{"id":10701,"date":"2020-11-25T08:36:54","date_gmt":"2020-11-25T13:36:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/?p=10701"},"modified":"2020-11-25T08:36:54","modified_gmt":"2020-11-25T13:36:54","slug":"christmas-films-hope-for-the-holidays-and-christmas-in-the-rockies-dropping-on-thanksgiving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/2020\/11\/christmas-films-hope-for-the-holidays-and-christmas-in-the-rockies-dropping-on-thanksgiving.html","title":{"rendered":"Christmas films “Hope for the Holidays” and “Christmas in the Rockies” dropping on Thanksgiving"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here’s the latest from the crossroads of faith, media & culture: 11\/25\/20<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Movie
\nDTLA Entertainment (in association with ICON Studios) is releasing the dramatic film Hope for the Holidays <\/em>on November 26<\/strong>th.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/sup> The film, starring film icon Sally Kirkland and George Stults<\/a> (TV’s 7th Heaven<\/em>), tells an inspirational Christmas story about a wayward young man going to prison for robbing a bank for trying to pay medical bills for his mother dying of cancer. \u00a0The movie is based on The Talking Tree<\/em>, a short story by former Hells Angels leader George Christie. Independent filmmaker Ricky Borba directs.<\/p>\n

The movie has a special meaning for Borba. During production he found out that his own mother was diagnosed with cancer. She tragically passed away just weeks later. Borba, a Christian, says making the film became a purifying experience and a way to honor both his mother and God.<\/p>\n

He says \u201cWith the permission of the writer and producer, I was able to rewrite the dialogue of Georgia in the script to reflect the real-life conversations I was having with my own mother during her battle with cancer…Most of what Georgia says in the film, and especially the conversations she has with Danny, are conversations I had with my mom. I feel very fortunate to have been able to honor my mother like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kirkland felt an incredible sense of responsibility playing Georgia knowing that the character was so closely tied to Borba\u2019s mother, noting \u201cThe idea of playing such a strong mother and son story was what attracted me to the script. It\u2019s a film for all generations. It\u2019s the kind of film we need nowadays.”<\/p>\n

Others in the cast include Doug Hutchison (The Green Mile<\/em>), <\/em>Robert Lasardo (Psych the Movie<\/em>), <\/em>Todd Bridges (Different Strokes<\/em>) and Jenn Gotzon (The Farmer and the Belle<\/em><\/a>).<\/em><\/p>\n

Hope for the Holidays<\/em> is being distributed by Atlas Distribution and will begin streaming throughout North America on Thanksgiving Day, via Amazon Prime, iTunes, YouTube, Google and iScreening Room.<\/p>\n