HIGHEST OPENING WEEKEND OF 2008 FOR ANY FILM RELEASED ON FEWER THAN 1,000 SCREENS

“Opening weekend turnout is a testament to grassroots marketing,” said Provident Executive Vice President Ben Howard.  “We spent nine months getting this movie and its message to the right people . . . now it’s charging away on its own momentum..”
Michael Catt, senior pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church and executive producer, said: “We believe good stories can have a good effect.  This film was made by a small army of people who poured into something bigger than themselves; into not just a movie, but a movement to restore and uplift marriages across the country.”
Bob Rubin, executive vice president, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, which oversees the Affirm Films label, one of the film’s acquisition partners, said:  “The faith market is a vast and underserved community with a growing appetite for filmed content that is both inspirational and entertaining.  We are delighted to be part of the team that brought FIREPROOF to audiences nationwide.”
A book entitled The Love Dare (www.bhpublishinggroup.com/lovedare) was only a plot device in the film until audiences repeatedly requested copies for themselves.  The book also debuted in stores this weekend, having pre-sold 600,000 copies.  Written by the Kendrick brothers, The Love Dare finished the weekend at #12 on Amazon.com and currently is in its seventh printing.
In coming weeks, Goldwyn plans to expand film’s release to more than 1,000 screens.