{"id":6653,"date":"2015-10-16T12:05:01","date_gmt":"2015-10-16T16:05:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/?p=6653"},"modified":"2015-10-16T12:05:01","modified_gmt":"2015-10-16T16:05:01","slug":"movie-weekend-woodlawn-in-theaters-october-kiss-and-i-am-potential-on-tv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/2015\/10\/movie-weekend-woodlawn-in-theaters-october-kiss-and-i-am-potential-on-tv.html","title":{"rendered":"Movie weekend: &#8220;Woodlawn&#8221; in theaters + &#8220;October Kiss&#8221; and &#8220;I Am Potential&#8221; on TV"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Here\u2019s today\u2019s dispatch from the crossroads of faith, media and culture.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Films to inspire. <\/strong>A busy couple of weeks hampered me from reviewing these films but, given the themes and talent involved, I think they&#8217;re worth putting on your radar.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Woodlawn<\/em> premieres nationwide in theaters Friday (10\/16).<\/strong> An<span id=\"yui_3_16_0_1_1444992683955_39205\" style=\"color: #000000;font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif\"> Erwin Brothers film produced by Kevin Downes in association with Roma Downey and Mark Burnett&#8217;s <\/span>LightWorkers Media banner. The movie stars Sean Astin, Jon Voight, Nic Bishop and Caleb Castille.<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Woodlawn Official Trailer 1 (2015) - Sean Astin, Jon Voight Movie HD\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BRQaEJv9qIk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p id=\"yui_3_16_0_1_1444992683955_39224\" class=\"yiv8850339964MsoNormal\"><span id=\"yui_3_16_0_1_1444992683955_39223\" style=\"color: #000000;font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif\"><strong>Synopsis (from the film&#8217;s press release):<\/strong> <em>Woodlawn tells the true-life story of Tony Nathan (newcomer Caleb Castille), who lands in a powder keg of anger and violence when he joins fellow African-American students at Woodlawn High School in Birmingham, Ala., after its government-mandated desegregation in 1973. The Woodlawn Colonels football team is a microcosm of the problems at the school and in the city, which erupts in cross burnings and riots, and Coach Tandy Geralds (Nic Bishop) is at a loss to solve these unprecedented challenges with his disciplinarian ways.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"yui_3_16_0_1_1444992683955_39228\" class=\"yiv8850339964MsoNormal\"><span id=\"yui_3_16_0_1_1444992683955_39227\" style=\"color: #000000;font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif\"><em>It\u2019s only when Hank (Sean Astin), an outsider who has been radically affected by the message of hope and love he experienced at a Christian revival meeting, convinces Coach Geralds to let him speak to the team that something truly remarkable begins to happen. More than 40 players, nearly the entire team, black and white, give their lives over to the \u201cbetter way\u201d Hank tells them is possible through following Jesus, and the change is so profound in them it affects their coach, their school and their community in ways no one could have imagined.<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"yui_3_16_0_1_1444992683955_39236\" class=\"yiv8850339964MsoNormal\"><em><span id=\"yui_3_16_0_1_1444992683955_39235\" style=\"color: #000000;font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif\">The Colonels make a run at the state playoffs led by Nathan, who achieves superstar status in Birmingham and attracts the attention of legendary University of Alabama football coach Paul \u201cBear\u201d Bryant (Jon Voight).\u00a0 It\u2019s the miracle, Hank says, of what happens when God shows up.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"yiv8850339964MsoNormal\"><span id=\"yui_3_16_0_1_1444992683955_39205\" style=\"color: #000000;font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif\">Roma Downey says <\/span><span id=\"yui_3_16_0_1_1444992683955_39213\" style=\"color: #000000;font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif\">\u201cThe goal of all of our faith-based projects has been to spotlight the power and goodness of God (and) <em>Woodlawn<\/em> fits that bill perfectly: It\u2019s an exciting and\u00a0emotional look at how\u00a0faith changes the fortunes and hearts of a football team, a high school and an entire city. This story is an important\u00a0reminder of what faith in action looks like. <em>Woodlawn<\/em> is filled with\u00a0truly memorable performances and at the heart of the film young\u00a0Caleb Castille .