Family Theater Productions News
Angelus draws more than 500 people to festive night
For the 14th time, the Angelus Student Film Festival held a wellattended event honoring the winning filmmakers and screening their short films. More than 500 attendees nearly filled the theater at the Directors Guild of America as the filmmakers were awarded some $50,000 in cash awards and film industry products and gift certificates. The winners and the other 21 finalist were selected from more than 550 entries representing 185 film schools and 30 countries. For a list of all the winners, their awards, the Honorable Mentions and to view a photo album of the event, go to www.Angelus.org.
Hollywood outreach
Several dozen young adult Catholics, most of them pursuing a career in the entertainment industry, knelt in solemn prayer of the Rosary before the Blessed Sacrament at Family Theater Productions. They screened a documentary about the life of the Catholic Worker founder Dorothy Day and enjoyed a pasta meal cooked in Family Theater’s kitchen. They prayed, they learned, and they socialized and networked over a hot meal.
Prayer and Pasta, usually held the third Wednesday of each month, and other spiritual programs that Family Theater Productions offers, are meant to signal to young Catholics trying to make a difference in the entertainment industry that they have a spiritual home in Hollywood.
The evening always begins with a celebration of prayer from the rich variety of the Catholic tradition, followed by a homemade pasta meal.
Guest speakers have included Steve McEveety, who produced The Passion of the Christ, and the film’s star actor Jim Caviezel; film producer Leo Severino of Bella and its star Eduardo Verástegui; actor Clarence Gilyard (Walker, Texas Ranger, Top Gun); and Raymond Arroyo, news anchor for EWTN who authored the best-selling biography on Mother Angelica.
Hollywood Outreach also extends its spiritual support to people trying to make a difference in the entertainment industry by conducting an annual RCIA formational program for entertainment professionals seeking to explore the Catholic faith or to gain full communion with the Catholic Church. A program on the Theology of the Body series exploring this timely teaching of Pope John Paul II has also been offered.
You can receive updates regarding future Prayer and Pasta nights and topics by sending a message to hollywoodprays@yahoogroups.com , and asking to be added to the e-mail list.