Letter from Sean Wolfington – Producer of “Bella”
I am outraged
Today is our film “Bella’s” national release, we are selling out nationwide, ranked #2 in box office sales, second only to “SAW 4″, yet some elitist critics are attacking” Bella” for its positive portrayal of life, family, and friendship – calling it “un-realistic and cliche.”
There is another film being released today that critics are raving about – ” Before the devil knows your dead.”
This movie is about two men who kill their parents and critics are praising this film as:
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“a realistic portrayal of the human condition”.
“Family, and the core ideals that hold them in place, are blown to smithereens by the ravaged heart of Sidney Lumet’s scalding new thriller.” -Newsday
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I got into the Movie business after finding out that the Columbine massacre was inspired by a film the murderers watched over and over, “Natural Born Killers”, which got rave reviews when it came out.
It was hearing this on TV that convinced me to – Stop complaining about the effect of the media, and do something about it.
By the grace of God, “BELLA” won the Toronto Film Festival, was honored by the Smithsonian Museum, the White House, got positive reviews from Ebert, NY Times, etc,….and sold out all across the country opening night (tonight).
Yet……92% of the critics gave “Before the Devil knows your dead,” (that glorifies hatred and the murdering of someone’s parents) a nearly unanimous thumbs up.
64% of critics give Bella a thumbs down. The good news is that 92% of audiences have given Bella a thumbs up online: but if enough people don’t show up at the theaters we will be kicked out of theaters.
We need your help!
Fortunately some of the biggest and most credible critics have given Bella great reviews, like Roger Ebert (“Bella is Warm, sweet & funny.”), but a fraternity of elitist critics have launched an attack on Bella because it, and I quote:
“Ends like a TV show, and everyone has learned a neat little lesson. Phooey,” said one critic.
Why are they against people learning a lesson? Why are they against people being inspired? Why don’t they want to see humanity portrayed in a positive light?
Why are these critics celebrating a film that “blows to smithereens” the ” core ideals that hold a family together” while aggressively attacking a film that celebrates the power of faith, family and friendship to help people rise above life’s difficulties?
I do not know the answer to these questions but we hope to light a candle rather than to curse the darkness. As I am writing this I want to remind myself that we have to love even those
who attack us. This is also a reminder for me that we must fight harder to represent the voice of the people whose realities are more accurately represented by stories of love than stories of hatred & murder. I do not want to judge them but we do want to do something to stand for what is right.
We need your help!
In Hollywood everyone speaks the same language, box office, so please help us shatter the critics expectations by making sure this beautiful story reaches and transforms as many people as possible.
We need your help!
But we need it today – not tomorrow – not next week or next month – we need your help this weekend: especially Sunday. If you’re led to help us, here is what you can do:
1. Buy all the tickets for a show time on Sunday afternoon or night
2. Give the tickets away after church services on Sunday, to friends or family members
3. Accept donations to recoup the cost of the tickets and if there is a surplus you can give it to charity or buy more tickets
One young girl took all her savings to buy a theater for her church where she is giving out tickets after all the services this Sunday for a show time on Sunday afternoon .
Another young man did this last week and he accepted donations and it turned out that he recouped the cost of the tickets and had extra to give to the church: so he is doing it again this weekend.
Monday morning you will know that you helped us fight whatever forces are against us while helping Bella make a forever impact on the people you know and love in your community.
Buying tickets to the movies is your vote in Hollywood.
Below I have pasted some great news.
God has blessed us all, I ask for your help.
Sean Wolfington
Producer – “Bella”
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THE GREAT NEWS IS:
At our New York Premiere at the Tribeca Cinema’s, Tony Bennett was so moved by BELLA that he stood up with tears in his eyes and made an impromptu speech saying:
“This film is an incredible, incredible piece of art, a master piece that every American must see.”
Go to www.BelleNews.com
Also, Ebert, the New York Times and so many papers nationwide have written great reviews and articles on the film. We never expected that!
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Here are the details of how you can help:
1. Adopt a theatre for this Sunday or next weekend by
a. 1 person buys 300 tickets
b. 3 people can buy 100 each
c 10 people buy 30 tickets
You can give to family, friends, churches or organizations.