<br \/>\n<\/span><strong><em>October Kiss<\/em> airs Saturday (10\/17) @ 9:00 PM (ET) on Hallmark Channel. <\/strong>Ashley Williams and Sam Jaeger star.<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Preview - October Kiss - Starring Ashley Williams &amp; Sam Jaeger - Hallmark Channel\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HoAYfw2i-tE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"yiv8845474908MsoNormal\"><span id=\"yiv7838641808\"><strong>Synopsis (from the Hallmark Channel press release):<\/strong> A temporary nanny (Ashley Williams) is hired near Halloween by Ryan Lawson (Sam Jaeger), a widowed, work-obsessed executive. The eternally optimistic Poppy sets out to teach Ryan and his two young children what\u2019s important in life \u2013 unconditional love, family and the joy of everyday occurrences.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"yui_3_16_0_1_1444992683955_24148\" class=\"yiv8845474908MsoNormal\"><strong><em>I Am Potential<\/em> airs Sunday (10\/18) @ 7:00 PM (ET) on UP TV.<\/strong> The UP Premiere Movie was produced by American Family Studios for the American Family Association (AFA) and stars Burgess Jenkins (<i>Remember the Titans<\/i>), Jimmy Bellinger (<i>Geek Charming<\/i>), Jama Williamson (<em>Parks &amp; Recreation<\/em>), Lance Nichols (<i>Mom&#8217;s Night <\/i>Out) and Judge Reinhold (<i>Beverly Hills <\/i>Cop). <i>I Am Potential <\/i><span id=\"yui_3_16_0_1_1444992683955_24177\">was written and directed by Zach Meiners and produced by Stephanie Whonsettler and John S. Howard. Executive Produced by Jeff Chamblee. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"I Am Potential - Preview\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_1unoO-v5J8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p id=\"yui_3_16_0_1_1444992683955_24109\" class=\"yiv8845474908MsoNormal\"><span id=\"yui_3_16_0_1_1444992683955_24177\"><\/span><span id=\"yui_3_16_0_1_1444992683955_24117\"><\/span><span id=\"yui_3_16_0_1_1444992683955_24144\"><\/span><strong>Synopsis (From UP&#8217;s press release):<\/strong> <span id=\"yui_3_16_0_1_1444992683955_24146\"><em>(Jimmy) Bellinger plays Patrick Henry Hughes, a talented musician who always wanted to be part of something bigger than himself. He dreamed of one day joining the University of Louisville marching band but there was one problem: Patrick was born without eyes or the ability to walk. Before Patrick was born his father, Patrick John (Burgess Jenkins) had his own goals for the boy and a very ambitious career plan. Now, the father must learn to let go of all that to help his son achieve his dream.<\/em><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"yiv8845474908MsoNormal\"><span id=\"yui_3_16_0_1_1444992683955_24144\">UP Programming SVP <span id=\"yui_3_16_0_1_1444992683955_24144\">Sophia Kelley<\/span> describes the <em>I Am Potential<\/em> as &#8220;a wonderful family film about a father who sacrifices everything for the sake of his son. She adds &#8220;We are delighted to be working with the AFA to bring this true story of courage and perseverance against the odds to our viewers.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>John W. Kennedy is a writer\/development consultant specializing in teleplays, screenplays and novelizations<\/em>. He can be reached at <a href=\"mailto:john@jwkmedia.com\">john@jwkmedia.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><em>Encourage one another and build each other up \u2013 <\/em><strong>1 Thessalonians 5:11<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here\u2019s today\u2019s dispatch from the crossroads of faith, media and culture. Films to inspire. A busy couple of weeks hampered me from reviewing these films but, given the themes and talent involved, I think they&#8217;re worth putting on your radar. Woodlawn premieres nationwide in theaters Friday (10\/16). An Erwin Brothers film produced by Kevin