When Five & Two Pictures releases their movie, “Me & You, Us, Forever,” into theaters on February 15, 2008; most Hollywood marketing experts would say they won't have much going for them. How does a small company with very little promotional money and no big name actors put a movie in the theaters and expect people to come see it? The producer of the movie, Dave Christiano, has an answer.

“You do it with what you think and hope is a good story,” said Dave, “a real love story.”

Christiano has produced a film that is unique for Hollywood standards in that his love story won't have any sex or anything that even hints in that direction. Rather, his film is a sentimental drama that aims to touch the heart, is very real, and is something that anyone who has ever been in love can honestly relate to.

“Me & You, Us, Forever” is the story of a 47-year-old Christian man who is on the other side of an unwanted divorce. Troubled by it all, he starts to reminisce about his old high school girlfriend, who was his first love, and whom he dated for 2 years, 4 months, and 28 days.

“A first love is hard to beat,” states Dave. “When a 17 year old boy dates a 16 year girl for that length of time, during a stage of life when hearts are so very tender, you never forget or really get over your first love. To me, there is no greater feeling, and I've tried to capture that with this movie.”

The film is set in 2004 and then flashes back to 1974. We see through the eyes of the main character this relationship he once held so dear. Christiano took a page out of his own life to produce his film.

“This movie is inspired by a real life person,” says Dave. “Part of what this movie portrays is something that really happened.”

Casting the movie had an interesting twist. On August 19, 2004, something pretty incredible happened for Dave.

“I received an E-mail from a mother in Texas who wanted to know if her daughter could audition for any upcoming film projects,” said Dave. “This woman had sent a link to her daughter's head shot so I clicked on it and as soon as I did, I was stunned.”

The photo was that of a 15 year old actress named Kathryn Worsham. What took Dave by great surprise was that she looked almost exactly like his old girlfriend of whom this movie was going to be based on.

“I sat there for a moment and was truly amazed. Here I am getting ready to cast this movie and I had never intended to cast someone who looked like the real person of the story.”

Christiano arranged for Kathryn to do an audition.

“After seeing her, I knew I had my 16 year old,” he said.

Production was not being planned until 2006 and when that time would roll around, Kathryn would be 17, the right age for the character.

The movie tells the story of a teenage couple from western New York who met on January 5th, 1974 and dated until June 2nd, 1976. The actual production of the film began on June 3rd, 2006, some 30 years later.

“Kathryn's scenes were first on the production schedule, and it was really something special to work with her,” says Dave. “And I had only one regret after I finished her scenes; I wished I had written more for her. She was very, very good in the role.”

As the release date approaches for this movie, Dave Christiano and the few people associated with Five & Two Pictures will try their best to get the word out about this love story. The producer chose Valentine's Day weekend for the release of his movie and is lining up about 100 cities in 40 states for a nationwide release.

“A love story coming that time of year is for the romantic at heart,” says Christiano. “And I believe anybody who did not marry their first love, anyone who wants to see a love story, and those who have been affected by divorce, will all be able to completely relate to the sentiment of this film.”

Christian Spotlight™ on the Movies plans to publish a review of the film when it becomes available. In the meantime, see our preview page. For a list of theaters currently scheduled to show this film see: meyouusforever.com/theaters.htm

Michael Landon Jr. is no stranger to the world of movie-making. The TV series (Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie) that his father, Michael Landon played in, made a lasting impression on Michael Jr. and strongly influenced the genre of films that he prefers. Now in his early forties, Michael is dreaming bigger and directing family friendly films that really sell. Last year, he formed Believe Pictures with close friend Brian Bird, a writer and producer for Touched by an Angel. The partnership has resulted in “The Last Sin Eater” a very successful film adaptation of the book by Francine Rivers’ as well as “Saving Sarah Cain”… [more]

In a major motion picture release Ben Stein exposes the frightening agenda of the “Darwinian Machine”

It’s a movie that Ferris Bueller would take the day off to go see. What freedom-loving student wouldn’t be outraged to discover that his high school science teacher is teaching a theory as indisputable fact, and that university professors unmercifully crush any fellow scientists who dare question the prevailing system of belief? This isn’t the latest Hollywood comedy; it’s a disturbing new documentary that will shock anyone who thinks all scientists are free to follow the evidence wherever it may lead.

