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Phone: 800-630-0997 THE McPASSION IS NOW BEING SERVED March 1, 2006. Los Angeles, California – Today, Ash Wednesday, the short film that has been causing test audiences to gasp in disbelief and hurt with laughter for the past week began streaming online for the first time. In honor of Lent, The McPassion will stream online, free of charge, for 40 days only. After that, the film will continue to screen at festivals; plus, a limited number of The McPassion DVDs (and extras) will be available for “the chosen ones” but, of course, only while supplies last. A full two years have passed since Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ sent shock waves and dollar signs rippling through the cosmos; and now, just when it seemed as if the life and times of Jesus Christ could not be squeezed for one more single ounce of exploitation, along comes The McPassion. “We’re absolutely not pointing fingers at any other specific films or filmmakers at all,” said writer-producer Rik Swartzwelder, “Gibson’s film was the spark for sure, but The McPassion is really more of a pointed take on what has happened since the release of his film—this kind of strange and intensifying, post-post-modern union between movie-marketing and houses of worship that his film helped give birth to. It’s a hybrid that’s a little scary and more than a little out of control; that’s why we’re putting our film out there now. The McPassion isn’t about the movies so much as it’s about how and where we sell them, and the overall commercialization of religion. It’s about trying to give congregations a break from the commercial break; it’s about the sanctuary being just that, the sanctuary.” As funny as it is shocking, The McPassion is a machine-gun-paced, four-minute parody that pulls no punches as it imagines what it might be like if the greatest story ever told and a fast-food giant united “to deliver the tie-in of tie-ins.” At a moment in history when riots and fatalities are erupting around the globe—over a cartoon—it may not be the wisest time to release another biting visual satire that comments on things religious. But even as some early viewers of The McPassion are claiming it lampoons all things sacred and borders on blasphemy, the creators of the film—one a professing Christian—defend its message, and its content. “Hey, don’t look at me,” said director-producer Benjamin Hershleder, “I just thought it was a really funny idea that makes a valid point. Rik’s the religious one, ask him.” Rarely the type to shy away from a soap box, Swartzwelder was more than willing to oblige, “We’re on the brink of prostituting our pulpits beyond recognition. When we start showing movie trailers during worship services and telling the faithful it’s their duty to buy tickets to the Cineplex…or to buy anything…I believe that’s as offensive as anything in The McPassion. I’m not judging anyone’s motives; by and large, I think people’s hearts are in the right place…but I believe it’s time for a fresh look at this issue.” Hershleder then chimed-in, “As Rik pointed me to stories on this topic, I found it difficult not to agree with him. When I learned that in 2002 Chevrolet was placing cars and trucks on display in church foyers{1}, that just didn’t feel quite right to me. And then when I found out that recently a contest was held for pastors to win $1000 and a trip to London for the one who best worked references to The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe into his or her sermon{2}, I was shocked. These types of things just didn’t seem to fit with what I knew. I mean, didn’t Jesus throw around tables in the temple because he was upset about people selling things in a holy place? At least that’s what I learned from watching Jesus Christ Superstar, anyway.” Ever since The Passion of the Christ revealed the massive audience, and dollars, that existed to support faith-friendly films, Hollywood and the independent film community have been courting churches all across the U.S. The competition is fierce and becoming increasingly so. In 2005, several films were released that directly courted the Christian community. Most notable were Narnia and The Exorcism of Emily Rose; but there were many others, including The Gospel and Left Behind III{3}. Already in 2006, End of the Spear released in early January and The Second Chance and Unidentified are both rolling out this month. Are Hershleder or Swartzwelder concerned about increasing backlash for their film? Noted film critic David Manning of The Ridgefield Press has already declared, “These guys are going to McHell!” “That’s downright hurtful,” said Swartzwelder. Hershleder nodded in the affirmative, “Especially coming from someone we both respect so much.” As for being fearful over the brewing storm of McPassion controversy, Hershleder quoted Alfred E. Neuman, “What, me worry?” “If I said I wasn’t a little…tense, I’d be lying,” Swartzwelder added. “We’ve given all sides ample reason to throw stones but…at the end of the day, maybe Ben deserves it.” “Yep, I deserve it all right,” Hershleder said with a laugh. Then Benjamin went on to say, “Seriously, when the film is over, I hope people will see that we’re not ridiculing faith, in any form it may take, but rather pointing out where things may end up one day. To paraphrase a blog entry{4} I read: the question is how far will it go? Are we soon going to see Baptism services sponsored by Evian?”
------------------------------------- References ---------------------------------------- 1 http://blog.christianitytoday.com/outofur/archives/2005/12/marketing_narni.html 2 http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/living/religion/13324125.htm 3 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/20/AR2005102002186.html 4 http://blog.christianitytoday.com/outofur/archives/2005/12/marketing_narni.html |