To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE


SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

"Beyond the Mask" Breaks Christian Film Barriers

Charlene Aaron : Jun 4, 2015  CBN News

The beautiful thing about the story is it just points to God's mercy that says it's not something you're doing. This isn't something you can accomplish on your own." –Andrew Cheney

(Hollywood, CA)—The highly anticipated movie "Beyond the Mask" is set in colonial times, but it offers a mixed bag of modern day stunts and explosions.

Some are suggesting that the Christian movie is breaking barriers in the film industry by taking a movie about faith into the action and adventure arena.

Actor Andrew Cheney, who starred in the faith-based film "Seasons of Gray," plays the lead role of Will Reynolds, a former assassin hoping to overhaul his reputation.

CBN News talked with Cheney and other cast members about the film.

"You have a guy in search of himself, trying to right the wrongs of his past," Cheney said.

Actress Kara Killmer, of NBC's "Chicago Fire" plays Charlotte Holloway, the love interest of Reynolds.

"One of the things that I like about Charlotte is that even in this incredible action adventure film, even though she has this arc in the story of starting out as small town girl, very committed to her moral standing and her faith, she's consistent with her morality throughout the film," she said.

"She's held onto her core beliefs and I feel like that's something that doesn't get highlighted as much in sort of the new definition of femininity today," she told CBN News.

"To find someone like Charlotte is exactly what he needs," Cheney said of his character's relationship with Holloway. "She is the medicine that she needs to kind of point him toward the answer to this deeper question."

The film was produced and directed by cousins Chad and Aaron Burns of Burns Family Studios.

"Aaron and I really like action adventure movies and so we wanted to make a film, the kind of film that we like to watch. And so that's what we set out to do and 'Beyond the Mask' is an action adventure movie," Chad Burns said. "It has a lot of elements that are not typically in a Christian film."

The former homeschoolers said they wanted to make a movie that showcases their love of U.S. history.

Historical depictions such as the signing of the Declaration of Independence and scenes with Benjamin Franklin and George Washington are included in the film.

Writer and producer Stephen Kendrick, of "Fireproof" and "Facing the Giants" fame, helped mentor the young filmmakers through the scriptwriting process. They now hope to inspire a new generation of moviegoers.

We want to reach young people because this is the theme that God has really taught us in our hearts, these themes of identity, these themes of justification, these themes of hope through relationship with him," Aaron Burns explained.

"These are things God has been teaching us so we want to reach out to young people and tell a story that will capture their imaginations," he said.

Actor John Rhys-Davis, who is known for his roles in blockbusters like "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "Lord of the Rings," plays Charles Kemp of the British East India Trading Company.

Rhys-Davies told CBN News he was drawn to the project because of the film's compelling script.

"It's a good action adventure and I like swash and buckle, loved the script," he said.

"I like working with young directors and young filmmakers, particularly outside the Hollywood systems because that's really where the interesting stories are and interesting stories are told," he said.

Adetokumboh M'Cormack (Ade McCormack), from the television series "Lost," plays another villain in the movie.

Playing evil surprisingly comes kind of easily for me," McCormack laughed. "I did a lot of research of the time period."

"There were no characters really just like my character at all," he continued. "In fact a lot of the things you see, especially black people in the 1700s, a lot of them are slaves."

"And so I was so excited when I read the script and I read this character who was so articulate, so evil, so strong that I said I've got to do this role and I've got to do it justice," he said.

In April, "Beyond the Mask" producers partnered with Gathr, an on-demand theatrical film distributor. The film opened at a record-setting 440-plus theaters nationwide, the most screens in the history of on-demand distribution.

That success paved the way for the film the be re-released June 5.

Yet, the movie's message about grace, redemption, and true freedom is what the filmmakers hope stand out above all.

"'Beyond the Mask' is a story about who we are," Chad Burns said. "It's a timeless question and yet it's a very timely issue to discuss especially because of the way our culture is saturated with this question of image."

"And by that I don't mean a picture, but I mean the image we're projecting to the world of who we are and we're tweaking and managing that on Facebook, Twitter, or these other places," he continued. "And what we want is we want to cut through some of that noise and say who we are behind the masks that we put forward."

"The beautiful thing about the story is it just points to God's mercy that says it's not something you're doing," Cheney explained. "This isn't something you can accomplish on your own."

"Beyond the Mask" hits 100 select theaters across the country June 5.







SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Other Recent Articles from Breaking Christian News

Americans Split On Pastors Using AI, Skeptical It Can Help With Understanding the Bible

Daughters of the American Revolution to Vote on Definition of 'Woman' amid Criticism of Transgender Policy

FYI: These 568 Companies Are Paying to Trans Kids. A Nationwide Campaign Demands They Stop

'They Paid Me to Vote': Homeless Residents Make Explosive Claims after Spencer Pratt's Loss [Video]

America Becomes India's Top Gas Supplier amid Strait of Hormuz Conflict

Netanyahu: 'Iran Will Not Have Nuclear Weapons'

'Fauci, Biden Admin Lied to American People': DNI Gabbard Reveals Evidence of US Taxpayer-Funded Global Biolab Program

Human Trafficking Update: Feds Identify 15,500 Sponsors of Multiple Unaccompanied Kids

Ainsley Earhardt Celebrates America; Reveals Supernatural Experience That Strengthened Her Faith [Video]

Melania Trump Launches First-of-Its-Kind Foster Youth Accounts to Give Children Asset Ownership

Changing Tide: Record-low 38% of Americans Support 'Gender Transitions' - Gallup Poll

4 States Offering Pride Month Alternatives That Celebrate Family

PRO-LIFE WIN: Trump Admin Moves to Remedy Downfall of IVF

Karmelo Anthony Claims He's 'Penniless,' Can't Afford Lawyer for Appeal, Despite Pocketing $625,000, after Murder Conviction

Trump Says US Snuck 22 Oil Ships Past Iran in Covert Op, US Strikes Regime 2 Nights in a Row

Memphis Safe Task Force Surpasses 10,000 Arrests, Locates 154 Missing Children and Removes over 1,700 Firearms from City Streets

President Trump Signs $70 Billion Border Security, ICE Funding Bill that Includes Funding to Combat Child Trafficking

Report: Parents Remain Essential to Instilling Authentic Faith in Next Generation

Who Is Counseling Our Children?

Supreme Court Vacates Biden-Era Decision Outlawing Gas Stoves, Water Heaters



Search the Articles Archives

Keyword:  
Author:  
Words Posted On:  
Day Month Year



Subscribe to
Breaking Christian News


Follow BCN on Twitter
Are You Praying for Our Government Leaders?
BCN Staff

Steve Shultz
Steve Shultz, Managing Editor
Founder and Owner


Aimee Herd
Aimee Herd, Editor


BCN Plus
Are You Praying for President Trump?
 
 

All articles on this site and emails from BCN are copyrighted property of Breaking Christian News. Permission is given to link to, or share a BCN story if proper attribution is given to both the original writer and summarizer of the story. Breaking Christian News 2005-2019. All Rights Reserved.


Breaking Christian News is a division of Elijah List Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved


Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to; do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Breaking Christian News.

editor@breakingchristiannews.com