This is a new high quality feature length movie of the life of St. Bernadette that has an interesting twist. All the actors are kids! It is professionally produced by Navis Films which is starting a whole new genre of films called “Children’s Cinema”.

Here is an excerpt from their website:

Just a very quick word about our purpose:

Western Civilization is declining, our culture is crumbling, and it will be up to our children and our children’s children to help save it. The arts comprise a hugely influential component of that culture. If we can inspire one child to take up a career in those arts, and to create stunning beauty so as to lift men’s souls toward God, and in doing so glorify Him, we will have succeeded. To that end we are creating an entirely new genre of film: Children’s Cinema. St. Bernadette of Lourdes features a cast of over 100 mostly home-schooled, Catholic children ranging from 3 to 17 years of age. We are certain that the benefits of this unique experience will extend far beyond its cast and their families. It has been my experience with our other films, and with the extremely successful Glory Stories audio series which I created with Ken Davison of Holy Heroes, that kids love hearing and watching other kids perform. I’m sure you and your kids will absolutely love this film, and the other projects we will be bringing to market within the next few months.

God bless you, and thank you for visiting Navis Pictures.

In Christ,
– Jim Morlino
President, Navis Pictures

Interestingly, some of these kids regularly come with their parents to our friary here in Griswold, CT. Enjoy…

The post St. Bernadette of Lourdes Trailer 1 first appeared on AirMaria.com.

The Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate are producing a feature length dramatic film on the life of Blessed John Duns Scotus, the Franciscan who gave the theological explanation for the Immaculate Conception. The film is called “Duns Scoto”, Italian for Duns Scotus, and is written and directed by Fernando Muraca based on the book by Fr. Stefano Maria Manelli, “Beato Giovanni Duns Scoto” published by the FIs in Italy. Adriano Braidotti plays Blessed John Duns Scotus and is supported by Raffaele Proietti, Sebastiano Colla, Alessandro Chini, Camilla Diana and Emanuele Maria Gamboni in the role of young Duns Scotus along with many others including not a few Franciscans of the Immaculate.

The only thing left to finish on the film is the sound track for which they are currently in negotiations. The film is due to premiere in May 2010 on DVD and in some theaters as was done with the highly successful pro-life film “Bella” and negotiations are underway for putting it on Italian TV and entering it in film festivals. It will be in Italian, but there may be an English version.  We will be posting the trailer on AirMaria when it becomes available toward the end of April. So practice your Italian and stay tuned.

On the site of the filming with camera dolly on tracks, microphone boom, and high definition cameras. The high tech equipment makes a sharp contrast with the medieval monastery and period costumes. The director of photography was Massimo Lupi, famous for his creative cinematography in the Italian TV series Il Commissario Rex (Inspector Rex) about the adventures of Rex the police dog.

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The Abbey at Montelabate in Perugia where parts of the movie was filmed. Other locations were a nearby estate and also on the coast near Anconia.

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Adriano Braidotti as John Duns Scotus who is here praying for guidance from Mary as he is about to defend her prerogative of being immaculately conceived.  There are two goals of the film. One is to spread knowledge about Duns Scotus in view of his canonization, and then eventually to him being declared a Doctor of of the Church. The other is to help Christianize our important mass media culture that has sadly become so secular and even dehumanized.

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Padre Alfonso Bruno, head of FI media, is in the center with the clapper board and is Director of Production for the film. To the right is Fra Pasquale, FI who is playing a Dominican and Fra Ivo, FI on the left looks like he’s playing a Cistercian Monk.

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Emanuele Maria Gamboni as young John Duns Scotus. His early life is covered in a flashback after the opening scene when Scotus is exiled from the Sorbonne in Paris after he refused to sign a bill by Phillip the Fair, King of France, against Pope Boniface VIII.

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Lights, … Camera, … Action!

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Well, not much action in this scene, but it is very beautiful with professional lighting.

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Some rather scruffy looking friars. Fra Giles, FI is second from the left.

