Christian Leadership to Change the World
Wired4Film Connects Hollywood and Faith
CBN.com –
David Acuff came to Regent University with three goals in mind. “One,” he says, “was to get film-specific hands-on training; two, to network with other Christian filmmakers; and three, leave with a healthy demo reel of projects I’d worked on.”
He did all of those things and more, including directing Regent’s 2001 summer film Byline, which won more than ten national film festival awards, including a CINE Golden Eagle.
After graduation, Acuff longed to keep the Regent film connection alive. Today, he is taking advantage of the world’s Internet preoccupation to bring Christian filmmakers together through Wired4Film.com.
“As I reconnected with other alums on Facebook,” says Acuff, “I saw there was no place on the Web that covered all the film projects Regent alumni had in the works.
I saw the need for a Hollywood Reporter for faith-based movies.”
Enter Wired4Film.com. Acuff launched the site on January 5, 2009, with the goal of not only collecting and posting news on faith-based films from around the Web, but also approaching other filmmakers to discuss their work so Christians in the industry could learn from peers and be encouraged.
Thanks to Wired4Film and his film-student-at-heart perspective, Acuff has had the opportunity for discussions with industry people like independent filmmaker Dan Millican and Hollywood producer Ralph Winter, as well as for partnering with individuals and other websites like Phil Cooke, StuffChristiansLike.net, GoIntoTheStory.com and Cloud Ten Pictures.
“Wired4Film has touched a nerve in Hollywood,” says Phil Cooke, author, filmmaker and CEO of Cooke Pictures. “It’s become a critical connection between film professionals and people of faith.”
André van Heerden, CEO of Cloud Ten Pictures Inc., agrees that Wired4Film is filling a need in the movie industry. “Wired4Film is a key resource. Often we’re very close to getting into production and are looking for one more piece to the puzzle. Heading to Wired4Film often leads us to that piece.”
Acuff is currently aware of a dozen faith-based films in production. “And those are just the ones we know about,” he says. “At least four of them have Regent alumni at the helm.”
God is calling Christians back into the arts, affirms Acuff. “Wired4Film is specifically for those who believe they have been called by Christ to the film industry. The site will empower and equip them to excel. And it will leave a record for generations to follow.”
Acuff plans on expanding Wired4Film.com to cover events such as San Antonio Independent Film Festival (SAICFF) and Sundance Film Festival, and posting behind-the-scenes footage of faith-based films in the works. Other Wired4Film.com developments on the horizon include discussion boards, filmmaker blogging, and original script posting and rating.
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