Jon and Andy Erwin: ‘God’s Working in Hollywood Right Now’
By Movieguide® Staff
The Erwin brothers recently attended the K-Love Fan Awards and discussed how Christian music played an integral role in their careers as filmmakers.
THE JESUS MUSIC directors recalled that they made their big break in the movie industry with I CAN ONLY IMAGINE, a story about MercyMe’s lead singer Bart Millard.
“We’re excited because for us our roots is very much in Christian music,” Andy Erwin said in a recent interview with The Christian Post. “We started as music video directors, and then I CAN ONLY IMAGINE was our breakout moment. So coming back to a fan led event where we celebrate the music that we all love. I’m here as a fan first. The exciting thing is to see the faith-film movement kind of follow the trail that’s been blazed by the music movement, and to see that kind of adopted into this moment, it’s exciting.”
Jon Erwin added that their emphasis on inspirational and uplifting storytelling comes from their love for movies and entertainment.
“We keep it simple,” Jon said of their focus. “We tell stories that are inspiring and moving to us, first. That’s why I love to go to the movies, but we also love to be inspired and motivated. When we encounter a story, whether it’s the interview with Kurt and Brenda Warner, which led to AMERICAN UNDERDOG—it blew us away—or the first interview with Amy Grant before heart surgery that led to what became JESUS MUSIC, it’s amazing that we get to tell stories that inspire us first and then we let the audience into that.”
“There is a revolution and renaissance of Christianity in Hollywood right now, all over the industry,” Jon said. “I’m just grateful that we get to play a small role. But God is just working in every studio outside the system inside the system. It’s an uprising, and it’s fun to be a part of it. So I think you’re gonna see more and more of the films as they get bigger and better. God’s working in Hollywood, right now.
“I found that at every level of the industry, there are Christians just waiting for the right opportunity. It just feels like a landslide right now. I’ve never seen a moment like it in our industry in the time that we’ve worked in our industry. It’s pretty exciting.”
A portion of Movieguide®’s review of THE JESUS MUSIC reads:
THE JESUS MUSIC is a documentary taking a historical look at Contemporary Christian Music. It includes interviews from many major figures in Christian music. The movie starts with the beginnings of Jesus Music in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Mega stars Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith discuss their encounter with the first Jesus Music album, produced by artists from Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California. In 1972, Jesus Music got a huge endorsement from the Reverend Billy Graham, who spoke to 200,000 people at a Jesus Music festival in Dallas, Texas. The rest of the documentary interviews other major stars from the 1980s, 1990s and the last 20 years.
THE JESUS MUSIC is an impressive overview of a pop culture phenomenon. It documents and captures the spirit of its subject. It also shows why Christian music continues to be popular, despite some of the criticism it’s received from inside and outside the Church. THE JESUS MUSIC is a stirring document of an important part of today’s Christian life. In the end, as one song lyric says, “It’s all about Jesus.”
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
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