{"id":1165662,"date":"2021-12-28T14:49:42","date_gmt":"2021-12-28T19:49:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1165662"},"modified":"2021-12-28T14:49:44","modified_gmt":"2021-12-28T19:49:44","slug":"christians-used-to-have-a-seat-at-the-table-director-of-american-underdog-on-christian-comeback-in-hollywood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/christians-used-to-have-a-seat-at-the-table-director-of-american-underdog-on-christian-comeback-in-hollywood\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Christians Used To Have A Seat At The Table\u2019: Director Of \u2018American Underdog\u2019 On Christian Comeback In Hollywood"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">36<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fchristians-used-to-have-a-seat-at-the-table-director-of-american-underdog-on-christian-comeback-in-hollywood%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1165662&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Andy Erwin premiered his latest faith-kissed film, \u201cAmerican Underdog,\u201d at what he calls \u201csacred ground\u201d for a filmmaker \u2013 Grauman\u2019s Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n<p>Walking in, he spotted an homage to the Biblical classic \u201cThe 10 Commandments.\u201d The lobby display recalled an era when Hollywood embraced Christian values with open arms.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s no longer the case.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople of [Christian] values used to be represented in Hollywood quite well,\u201d Erwin says. \u201cWe lost our seat at the table.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The industry eschews overtly Christian tales today, focusing on pop culture brands like Marvel, DC and all things \u201cStar Wars.\u201d When studios deliver faith-based movies now they often reduce, or remove, the spirituality components, witness 2014\u2019s \u201cNoah\u201d or the 2005 biopic \u201cWalk the Line.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Christian films now flow primarily from the independent realm, with notable titles from the Kendrick brothers (\u201cWar Room,\u201d \u201cCourageous\u201d) and Erwin, alongside his filmmaking sibling Jon Erwin (\u201cI Can Only Imagine,\u201d \u201cWoodlawn\u201d).<\/p>\n<p>The duo\u2019s \u201cAmerican Underdog,\u201d depicting Kurt Warner\u2019s rise from grocery store clerk to Super Bowl MVP, brings God back to the big screen. Only the Erwins did so with a delicate touch.<\/p>\n<p>Warner\u2019s remarkable story is prime material for the big screen, and the Hall of Famer never hid how faith made that journey possible. Zachary Levi of \u201cShazam\u201d fame plays the gridiron great, but his saga\u2019s spiritual component isn\u2019t as overt as, say, a \u201cGod\u2019s Not Dead\u201d sequel.<\/p>\n<p>The Erwins knew they had to tell Warner\u2019s story in the most authentic way possible. The quarterback\u2019s story should focus on his courtship of future wife Brenda (Anna Paquin) and how their families came together as a result as much as throwing TD passes and prayer.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe leaned into those things. It just so happened to be about a Christian \u2026 we didn\u2019t shy away from that faith,\u201d Erwin says, adding the film\u2019s themes pack a universal appeal. \u201cIt\u2019s relatable regardless of what your beliefs are, redemption and hope, second chances.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That said, the Kurt Warner story is about family most of all.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe didn\u2019t want to do a color by numbers sports biopic \u2026 what is he really fighting for?\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n<p>Erwin admits some Christian films have lacked the sizzle of mainstream Hollywood fare.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs Christians we\u2019ve had a lot of catching up to do,\u201d he says, adding Christians\u2019 ability to tell stories have \u201catrophied\u201d over time.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s changing, witness the serialized tale of Jesus told via \u201cThe Chosen,\u201d which earned solid reviews from secular critics. Plus, Sony has an entire sub-studio dedicated to movies of faith, Affirm Films, and Lionsgate brought \u201cAmerican Underdog\u201d to the masses.<\/p>\n<p>And while film critics aren\u2019t typically kind to spiritual stories, \u201cAmerican Underdog\u201d is earning the best reviews of the Erwin brothers\u2019 career.<\/p>\n<p>Andy Erwin is \u201cpleasantly surprised\u201d by those results.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMaybe they\u2019re something about true stories that really register \u2026 optimism is making a comeback,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>The Erwins worked extensively with Warner in shaping \u201cAmerican Underdog,\u201d a process that showed the duo the commitment the NFL great brings to everything he touches. Warner would send the brothers texts at 3 a.m. with feedback and tips.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat Kurt drive you see in the movie exists in real life, whether it\u2019s winning the Super Bowl or \u2018Dancing with the Stars,\u2019\u201d Erwin says. \u201cHere\u2019s there to win.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Warner impressed upon the Erwins how vital Brenda was to his comeback saga.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe\u2019s tough as nails, a former Marine who is an aggressive Mama bear,\u201d Erwin notes. She\u2019s also \u201camazingly loyal and emotional,\u201d facets Paquin delivers in her raw performance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI want the audience to see a part of Brenda that I only get the privilege to see,\u201d Warner told the brothers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Erwins took a curious path to Hollywood. The pair worked at ESPN while still teenagers, contributing to ESPN College Football Primetime and, later, with FOX NFL and the NBA.<\/p>\n<p>They formed their own production company in 2002, focusing on commercials, documentaries and music videos for superstars like Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith.<\/p>\n<p>They later turned to movies, directing the 2011 film \u201cOctober Baby\u201d as their big screen debut. Follow-up features failed to light up the box office until 2018\u2019s \u201cI Can Only Imagine.\u201d That fact-based story, co-starring Dennis Quaid, scored $83 million from a reported $7 million budget.<\/p>\n<p>Erwin has spent most of his career working alongside brother Jon, although the two are pursuing projects independently as well. He credits their divergent approaches to his artistic growth<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re dysfunctional at best half the time,\u201d Andy Erwin says. \u201cJon sees the world and film from a much different perspective than I do\u2026. he makes my ideas better.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That creative tension, he says, brings out the best in both of them. He calls it \u201cfriction with respect, and the best ideas win.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not hard to spot the life lessons lurking in \u201cAmerican Underdog,\u201d from the power of family to how adversity often makes us stronger.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a love letter to dreamers and the idea of hope,\u201d he says. \u201cThat<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Andy Erwin premiered his latest faith-kissed film, \u201cAmerican Underdog,\u201d at what he calls \u201csacred ground\u201d for a filmmaker \u2013 Grauman\u2019s Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. Walking in, he spotted an homage to the Biblical classic \u201cThe 10 Commandments.\u201d The lobby display recalled an era when Hollywood embraced Christian values with open arms. That\u2019s no longer &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":279,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1165662","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1165662","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/279"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1165662"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1165662\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1165662"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1165662"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1165662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}