The Story Behind Facing the Giants

Facing the Giants is a family-friendly movie about a high school football coach that overcomes the odds. But there's a story behind the movie, and it could be called, "Facing the Giants." It's about a church in southwest Georgia that overcomes big odds to make the film.The main character, Coach Taylor, trusts God to do the impossible, and the faith-based message landed this film in a storm of controversy. The movie received a PG rating for "some thematic elements - reportedly having to do with religion." On The 700 Club in August, the executive producer gave his view of the situation. Kristi Watts, The 700 Club co-host asked, Why this movie that's supposed to be a phenomenal family movie -- no sex, no violence, no profanity, doesn't get a G rating? "Well, we talk about Jesus as the only way to Heaven," replied Michael Catt, executive producer, Facing the Giants. "So there's several times in the movie we don't preach to the camera, but what we do is in the context of a Christian high school we share the Gospel. We're not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ." But the Motion Picture Association of America stands firm that religion played no part in its decision. Facing the Giants producers say the MPAA changed its story about the reason for the PG rating after the controversy began. But one of the screenwriters of the film saw the PG rating as a way to bring attention to this small file, made with t $100, 000. The Sherwood Baptist Church congregation in Albany, Georgia raised the money in a matter of days. Alex Kendrick, plays Coach Taylor, and his brother Stephen wrote, produced, and directed the film. The Senior Pastor Michael Catt is the executive producer of the film. Catt said, "We were having a conversation about what do you want to do with your life and Alex said, 'I want to make Christian movies.' He said something like 'I guess I wouldn't be able to stay on the church staff because no church is going to do that,' and my response was why not?" "Our pastor Michael Catt is the type of pastor that thinks out of the box. He believes we can touch the world from Albany, Georgia. He's not afraid to do things that are unique," Alex Kendrick said. This movie uses hundreds of volunteers. They made the film out of the pure joy of serving the God. Facing the Giants teaches the lesson that when we are weak, God is strong, a lesson the filmmakers learned first hand. God gets all the glory for this," Catt said. "We could have never orchestrated all of this."