Here’s the latest from the crossroads of faith, media & culture: 09/15/23

Blue sky TV rises. For the tenth consecutive month Great American Family is television’s fastest-growing network, this after growing its total day audience by 169% in August. The channel, a subsidiary of Great American Media (which is partly owned by Sony) is run by Bill Abbott, the legendary TV executive who established the Hallmark Channel brand as a ratings juggernaut (which has seen its ratings decline since his departure).

Meanwhile, following the merger of Great American Media and the popular faith and family streaming service Pure Flix in June, it has just been announced that the streamer will now be known as Great American Pure Flix. Speaking about the tweak, Abbott says it fits seamlessly with the overall company brand portfolio that, along with the Great American Family channel includes Great American Living, Great American Adventures, Great American Community and the soon-to-be-launched Great American FAST. “Our mission,” he explains, “is to provide families with quality entertainment that celebrates faith, family, and hometown values wherever and however they enjoy watching.” IMHO: Great American Media’s remarkable success speaks to the void over much of the TV landscape where viewers are looking for broad-appeal programming that families can watch together. Not even Disney is considered reliable on that score anymore.

All of which brings us to this: Divine Influencer drops today on Great American Pure Flix. Directed and co-produced by Shari Rigby and starring Lara Silva of The Chosen, the movie tells the seriocomic story of an entitled influencer who, after losing everything, is forced to take a job in a homeless shelter where she learns that true happiness doesn’t come from the money, fame, power and good looks held to be life’s superfecta on social media (which Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier co-author Arthur C. Brooks recently called “this laboratory for the earthly goals that actually make you miserable”). Instead, as the movie demonstrates,  it stems from using one’s talents, experiences and influence to help others.

Role Model. The film is an apt project for Shari Rigby. The wife of over 25 years and mother of two boys has built a life and career doing exactly that. A former model and soap opera actress (The Young and the Restless), she has become best known for acting in inspirational faith-themed films such as October Baby (2011), Overcomer (2019), Paul’s Promise (2022) and Beautifully Flawed (2018), the latter film based on her 2015 memoir chronicling her tumultuous younger life that included searching for love in all the wrong places, drug abuse, an abortion and her ultimate embrace of Christianity.

Over the course of her career she has also established herself as a sought-after screenwriter, director, producer and inspirational speaker who uses both her tough early life experiences and the position she’s in now to have a positive influence on others. She strives to pay her blessings forward through her own body of work, as well her Women In My World non-profit which aims to mentor Christian women to draw on their faith and own experiences to have a positive impact on the world through the  art of storytelling.

 A Million Miles Away lands today on Amazon Prime Video. Based on the book Reaching for the Stars: The Inspiring Story of a Migrant Worker Turned Astronaut by Jose M. Hernández, the movie follows the Mexican-American author’s inspiring real-life journey from growing up in a family of migrant farm workers (who didn’t speak English until he was 12) to, quite literally, reaching for the stars. Michael Peña stars as Hernández. Rosa Salazar plays his devoted wife with dreams of her own. My mini-review follows the trailer.

IMHO: A Million Miles Away goes the distance and beyond – drawing you into its compelling real-life drama about the power dreaming big dreams that escape earthly bounds. Its narrative even cleverly integrates a roadmap to help viewers achieve their heart’s desires as well. Highly recommended – especially for those with a big dreams of their own.

Coming Attractions: Here are some more upcoming offerings you may enjoy.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 22: I Can (in theaters)

FRIDAY, SEPT. 29: Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie (in theaters)

THURSDAY, OCT. 5: Mother Teresa & Me (in theaters)

THURSDAY, NOV. 2: All the Light We Cannot See (limited series premieres on Netflix)

FRIDAY, NOV. 10: Journey to Bethlehem (in theaters)

FRIDAY, DEC. 1: The Shift (in theaters)

John W. Kennedy is a writer, producer and media development consultant specializing in television and movie projects that uphold positive timeless values, including trust in God.