2. You can adopt an entire market by buying tickets for all the theaters and
giving them to the people in your community (if interested please call Jason
at: 202-375-9805)
3. Promote us online by visiting all online films review sites and giving us
a positive vote. Visit these sites over the weekend:
- http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bella/reviews_users.php
- http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809423607/info
- http://movies.msn.com/movies/movie.aspx?m=2073822
- http://movies.aol.com/movie/bella/27497/reviews#m_memberreview
- http://movies.go.com/readerreviews/movie?name=bella_2007=drama
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482463/
- http://www.fandango.com/MoviePage.aspx?mid=98038
Also, on behalf of the children from Columbine please give this film the
lowest User rating:
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/before_the_devil_knows_youre_dead/
You can counterbalance the critics support of this dark and negative film by
giving them a 1 rating. Please Blog and message people about
www.BelleTheMovie.com
and they can view videos at http://www.youtube.com/bellathemovie
4. Send this email below to your entire email list and ask everyone you know
to do the same: especially people who share our mission and have a big list
By the way, there are new miracles happening every day – we have been on a
lot of tv shows, radio shows and the support from so many people has been
humbling. Here is a short update:
-Last Saturday we won the Heartland film festival, the largest cash prize of
any film festival ($100k), beating “Lars and the Real Girl,” starring 2007
Academy AwardR Best Actor nominee Ryan Gosling, also in the “Notebook.”
- I was on Fox today and Ryan Seacrests show the other day and it went
really well. Check them out at www.BellaNews.com
- Tony Bennett gave the Bella team the Tony Bennett Media Excellence Award
and after our premiere in NYC at Tribeca he spontaneously walked on stage after
the movie and gave an impassioned speech about how much he loved Bella. Tony
said “Bella is an artistic masterpiece that every American must see.” We
were in awe: it was amazing. Check this video out along with the other
interviews at www.BellaNews.com
Below I pasted an “email call for Help and support.” Will you send this
email to your list and make sure people know to go out to the theatre this
weekend and next weekend?
Thank you for all your support of our mission.
God Bless,
Eduardo
www.BellaTheMovie.com
PS: I am amazed by the unending generosity of the people we have met
through Bella. Our group sales Director says she has never seen anything like this.
This is a testament to you. www.BellaTheMovie.com
HERE ARE WEBSITES TO HELP YOU PROMOTE BELLA
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-To adopt a theatre you can visit: www.HelpBella.com
-To view videos you can visit: www.BellaVideos.com
-To view and forward Bella emails with trailers and testimonials visit:
www.BellaEmails.com
-To download promotional resources visit: www.BellaResources.com
-To view news visit: www.BellaNews.com
-To view our photo album check out www.BellaMoviePictures.com
-To buy tickets you can visit our website: www.BellaTheMovie.com
Read More
Bella bringing top notch reviews
Check out these reviews on the new movie Bella:
Orlando Weekly: http://www.orlandoweekly.com/film/review.asp?rid=13244
Roger Ebert: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071025/REVIEWS/710250301
San Francisco Chronicle: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/26/DDQLSJV85.DTL&type=movies
Also, be sure to listen to the FL Today broadcasts to hear the story of how the movie was made: http://www.familylife.com/fltoday/default.asp?id=9515&past=1
Read More
Bella – A movie definitely worth seeing
On November 26th in selected cities across America, a beautifully crafted movie will premier that will not only change lives, it will save them. “Bella” recently won the Toronto Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award and I would like to ask if you would encourage your network to see this wonderful movie that FIRST weekend for two reasons.
1. You will not soon forget the message of love, hope, forgiveness and the meaning of adoption portrayed in this compelling movie.
2. If we as Bible believing, pro-family Christians vote with our dollars that weekend, a powerful message will be sent much in the same manner as “The Passion of Christ.” In fact, Steve McEveety the Executive Producer of “The Passion” is also a producer for “Bella.” If the audience response is significant that first weekend, the movie can then get greater distribution to reach millions more around the world.
For theaters near you where “Bella” will be playing, visit: http://bellathemovie.com/theater/
You can learn more about the movie at: http://www.bellathemovie.com/
I have seen the film and was tremendously impacted and reminded of why our Lord says that visiting the fatherless is pure worship. Mark your calendar for “Bella” and tell your friends.
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