‘Fireproof’ makers readying for next film Print
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Monday, 30 March 2009 02:59 PM America/New_York
altThe makers of the surprise hit Fireproof (Provident-Integrity Distribution) are in "a season of prayer" regarding the follow-up to the top independent movie release of 2008, although they expect to have a budget five times larger than with the pro-marriage drama.

A keynote speaker during the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) Convention in February, Fireproof Director Alex Kendrick said the yet-unnamed Sherwood Pictures film would have an expected budget of $2.5 million.

"Our next movie will be a bigger budget, (and) God willing, better quality (film)," Kendrick, who co-produced Fireproof with his brother, Stephen, said during an NRB session. "We're taking what we learned from the three previous movies and applying it to the next one. ... We think we know (the plot of the next movie), but we're still in a season of prayer. And we're not going to proceed until we know."

Monique Sondag, a publicist for Fireproof, said the plot and details for the next Sherwood Pictures movie by the Kendricks will be revealed later this year.

Boosted by grass-roots support and bulk ticket purchases from churchgoers as well as some Christian retailers, Fireproof made $33.3 million at the box office, despite a modest $500,000 budget. The movie, which stars Kirk Cameron as a firefighter who turns to God to save his marriage, has been a top-selling DVD at Christian retail since it was released Jan. 27.