By Christina Leslie | Correspondent
It was an all-too-rare experience for moviegoers as teens and adults emerged from the darkness – both literally and figuratively – of St. John Vianney High School’s theater after watching a film with a powerful message that didn’t involve explosions, superheroes or over-the-top technical effects.
As part of the Diocese of Trenton’s Year of Youth initiative, the audience came together March 1 for a screening and discussion of the ODB Films movie “Paul, Apostle of Christ” in the Holmdel high school’s Little Theater.
“This was a learning experience; it made the Scriptures come alive,” said Paddy Morris of St. Martha Parish, Point Pleasant, who attended the evening screening with her family, including her ninth-grade daughter, Bridget.
“This is an opportunity for you to learn and grow in your faith,” said Dan Waddington, director of the diocesan Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, as he introduced the film company’s director of ministry, Doug Tooke.
“ODB Films is about ministry and relationships,” asserted Tooke, as he explained the genesis of the film. ODB Films, an acronym for “Outside da Box,” is a Catholic ministry that facilitates an encounter with Christ through spiritually-rich films. In 2016, the company’s first feature-length film on the Blessed Virgin Mary, “Full of Grace,” won a number of Christian media awards, including a Gabriel Award for best family film. The film’s success attracted the attention of Sony Film’s AFFIRM division, which commissioned them to write, cast and produce a feature-length film on the Apostle Paul.
Tooke described the journey of faith in the making of the movie. “In the film industry, there is a one-in-50 chance of a movie actually getting made, a less than four percent chance of a film breaking even, and a less than one percent chance of making money. Our film did both.”
Released in 2018, the 108-minute film stars James Faulkner as Paul, held captive in Mamertine Prison and deemed a threat to Emperor Nero. The Greek physician and fellow follower of Christ, Luke (portrayed by Jim Caviezel), risks his own safety by frequent visits to the ailing disciple in the attempt to smuggle out one final letter of guidance to the imperiled Christian community led by husband and wife Aquila (John Lynch) and Priscilla (Joanne Whalley).
“This is a glimpse of the early Church,” Tooke told the audience. “Really listen to the language. Be good listeners, and the truth will surface,” he said. To emphasize that point, over the closing credits the tagline, “This film is dedicated to those undergoing persecution” indicated the world has not much progressed in the 2,000 years since Christ’s death.
Tooke shared anecdotes about the film and its actors during a question-and-answer session after the film. He revealed that “Paul, Apostle of Christ” was filmed in September 2017 in just 26 days on the island of Malta, which is consecrated to Paul. The film budget was $5.8 million; to date, the film has grossed about $28.5 million worldwide.
Caviezel won the 2018 Movie Guide Award, nicknamed the “Christian Oscars,” for Best Actor, Tooke continued, noting the actor publicly shared the award with Faulkner at the ceremony. Caviezel, a devout Catholic, carried a fanny pack filled with relics with him while “Paul” was filmed.
Tooke said that Faulkner, not a religious man at the start of the movie, was frightened during preparations for a prison scene. Sure he had spotted the Devil in the corner of his cell, he confided in Caviezel, who grabbed his hands and prayed with him. The two filmed the scene immediately afterward. Tooke continued that Faulkner considered taking classes to be baptized in the Anglican Church at the conclusion of the film.
Audience members expressed their appreciation of the film and discussion as the lights rose in the theater. Joan Kret, youth minister in St. Leo the Great Parish, Lincroft, snapped a picture of the 16 teens who had accompanied her to the screening, which was sponsored by the diocesan Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries.
Tara McHale, a seventh-grade student and St. Leo parishioner, noted, “It’s good to learn more about the Bible. We can talk about this in group.”