Here’s the latest from the crossroads of faith, media & culture: 08/10/22

Pure Flix Entertainment, the faith streaming division of Sony AFFIRM Films, has named Loren Schwartz as its Chief Marketing Officer. He will oversee the day-to-day management of Pure Flix’s worldwide marketing efforts and report directly to Pure Flix CEO Michael Scott and COO Debbie Stackis. The move brings him back to the Sony family.

Schwartz began his Hollywood career at Fox Searchlight where he developed a key understanding of the indie and festival circuit. He then spent 19 years at Sony Pictures where he worked with A-list talents such as Adam Sandler, Seth Rogan, Kevin Hart, DeVon Franklin, Judd Appatow, Phil Lord and Chris Miller. At Sony he also took the helm of the marketing department for their indie Screen Gems theatrical label where he helped grow the division to the most profitable label for Sony. He developed a unique and strategic grassroots approach to marketing such successful films as Heaven is For Real (still the No. 2 faith film of all time), The Vow (Screen Gems’ No. 1 movie all time), and the festival favorite Easy A. Most recently Schwartz worked on DeVon Franklin’s faith film Breakthrough for Fox. He has also run the marketing team at Warner Bros. throughout his career.

Commenting on the announcement, Schwartz says “I am thrilled to join the Pure Flix team and utilize the tools and resources I have cultivated throughout the years…I look forward to strategically growing this space.”

Pure Flix COO Debbie Stackis adds “Loren’s expertise in working with top level talent combined with his passion and instincts for strategic, smart and impactful storytelling make him the right person to lead our marketing efforts.”

David A.R. White, founding partner of Pure Flix lauds Loren as having says “a strategic vision that few others in our business today can match. I am excited to welcome him to Pure Flix.”

The Pure Flix streaming service (sort of a faith-based Netflix) continues to grow in popularity. It’s new drama series Going Home (reviewed here) has been the No. 1 show on the platform for several weeks. Live+Local, a Pure Flix original sitcom on the platform starring Dave Coulier, had an extensive publicity campaign that generated over 2 billion media impressions.

As of last week, The Case for Heaven is the No. 1 movie on the platform. Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters, a new film starring Bart Johnson and real life wife Robyn Lively, just completed a newly strategized ten market word-of-mouth screening campaign exclusively for Pure Flix members that generated extensive interest prior to its August 1st launch.

For more on what’s available and coming up on Pure Flix click here.

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