Wesley is a feature film based closely on the actual events of John Wesley's life, a story that already reads like a Hollywood screenplay. Wesley is a compelling and controversial main character -- a man that women found intensely attractive; there is adventure on the high seas, a terrible storm and near-shipwreck. In Georgia, there is an incredibly romantic but star-crossed love affair that ends tragically. Wesley is crushed, and on his return to England we experience his spiritual struggle and finally renewal. We are then swept away with his preaching in the fields and his efforts to help the lowest classes of society. His ministry is controversial, there is mob violence, confrontation, and tension followed by his victorious preaching to thousands in his home town.
In short, this true story has everything that Hollywood loves to put into movies! The movie will have the seafaring adventure of Master & Commander, the bittersweet romance of Sense and Sensibility, but at the same time will have a compelling story of conversion, faith, dynamic social reform and ministry.
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The core target audience for Wesley is the 11.7 million Methodists in the US, (23 million worldwide) as well as the 45 million Evangelicals in the US. Income projections are based on the performance of the 2003 film Luther, which took in $5.7 million in US and $18 million worldwide. Since there are 60% more Methodists in the US than Lutherans, (not including several other denominations that trace back to Wesley), Wesley has the potential to pull higher numbers, and to have a sustained evergreen market.
Principal photography on Wesley was completed in July, 2007. Additional photography was completed in 2008, with extensive CGI work. Postproduction was completed in 2009.
Distribution Plan: The film is being promoted heavily through churches, particularly those with an historic connection to Wesley; an easy-to implement strategic plan helps local churches use the movie as an outreach tool. Heavy "grassroots" promotion is used. National distribution included a limited theatrical run at selected theatres, rollout of the Home DVD in 2010, and launch of a special church exhibition license.
Financing: Investment in the project was by private offering only.
Tax Advantages: Investors in this project qualified for substantial Federal tax advantages. Significant state tax advantages were also available to North Carolina residents who invested in the project.
The Market: In 2002, the North American box office for independent films was $3.4 billion, 36 percent of the $9.5 billion total. The total global independent film market is over $7 billion. The market for well-done religious films has exploded since the release of Mel Gibson's The Passion, and has long been an underserved market.