Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 40 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Do you know of Angel Studios?
If you don’t, they are a new independent (of Hollywood) Studio. New in the sense that they haven’t been around since before WWII. They are the studios producing uplifting and encouraging films and series, such as The Chosen, Sound of Freedom, and Sound of Hope. They are a Christian-based business, so other than content necessary to depict the horror of real events, their content should be safe for children of all ages.
They have released seven films already, and two more are due in theaters by the end of the year. They also have a barrage of stand-up concerts under the label “Dry Bar Comedy.” They top it off with several series, some live-action, some animated, for children.
Angel has spun up a streaming service that includes two tickets to each theatrical release. They have a greatly discounted introductory offer. You won’t be able to say “I subscribed to Angel Studios before it was cool.” But you might say “I subscribed to Angel Studios because it always was cool.”
While you may find some of their content on other streaming services, it is by no means their entire library.
Anyway, check out their offer and see if it works for you.
Published in Movies and TV
Angel Studio’s current film in the theater is Bonhoeffer, about the German pastor and theologian (and as the ads say “Pastor, Spy, Assassin.”)
Dry Bar is available on Youtube. The comics are always clean-mouthed and are generally good.
I’ve noticed occasional clips on YouTube but never complete shows. That doesn’t prove they don’t exist, but they’ve never been recommended to me.
They’re a welcome addition to Hollywood. Philip Anschutz, billionaire investor, tried something similar about 20 years ago when his Walden Media produced the Narnia series.
A small clarification: Angel didn’t produce The Sound of Freedom; it was a standard studio production (Fox) that was part of a miscellaneous package of films that were sold off after Fox was acquired by Disney. Angel was smart enough to see the value in it.
If I remember correctly, you have to register with their app and maybe pay to see entire specials, although I somehow saw Joe Devito’s and Jamie Lissow’s.
The brothers that started the studio were interviewed by Mike Rowe on his podcast. Their story was fascinating.
Angel Studios also distributed “Sound of Freedom”. I like the drybar stuff on YouTube because its short and safe for work… I haven’t seen full shows on YouTube.
We subscribe. Thanks for promoting them. Come for “The Chosen” stay for the feature films.
The Chosen is fantastic
Dry-Bar has some good comedians. I know Adam Carolla did this and liked the working with the Angel Studio team.
I want to see ” Bonhoeffer” – it is based on Eric Metaxas’s book
My wife and I have seen several of the Angel films. The films drew us to go back to the theaters. At the end of the film, they project a QR code if you want to subsidize the tickets future audience members. We have made small contributions on occasion.
I have not read Metaxas’s biography of Bonhoeffer. I did read his chapter on Bonhoeffer in Seven Heroes–a good read, BTW.
I looked carefully for a reference to Metaxas in the credits as they were rolling by. I didn’t see any.
It’s been suggested that there may be an opportunity for someone to start a platform business for independent filmmakers…would provide access to production & editing tools, sources for various kinds of assistance such as creating score for the soundtrack, legal forms & perhaps associated AI, access to angel investors, and streaming/distribution capabilities. Not simple or cheap, but I think there may be something there.
Also Angel didn’t produce The Chosen – they distributed the first 3 seasons. The Chosen has since parted ways with Angel.
That is correct and I think the falling out occurred over dispute of intellectual property rights. I am a huge fan of Angel studios as well as Gatestone which also promotes marvelous films. The Chosen is now owned and distributed by a partnership between the for profit production company, Five and Two, and the charitable foundation, the Come and See foundation. The Come and See foundation provides the finances to translate and dub the The Chosen into to every language in the world and make it available for free. It has already been translated and dubbed into 60 languages and will reach 100 by next year. I was fortunate to be invited to a summit of fans and potential donors a few weeks ago. There were about 200 guests and most were married so I would guess there were about 120 potential donors. They raised just under 20 million dollars that weekend.
One of the best aspects of that weekend was that we got to see the premiere of Dallas Jenkins’ new movie, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. It is out in every theater and will become the movie you will want to watch with your family every year. Go see it.
It seems that Eric Metaxmay have had some involvement in the Bonhoeffer film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoJZKC17KuI