Mark 3:25 TODAY’S DARE Talk with your spouse about establishing healthy rules of engagement. If your mate is not ready for this, then write out your own personal rules to “fight” by. Resolve to abide by them when the next disagreement occurs.If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.

Day 14: Love takes delight

2008-09-26T21:26:49Z

Enjoy life with the wife you love all the days of your fleeting life.

—Ecclesiastes 9:9 HCSB TODAY’S DARE Purposefully neglect an activity you would normally do so you can spend quality time with your spouse. Do something he or she would love to do or a project they’d really like to work on. Just be together.