Downes&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":225,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,13,1085,7192,1591,14,24,29,31,1],"tags":[8799,8798,8808,2240,8810,8804,8811,2239,1445,8800,8806,7219,8805,8801,8812,8803,4077,8807,8813,8814,5238,8802,8586,8809],"class_list":["post-6653","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christianity","category-family-matters","category-forgiveness","category-freedom","category-good-works","category-gratitude","category-movies","category-sports","category-television","category-uncategorized","tag-october-kiss","tag-woodlawn","tag-american-family-association-afa","tag-american-family-studios","tag-ashley-williams","tag-burgess-jenkins-remember-the-titans","tag-caleb-castille","tag-erwin-brothers","tag-hallmark-channel","tag-i-am-potential","tag-jama-williamson-parks-recreation","tag-jeff-chamblee","tag-jimmy-bellinger-geek-charming","tag-john-s-howard","tag-jon-voight","tag-judge-reinhold-beverly-hills-cop","tag-kevin-downes","tag-lance-nichols-moms-night-out","tag-nic-bishop","tag-roma-downey-and-mark-burnetts-lightworkers-media","tag-sean-astin","tag-stephanie-whonsettler","tag-up-programming-svp-sophia-kelley","tag-up-tv-msam-jaeger"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Movie weekend: &quot;Woodlawn&quot; in theaters + &quot;October Kiss&quot; and &quot;I Am Potential&quot; on TV<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/2015\/10\/movie-weekend-woodlawn-in-theaters-october-kiss-and-i-am-potential-on-tv.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Movie weekend: &quot;Woodlawn&quot; in theaters + &quot;October Kiss&quot; and &quot;I Am Potential&quot; on TV\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Here\u2019s today\u2019s dispatch from the crossroads of faith, media and culture. Films to inspire. A busy couple of weeks hampered me from reviewing these films but, given the themes and talent involved, I think they&#8217;re worth putting on your radar. Woodlawn premieres nationwide in theaters Friday (10\/16). An Erwin Brothers film produced by Kevin Downes&hellip;\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/2015\/10\/movie-weekend-woodlawn-in-theaters-october-kiss-and-i-am-potential-on-tv.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Faith, Media &amp; Culture\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2015-10-16T16:05:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"John W. 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Woodlawn premieres nationwide in theaters Friday (10\/16). An Erwin Brothers film produced by Kevin Downes&hellip;","og_url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/2015\/10\/movie-weekend-woodlawn-in-theaters-october-kiss-and-i-am-potential-on-tv.html","og_site_name":"Faith, Media &amp; Culture","article_published_time":"2015-10-16T16:05:01+00:00","author":"John W. 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Kennedy","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/#\/schema\/person\/e5d5ef9caeb6b01bcbf08ca6de6591c2","name":"John W. Kennedy","description":"John W. Kennedy is the founder and Dir. of Development of The Creative Universe Entertainment\u2122, a media consultation and development company focusing on the creation, development and support of high-quality mainstream entertainment that upholds positive timeless values, including trust in God. Current projects include \"Bryant Park\" (an uplifting romantic-comedy) and \"Photo Finish\" (an award-winning sci-fi TV pilot). He has written over 100 children's novels based on episodes of the Cartoon Network series \"Ben 10\", \"Ben 10: Alien Force\", \"Ben 10: Ultimate Alien\", \"Ben 10: Omniverse\" and \"Generator Rex\" among others. He also writes Beliefnet\u2019s \"Faith, Media &amp; Culture\" blog. Previously, he has produced successful news and talk programming for CNN, Fox News, Pax TV and SiriusXM. Specialties: Script Writing, Movie\/TV Novelizations &amp; Adaptations, TV Content Creation and Development, Creative Consultation, Producing and Booking News and Talk shows. He can be reached for writing, producing and consulting services at 516-640-1182.","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/author\/jkennedy"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6653","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/225"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6653"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6653\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6656,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6653\/revisions\/6656"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6653"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6653"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6653"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}