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The final scene of the movie is the rejoicing after Blessed John Duns Scotus successfully defends the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception at the Sorbonne in Paris. The victory is recognized by papal legates who attended the theological disputes. The large cast and colorful costumes make for a truly grand finale. There seems to be a tint of blue in many of the Franciscan’s habits. I wonder why…

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Preparing the camera and dolly.

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Working into the night hours. There’s no business like show business.

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Camilla Diana who plays the role of a young, pius girl named Mary who with Luis (Sebastiano Colla), a student at the Sorbonne, provide a means to control the plot and relate it to every day human life and drama.

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Director Fernando Muraca on the set.

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Alessandro Chini plays the young William of Occam who expresses his doubts and heterodox ideas to Scotus who then lovingly but promptly corrects him.

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Sebastiano Colla getting ready for his role as Luis.

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Angelo Poretti and Monica Sarracchini where in charge of the costumes.

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The large collection of costumes looks like a story in itself. Throughout the film as many as one hundred extras were used. Note the big wine barrels behind the racks from the monks wine making business.

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Fr. Alfonso reviewing some footage.

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It looks like an exciting and grand project. Certainly the Italian friars are learning quite a bit about film production and is a great addition to their extensive media efforts which include printing, radio, internet and TV. Hopefully this film will be a success both in regard to promoting the Christian faith and in regard to having enough financial success to at least be able to do another film like this. Please keep this in your prayers.

Ave Maria!

The post FiNews – FIs Producing John Duns Scotus Film first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Trailer from a three hour movie showing a true history of Lourdes, the apparitions and about St Bernadette.

The post Excerpts History of Lourdes & St Bernadette first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Fi News #73 – Duns Scoto, trailer of the dramatic film of the life of Bl. John Duns Scotus ( 14min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

The FIs in Italy have finished their first trailer for the feature length film Duns Scoto on the life of Blessed John Duns Scotus that we mentioned in an earlier post. It is more of a behind-the-scenes view of the making of the movie.  All the actual footage of the movie is raw with the time stamp running. But it powerfully shows the magnitude of the project and how beautiful and dramatic the finished edition will be. Yes, it is in Italian. We hope to get an English subtitled version out soon. Enjoy!

Ave Maria!

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The post Video – Fi News #73: First Trailer of Duns Scotus Film first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Rome Reports covers the soon to be released film Duns Scoto by the Franciscans of the Immaculate in Italy on the life of Bl. John Duns Scotus. He was the Franciscan theologian who gave the Church the theological basis for the Immaculate Conception of Mary which ensured the solemn proclamation of the dogma centuries later. You can see the behind-the-scenes trailer here.

The post FiNews – Rome Reports Covers FI Scotus Film first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Ave Maria!

There is a special preview for Christian audiences at Catholic Media Review of the third Narnia movie. Check it out! Hat tip to Leticia V.

The post Catholic Media Review: The Chronicles of Narnia, Voyage of the Dawn Treader official trailer first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Fi News #73 – Duns Scoto, trailer of the dramatic film of the life of Bl. John Duns Scotus ( 14min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

As part of our grand finale for our Scotus Month we have a repost of the trailer for the  feature length film we recently completed on the life of Bl. John Duns Scotus. It is in Italian but there should be a DVD available in the US with English subtitles early 2011.

The FIs in Italy have finished their first trailer for the feature length film Duns Scoto on the life of Blessed John Duns Scotus that we mentioned in an earlier post. It is more of a behind-the-scenes view of the making of the movie. All the actual footage of the movie is raw with the time stamp running. But it powerfully shows the magnitude of the project and how beautiful and dramatic the finished edition will be. Yes, it is in Italian. We hope to get an English subtitled version out soon. Enjoy!

Ave Maria!

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The post Video – Fi News #73: First Trailer of Duns Scotus Film first appeared on AirMaria.com.

This looks good!

Eduardo Verástegui of “Bella” plays a Mexican martyr in “Cristiada”.

A chronicle of the Cristeros War (1926-1929), which was touched off by a rebellion against the Mexican government’s attempt to secularize the country.

http://www.cristiadafilm.com

The post Eduardo in Cristiada Movie Trailer first appeared on AirMaria.com.