September 2008 – It began to take shape with sticky notes and a blank wall covered by birch paper as brothers Alex and Stephen Kendrick started conceptualizing Fireproof, the third film from Sherwood Pictures, the moviemaking ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia. 

“We’d come up with a scene or a principle or an idea and we’d start sticking them all over the wall,” Alex said. 

It’s not the professional process one might expect from moviemakers, but Sherwood Pictures is known for shattering the expectations of Hollywood. 

With an all-volunteer cast and crew and only a $100,000 production budget, Sherwood Pictures and Provident Films released Facing the Giants in 2006 in 401 theaters. The movie spread to more than 1,000 theaters, made over $10 million at the box office and sold more than one million DVDs. The church’s first film, Flywheel, has sold more than 50,000 DVDs.

But the Kendrick brothers and their church family are quick to explain that it’s not about the money. Profits from the films go toward the building of an 80-acre sports park for the local Albany community. It’s all about reaching the world from Albany, Georgia – a challenge from Michael Catt, the church’s senior pastor. 

“God hasn’t called every church to do movies, but God has called every church to fulfill its purpose in its community,” Catt said. 

“We are ministers first before we’re moviemakers,” Stephen explained. “It’s exciting for us to be able to take one of the most influential tools that we have available – moviemaking, this art form – to communicate the best messages in the world, which are truths from God’s Word.” 

Hot ashes
The truths presented in the upcoming Fireproof, set to release September 26 in select theaters, will likely have an effect on everyone who sees it considering 90% of people get married. 

Fireproof is far from a chick-flick about an empty romance, and marriage is at the heart of its message. It’s about unconditional love and the transforming power of Christ in the lives of husbands and wives.

“Most movies are about relationships that lead to marriage,” Catt said. “Fireproof picks up seven years into a marriage headed for divorce. And the question is: Why stay together?”

In the movie, characters Caleb and Catherine Holt are asking themselves that very question. In love at one time, they are now living separate lives led by their own selfish desires. Caleb, a firefighter, and Catherine, a public relations director of a hospital, are constantly arguing over jobs, finances, housework and outside interests.

Caleb comes to the conclusion that “marriages aren’t fireproof; sometimes people get burned.” 

But his colleague reminds him: “Fireproof doesn’t mean that fire will never come, but that when it comes, you’ll be able to withstand it.”

Still Caleb and Catherine prepare to begin divorce proceedings. Caleb’s father steps in and challenges his son to commit to a 40-day experiment called “The Love Dare.” Caleb doesn’t really see the point, but agrees to it more for the sake of his father than his marriage. His heart isn’t in it, and his efforts become even weaker when he realizes the challenge is linked to his parents’ newfound faith – something in which Caleb has zero interest. 

But continued frustration with Catherine and his half-hearted attempt to save their marriage lead Caleb to ask: “How am I supposed to show love to somebody who constantly rejects me?”

Caleb’s father explains it as the type of love God lavishes upon His children. 

“Caleb understands the concept that God has loved him over and over and showed that by the cross when Christ died for him,” explained actor Kirk Cameron, who plays Caleb. “So then Caleb gets right with God and understands that God has promised to never break that covenant relationship that He has with His children and that a man needs that kind of attitude toward his bride.” 

But is it too late for this fireman to rekindle the flames in his marriage? He is accustomed to rescuing others but rescuing his wife’s heart is his toughest job yet. 

Smoldering embers
“This movie is about fireproofing your most important earthly relationship,” said Jim McBride, executive pastor of Sherwood and executive producer of Fireproof. 

Doing so is much like adhering to the firefighter’s credo: “Never leave your partner behind, especially in a fire.”

“Almost everyone we know, including the cast [all volunteer] and crew [mostly volunteer], has been affected by a broken marriage or relationship in their own family or among close friends,” Stephen said. “This story challenges common misconceptions about love and dares people to try God’s design for relationships and romance. 

“The Bible calls marriage a covenant, not a contract. Contracts say, ‘I take you for me.’ A covenant says, ‘I give myself to you.’” 

The purpose of the film is to positively affect marriages and relationships by giving viewers a Biblical understanding of love. 

“I believe it will open some eyes and just might help save some failing marriages,” Catt said. 

And there are plenty of marriages in need of salvation. 

“In my lifetime, the divorce rate has climbed to one out of two marriages, and the marriage rate has dropped 30%,” the senior pastor said. 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau and marriage organizations, almost half of all weddings lead to divorce with 25% of U.S. adults divorcing at least once while many couples skip it all together because they only see the effects of poor marriages. 

While these statistics weigh heavy in the Bible Belt, it’s also interesting to note that firefighters have one of the nation’s highest divorce rates, which adds to the authenticity of Fireproof. 

The movie also addresses the real life issues of indifference, emotional affairs and Internet pornography.

Because these issues are so real to so many people, “These movies open people’s hearts in a way they are not aware of,” said actress Erin Bethea, who plays Catherine. “The purpose of these films is not to shove the Gospel down your throat but to present it to you so that you don’t feel forced to watch a ‘Christian movie.’”

“I think it’s the right way to address the issues rather than arguing about some of the ways marriages are under attack right now,” McBride explained. “If we’re just trying to lift up the right examples of what covenant marriage should look like, I figure that’s going to be the right way of doing an awesome work.” 

 “No one can predict what God will do with this movie. There’s an outcome yet to be determined,” Catt added. “We’re just bringing our five loaves and two fish before the Lord.” 

As of press time, Fireproof was not rated but was expected to receive a PG rating for intense fire scenes. 

While there is nothing objectionable in the film, it does deal with adult topics that may be inappropriate for younger children. Sherwood Pictures and Cameron both hold to the standard of no on-screen kisses between actors and actresses who are not actually married. So, for one scene, the producers had to get creative

Fireproof is the perfect date movie, and going to see it opening weekend is crucial to its success. How well it does at the box office that weekend will determine the reach it has in America and worldwide. 

For more information and to find a theater, visit www.fireproofthemovie.com and www.fireproofmymarriage.com.    

Profile: Caleb Holt
The face of fireman Caleb Holt, the male lead in Fireproof, is easily recognizable, but it’s not because he was in Flywheel or Facing the Giants.

Caleb is played by veteran actor Kirk Cameron, best known for his role as Mike Seaver in the 1980’s sitcom Growing Pains. 

Cameron, a Christian, now co-hosts an evangelism ministry and TV program, The Way of the Master, with Ray Comfort.

After bumping into director Alex Kendrick and producer Jim McBride in an airport following the completion of Facing the Giants, Cameron and his son watched a copy of the movie they gave them. Cameron later showed it to his whole family and it instantly became a favorite. 

“I called Alex and told him I would love to be in any other movie he did,” Cameron said. 

But when it came to playing the role of a strapping fireman, Cameron didn’t quite fit the part. Time passed and the part was still to be filled so Kendrick called Cameron to audition for the part. 

“We thought that was a little strange because I get offered many roles in bigger productions without auditions,” Cameron said. But he agreed to audition. Kendrick gave him the nine most intense scenes of the script. 

Although different from the roles he typically plays, Cameron made the cut and chose to work on the film as a volunteer – just like the other cast members. 

In appreciation, Sherwood Baptist Church made a donation to Camp Firefly, a camp for sick children and their parents founded by Cameron and his wife, actress Chelsea Noble. 

To find out more about Camp Firefly and the life of Kirk Cameron, check out his recently released autobiography titled Still Growing (Regal, 2008).