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TechnoratiIn less than a month and between the releases of two other faith-based movies, independent feature film “Wesley” will hit the big screens, telling the story of the founder of a Protestant movement that claims some seventy-five million members worldwide.
(Photo: Foundery Pictures)Burgess Jenkins stars as John Wesley in "Wesley," a feature film on the spiritual journey of the founder of the Methodist movement.
Based closely on the actual events of John Wesley's life, “Wesley” is the story of an “irritatingly self-righteous instructor” at Oxford University who secretly struggles with his lack of true inner peace – which he eventually finds after experiencing saving faith.
“The story is one of grace, portraying clearly the spiritual transformation that changed Wesley from an outwardly religious man driven by his own need for salvation to one confident of grace, and compelled to share with others the love that he had received,” according to Foundery Pictures, which produced the film.
"It has all the elements that you’d want to put into a movie," independent producer and director John Jackman told the United Methodist News Service (UMNS).
"I’m hoping that we’re going to hit a crossover audience, that this isn’t just going to be of interest to Methodists," said Jackman, whose films include "Passing Moment," "Windsor Knot" and "An Uncommon Union."
For “Wesley,” Jackman reportedly spent more than a 1,500 hours researching extensively on the historical story of John Wesley. The script is based largely on the journals of both Wesley and his brother, Charles. Several top Wesley scholars were involved as consultants.
Particular emphasis had been given to advice from experienced independent film producers that have successfully completed films in the $2 million production budget range, according to Foundery Pictures.
Aside from that note, the budget for "Wesley" has been kept confidential "for a variety of reasons," Jackman told The Christian Post.
He further noted that a couple of sources have published estimated budgets for "Wesley" that were "entirely inaccurate."
Based on the quality of the official preview trailer, in comparison to other faith-based films, some suggest that the budget for "Wesley" is somewhere between those of “Flywheel” and “Facing the Giants,” the first two films of Sherwood Pictures, the movie-making ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church in Georgia. Sherwood Pictures, which will release its third film on Sept. 26, had a $20,000 budget for its first movie, “Flywheel,” and a $100,000 budget for its second movie, “Facing the Giants” – which became the surprise box office hit of the year, touching the hearts of more than 1.5 million people in theaters nationwide.
Sherwood's latest movie, "Fireproof," had a reported budget of $500,000.
According to Foundery Pictures, “Wesley” contains the elements to make a truly compelling motion picture. And "Wesley" director and producer Jackman believes that the dramatic and often surprising story of John Wesley will attract moviegoers of all faiths, as well as warm their hearts.
The movie begins with a spiritually conflicted yet pious Wesley, played by Burgess Jenkins (“Remember the Titans,” “The Reaping”), who is offered the chance to go to the new British colony of Georgia. With the hope of preaching to the American Indians, Wesley and his brother Charles, played by Keith Harris ("Big Fish," "Junebug," "Chicks101"), sail for Georgia.
In Georgia, the Anglican priest falls in love with Sophy Hopkey, the beautiful niece of the local magistrate; but the star-crossed love affair that ends tragically and Wesley is forced to return to England in failure and shame. Continue »
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