INSPIRING FILM ‘HOME RUN,’ PARTNERED WITH
CELEBRATE RECOVERY, WRAPS PRODUCTION
Entertaining Story of Baseball, Romance and Redemption Features Saddleback Church’s Celebrate Recovery 12-Step Program, Now With 19,000 Chapters
Source: Lovell/Fairchild
TULSA, Okla. – Nov. 9, 2011 – Filming has wrapped on HOME RUN, an inspiring movie about baseball, redemption and finding the courage to face the past. In the film, the Celebrate Recovery Christian 12-step program is seamlessly woven into the story of a major league ballplayer whose alcoholism threatens to ruin his career and life. With location shooting in rural Oklahoma complete, producers plan a September 2012 release.
“The story is compelling, and the cast delivered on their performances,” said Executive Producer Carol Mathews. “It will be a few months before we have a finished picture, but I believe we have captured something special that will touch people, inspire them and give them hope.”
OVERVIEW
Big dreams and big plays have led professional baseball player Cory Brand far from home . . . but the memories of his abusive father continue to haunt him. Growing up with an alcoholic father, the sport was his only hope for approval. Now, as a popular big leaguer, his approval comes from his adoring fans.
That’s until a booze-fueled on-the-field meltdown carries over into the dugout, where Cory’s antics injure an honorary batboy. As if that’s not bad enough, the whole rampage is captured on national television.
Suspended by his team, Cory’s high-powered agent steps in. Helene cooks up a public-relations ploy that sends Cory back to his small Oklahoma hometown. Her best-laid plans, however, crash spectacularly when Cory’s DUI lands his brother in the hospital.
After years of hard partying and reckless living, the DUI and team suspension make him desperate to save his career. Forced to coach the local Little League team and spend eight weeks in a faith-based recovery program, Cory must face old wounds, new adversaries . . . and the love he left behind.
His journey leads him to a truth more powerful than he ever imagined—and toward the most important play of his life.
TAKING A SWING AT A TOUGH SUBJECT
HOME RUN’S message of hope in confronting addictions of every kind offers timely help. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says more than 18 million Americans struggle with alcohol addiction, 3.6 million with drug addiction and 16 million with compulsive sexual behavior.
Clearly the need is there for help and encouragement in battling addictions. Celebrate Recovery, founded 20 years ago at Saddleback Church in California as a Christian 12-step program, already counts 19,000 chapters worldwide with over one million individuals completing the program.
But in addition to offering hope to any family affected by addictive behavior, HOME RUN scores as an entertaining movie as well, with humor, drama, romance . . . and baseball. It features an exciting cast including:
- Scott Elrod (Men in Trees)
- Vivica A. Fox (INDEPENDENCE DAY, Dancing With The Stars)
- Dorian Brown (Wilfred, Roommates)
- Charles Henry Wyson (THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON)
- Jim Devoti (Modern Family, Bones)
- Nicole Leigh (Prison Break)
- Drew Waters (Friday Night Lights)
HOME RUN has garnered advance praise from church leaders and those active in the recovery community:
-Max Lucado, best-selling author, preacher
“HOME RUN reminds us of the power of forgiveness, the richness of redemption and the wisdom of trusting God to revive us.”
-John Baker, co-founder, Celebrate Recovery
“After reading the script, I knew my prayers had been answered; HOME RUN is going to forever change Celebrate Recovery.”
-Hess Hester, Pastor, Southern Hills Baptist Church, Tulsa, Okla.
“This story clearly points the way for healing of life’s deepest hurts and hang-ups.”
HOME RUN is produced by Mathews and Tom Newman. Mathews and Newman serve as executive producers as well. Both have 20-year-plus resumes in film and TV production. David Boyd is both director and cinematographer on HOME RUN. Boyd’s credits include directing episodes of TV’s Friday Night Lights and work as director of photography on the film GET LOW, with Robert Duvall, and the hit series The Walking Dead. He also served as cinematographer on the upcoming feature film JOYFUL NOISE starring Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah, which is set for a 2012 release.
For more information HomeRuntheMovie.com