Sherwood Pictures

Sherwood Pictures is an American independent Christian film production company in Albany, Georgia, United States. It is unusual among production companies in that it is a ministry of a local church, Sherwood Baptist Church. The company uses mostly volunteers in their productions. It was founded in 2003 by Alex Kendrick, the associate pastor of media for Sherwood Baptist Church with $20,000 in donations.

Sherwood Pictures
TypeMinistry of Sherwood Baptist Church
IndustryFilm
Founded2003
Headquarters
Albany, Georgia
,
United States
WebsiteSherwoodPictures.com

The company's first film was Flywheel (2003), but it is best known for Facing the Giants (2006), Fireproof (2008), the highest-grossing independent film of the year, and Courageous (2011). The Kendrick Brothers have also directed and produced War Room (2015) although this is not a Sherwood Pictures film.

History

Sherwood Pictures was founded in 2003 by Alex Kendrick, the associate pastor of media for Sherwood Baptist Church with $20,000 in donations. Kendrick has also written and directed each of Sherwood's films.[1] The budget of each film has been significantly larger than the film directly previous, at $20,000 for Flywheel, $100,000 for Facing the Giants, $500,000 for Fireproof, $2 million for Courageous, $3 million for War Room, and $5 million for Overcomer.[2]

Sherwood's films have earned back their budgets dozens of times over. Facing the Giants made 102 times its budget, Fireproof earned 67 times its budget, and Courageous made eight times its budget in its first ten days in theaters.[3]

In 2011, The Hollywood Reporter wrote about Sherwood's increasing success:

The movies have progressed from amateurish to critical successes. 'The characters are complex and well drawn, struggling with various personal issues that test their faith and character in believable ways,' The Hollywood Reporter film reviewer Frank Scheck wrote of Courageous.[3]

In 2013, Alex Kendrick and his two brothers left the Sherwood Pictures department to found the production company Kendrick Brothers. [4]

Filmography

Cast
Actor/Actress Film
Flywheel Facing the Giants Fireproof Courageous
Alex Kendrick Jay Austin Grant Taylor Pastor Strauss Adam Mitchell
Kirk Cameron Caleb Holt
Shannen Fields Miss Gardner Brooke Taylor
Erin Bethea Alicia Houston Catherine Holt
Ken Bevel Michael Simmons Nathan Hayes
Tracy Goode Bernie Myers Brady Owens Benny Murphy
Jim McBride Butch Bowers Bobby Lee Duke Carl Hatcher Church Member
Jason McLeod Brock Kelley Eric Harmon
Kevin Downes Shane Fuller
Janet Lee Dapper Judy Austin School Teacher Nurse
Bailey Cave David Childers Ross
Walter Burnett Max Kendall Stan Schulz Dr. Anderson
Carla Hawkins Ms. Wright Tina Simmons
Renee Jewell Winners Friend Jackie Victoria Mitchell

References
  1. Fisher, Luchina (October 3, 2008). "'Fireproof' Shows Christian Movies Sell". ABC News. Retrieved December 15, 2009.
  2. Newcomb, Tim (August 25, 2011). "Faith-Based Filmmaking: The Sherwood Pictures Crusade". Time. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  3. Box Office Shocker: How Moviemaking Georgia Church Behind 'Courageous' Outperforms Hollywood
  4. Jim Wallace, Kendrick brothers want to train next generation of Christian film makers, walb.com, USA, April 10, 2013
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