Produced by Premise Media, “Expelled” will be marketed by Motive Entertainment, the company that has spearheaded significant Hollywood blockbusters, including “The Passion of the Christ,” “Polar Express” and “The Chronicles of Narnia.” Rocky Mountain Pictures, an established distribution company, which has enjoyed numerous box-office successes, will distribute the film.

Ben Stein, the lovable, monotone teacher from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and The Wonder Years is on a journey to answer one of the biggest questions ever asked: Were we designed or are we simply the end result of an ancient mud puddle struck by lightning? Stein, who is also a lawyer, an economist, a former presidential speechwriter, author and social commentator, is stunned by what he finds on his journey. He discovers an elitist scientific establishment that has traded in its skepticism for dogma. But even worse, along the way, Stein uncovers a long line of biologists, astronomers, chemists and philosophers who have had their reputations destroyed and their careers ruined by a scientific establishment that allows absolutely no dissent from Charles Darwin’s theory of random mutation and natural selection.

“Big Science in this area of biology has lost its way,” says Stein. “Scientists are supposed to be allowed to follow the evidence wherever it may lead, no matter what the implications are. Freedom of inquiry has been greatly compromised, and this is not only anti-American, it’s anti-science. It’s anti-the whole concept of learning.”

“Expelled” uncovers that educators and scientists are being ridiculed, denied tenure and even fired in some cases for the fact that they believe there is evidence of “design” in nature, challenging the idea that life is a result of random chance. For example, Stein meets Richard Sternberg, a double PhD biologist who allowed a peer-reviewed research paper describing the evidence for intelligence in the universe to be published in the scientific journal Proceedings. Not long after publication officials from the National Center for Science Education and the Smithsonian Institution where Sternberg was a research fellow began a coordinated smear and intimidation campaign to get the promising young scientist expelled from his position. This attack on scientific freedom was so egregious that it prompted a congressional investigation.

On his journey Stein meets other scientists such as astrobiologist Guillermo Gonzalez, who was denied tenure at Iowa State University in spite of his extraordinary record of achievement. Gonzalez made the mistake of documenting the design he has observed in the universe. There are others, such as Caroline Crocker, a brilliant biology teacher at George Mason University who was forced out of the university for briefly discussing problems with Darwinian theory and for telling the students that some scientists believe there is evidence of design in the universe. The list goes on and on.

Unlike some other documentary films, “Expelled” doesn’t just talk to people representing one side of the story. The film confronts scientists such as Richard Dawkins, author of The God Delusion, influential biologist and atheist blogger PZ Myers and Eugenie Scott, head of the National Center for Science Education. The creators of “Expelled” crossed the globe over a two-year period, interviewing scores of scientists, doctors, philosophers and public leaders. The result is a startling revelation that freedom of thought and freedom of inquiry have been expelled from publicly-funded high schools and universities.

“The incredible thing about ‘Expelled’ is that we don’t resort to manipulating our interviews for the purpose of achieving the ‘shock effect,’ something that has become common in documentary film these days,” said Walt Ruloff, co-founder of Premise Media and co-Executive Producer. “People will be stunned to actually find out what elitist scientists proclaim, which is that a large majority of Americans are simpletons who believe in a fairy tale. Premise Media took on this difficult mission because we believe the greatest asset of humanity is our freedom to explore and discover truth.”

The extensive grass roots campaign for “Expelled,” spearheaded by Motive Entertainment president, Paul Lauer, will include nationwide screenings and endorsements with key leaders, promotional materials, a promotional resource DVD, publicity, radio promotions and Internet. In addition, a pre-launch campaign will include unprecedented partnerships and a widespread campaign together with educators, youth, scientists, families, faith-based leaders and the media nationwide.

See our preview page on the film.

“Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed” is scheduled for release in February 2008. For more information on Ben Stein’s journey visit www.expelledthemovie.com.

To learn more Creation versus Evolution, visit our Creation SuperLibrary. Another film which partly deals with the topic of the continuing repression of evidences against evolutionism is The Case for Creation.