Here’s today’s dispatch from the crossroads of faith, media and culture.

Power-packed faith. The Fight Within (from GVN Releasing), faith-themed film set in the rough-and-tumble world of MMA (mixed martial arts), will have its nationwide limited theatrical release on August 12th.

“Faith films tend to draw faith audiences,” Jim Davis, executive producer/screenwriter/ordained minister says. “This movie should also engage people with no sense of faith because inner struggle is universal. A cage and a fight are spot-on metaphors to show a young man coming to terms with who he is and what life brings…A bare-knuckled mixed martial arts action film is not a traditional faith-based film, but we hope to engage a more diverse audience and share a message of hope and salvation through our story.”

The Fight Within stars John Major Davis, Lelia Symington and Matt Leddo. Also featured are Mike Taylor, UFC Heavyweight champion Dan Severn and Wesley Williams. Michael William Gordon directs. Following the film’s theatrical run, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will release The Fight Within on all home entertainment formats.
 
In the film, Logan Chandler (John Major Davis) is a rising star in the world of mixed martial arts, but when his father, an MMA Champion, dies while training him, Logan leaves the ring not sure about who he is anymore. He finds a personal faith and romance with a young woman of deep faith (Lelia Symington), and seeks to overcome a troubled past and establish a new life. His new faith is tested when a local MMA professional (Matt Leddo)—whose only losing fight was to Logan—forces him back into the cage.

John W. Kennedy is a writer/development consultant specializing in teleplays, screenplays and novelizations. He can be reached at john@jwkmedia.com.

Encourage one another and build each other up – 1 Thessalonians 5:11