The lead filmmaker of this movie about America's last revival senses another one may be in the offing and calls the Lord's timing "just perfect."
Jesus Revolution jumped out to a strong start at the box office, having grossed more than $30 million through just ten days in release, as we reported here. That performance has left the Hollywood movie industry and the filmmakers themselves, led by the team of Andrew and Jon Erwin, in disbelief.
The latter of the two brothers, who is the co-writer and co-director while Andrew is one of the producers, took to social media last night to thank audiences, saying he is "so grateful" for their support and adding that it has been amazing to see moviegoers actually "cheering during the film." Erwin shot his video missive at Pirate's Cove in California - the same location where he and his team filmed the baptism scenes for the movie - because he said it is such a special place for him.
"I've never felt a kind of spiritual power any day of my career (like) when we shot the film right here."
The beach is the actual spot where the characters in the film, which is based on real events detailed in a book by pastor Greg Laurie, took part in baptisms in the so-called Jesus movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Laurie himself was among the young people who came to Christ in that revival and was baptized at Pirate's Cove.
Erwin, a committed Believer who together with his brother makes up the top filmmaking team in the Christian genre, says of the movie that he is "awestruck by how God is using it" to touch people, including many who have been baptized themselves after seeing it. The picture has, however, been a long time coming: he first came up with the idea seven years ago, the longest it has taken for any of his productions to come to fruition.
With the signs of revival that started in early February of this year at Asbury University in Kentucky, however, Erwin is giving God the glory for orchestrating the lengthy development process for this film and crediting Him for "this perfect moment it time."
"That's my take-away: is that God's timing is just perfect. And revival is in the air in America again."
The Alabama native expressed particular gratitude to audiences of Jesus Revolution for helping make the movie part of this new movement of faith in the nation, and he encouraged them to take friends and family to see it as well. The picture stars Jonathan Roumie, Kelsey Grammer, and Joel Courtney in the role of Laurie. You can find a venue showing it in your area via this link to the film's website.