FlyBy Promotions presents "The Star" movie...it's not just for Christmas!

Today, I'd like to tell you about a new movie by a famous Hollywood producer. The Star is the name of the movie and DeVon Franklin is the name of the producer.

Franklin is the CEO and founder of Franklin Entertainment which is a faith-based production company. "The Star" is his first Christmas movie that was produced by his own company.

I watched the movie today and loved it! The story is told beautifully and the voice actors who lent their voices to bring the animated characters to life were very convincing! The music perfectly supported the storyline and the production of this animated movie based on the Bible story about the birth of Jesus Christ was spectacular!

The movie is available for purchase in three formats: DVD, Blu-Ray, and digital.

FlyBy Promotions would like for me to mention that there are many fun bonus features on the DVD, including a children's Bible study.

To give you a better idea of what "The Star" movie and bonus features are about, I'm including a press release from FlyBy Promotions that I tweaked to make it shorter. 

Enjoy!

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“Full of humor and heart” – Huffington Post

“The Star is destined to become a classic!” – The Dove Foundation

Golden Globe® Nominated for Best Original Song by Mariah Carey & Marc Shaiman

THE STAR

The Tale of Faith and Friendship Includes Six Sing-Along Videos from Mariah Carey, Fifth Harmony, Kelsea Ballerini, A Great Big World, and Kirk Franklin 

Includes a Dance Along, “How-to” Crafts Video and Much More

Available on Digital February 6 and

On Blu-ray + DVD + Digital on February 20

CULVER CITY, Calif. (January 2018) – From the studio that brought you

MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN & CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS comes the timeless tale about faith, friendship, and the importance of believing in yourself. Bo and his new friends follow the star and become accidental heroes in the greatest story ever told.

Rounding out the all-star voice cast including Gina Rodriguez as Mary, Zachary Levi as Joseph, Grammy® Award-Winner Kelly Clarkson as Leah the horse, Anthony Anderson s Zach the goat, Ving Rhames as Thaddeus the dog, Gabriel Iglesias (Coco, Ferdinand) as Rufus the dog, Patricia Heaton as Edith the cow, Emmy® and Tony® Award-Winner Kristin Chenoweth as Abby the mouse, and Christopher Plummer (All the Money in the World) as King Herod.

THE STAR is filled with more than an hour of engaging bonus materials including the “Star-aoke: Sing Along with Bo & Friends,” a dance along to “Life Is Good” by A Great Big World, plus a collection of fun lyric videos that will have you singing along to the inspiring music from THE STAR. Families can enjoy crafting and baking with “how-to” videos “Star Mason Jar Votives” and “Sweet and Sparkly Stars,” and they also can go behind-the-scenes to explore the amazing talent who bring these characters to life. In “Faith All Year Round,”
renowned pastor and motivational speaker, DeVon Franklin delivers a fun and engaging children’s sermon discussing the themes of the film and keeping the spirit of this inspiring story alive in us every day.

THE STAR is directed by Academy Award® nominated writer/director Timothy Reckart, screenplay by Carlos Kotkin, and story by Simon Moore and Carlos Kotkin. The film is executive produced by DeVon Franklin, Brian Henson and Lisa Henson, and produced by Jennifer Magee-Cook. The Star is presented by AFFIRM films and Sony Pictures Animation in association with Walden Media, Franklin Entertainment and The Jim Henson Company. The uplifting theme song, “The Star” by Mariah Carey and veteran songwriter Marc Shaiman was also nominated for a 2018 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. “The Star” song is now available on The Star: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, which assembles new music from a bevy of powerhouse superstars.

Bonus Materials Include:

· Star-aoke: Sing-Along with Bo & Friends: In this all-new song, sing along with your favorite characters including Bo, Dave, Ruth, and the unforgettable camels

· "Life Is Good" Dance-Along: Shake your tail feathers and move your hooves in this fun dance along

· Lyric Sing-Along Videos: Enjoy the eclectic and inspiring music of THE STAR with these colorful lyric videos that allow you to sing along with your favorite recording artists

o “The Star” by Mariah Carey

o “Can You See” by Fifth Harmony

o “Children Go Where I Send You” by Kelsea Ballerini

o “We Three Kings” by Kirk Franklin

o “Life Is Good” by A Great Big World

· Sweet and Sparkly Stars: Create star-themed cookies to be enjoyed year round

· Star Mason Jar Votives: Let the light of THE STAR shine with this simple yet stunning craft

· Faith All Year Round with DeVon Franklin: A children’s sermon discussing the themes of the film and how to keep the spirit of this inspiring story alive in us every day

· An All-Star Cast: Meet the stars of the film and explore the exciting voice cast who bring these amazing characters to life

THE STAR has a run time of approximately 86 minutes and is rated PG: for some thematic elements.

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Don't delay, check out this wonderful movie and bonus materials today! 

Visit the movie's website for more info: http://sites.sonypictures.com/thestar/discanddigital/?hs308=TSR084D

*DVD bonus features include a Bible study by "The Star" movie producer DeVon Franklin. 

Book Review: The Hollywood Commandments by DeVon Franklin

Author: DeVon Franklin
Book title: The Hollywood Commandments: A Spiritual Guide To Secular Success
Reviewed by: Alexis A. Goring

"The Hollywood Commandments: A Spiritual Guide To Secular Success" as a book title is intriguing. Upon opening the book, the reader will see that the content is completely captivating and equipped with the power to not only help you succeed in your chosen career but to change your outlook on life for the better.

The author, DeVon Franklin, is more than a bestselling author sharing good words of wisdom with people who are thirsty for success. He is a Hollywood movie producer, CEO of Franklin Entertainment (his own, faith-based production company), spiritual success coach, and preacher.

His goal in writing this book was to show people that they are able to be successful—not just in Hollywood but in any career—without losing their faith. He argues that succeeding in the secular arena is a journey that can strengthen your faith if you permit it. He challenges the stereotype among church folk that Hollywood is a land of sin and shame, a place where no good Christian should go for if you do then you may gain the world but you’ll lose your soul. Franklin challenges those stereotypes and deep-rooted belief systems with this one idea and that is, “your faith was designed to thrive in the secular world, and, as a result, transform it.” He argues, “You may never experience the true fulfillment you were created for until you pursue the secular ambitions on your heart.”

Franklin encourages the reader to follow their dreams but consult God first. He emphasizes the importance of staying in tune with God throughout the journey to your dreams because God knows you better than you know yourself. It is important to discern God’s will for your life and live out His plan and purpose whether that means going to Southern California and eventually getting your own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, or becoming the best you can be in a more traditional career. He emphasizes the point that this book is a guide to success in any career whether it’s in the spotlight or behind the scenes. He casts the net wide for his readership.

As a creative individual who always dreamed of a successful career in the Arts & Entertainment industry, this reader (me) was encouraged by valuable life lessons Franklin preached through his book. I say “preached” because reading this book in a sense was like going to church and listening to a really good sermon but without limitations. Unfortunately, sometimes well-meaning ministers in church limit people who are “out of the box” or don’t fit in. If you are one of those people who feel limited or “different” then “Chapter 8: Your Difference Is Your Destiny”, might be the part of this book that resonates most with you. Franklin writes on page 174, “People don’t like what’s different, and sometimes they criticize or ridicule people who insist on being different. It can be lonely. But even in the loneliness, you have to trust God and let your distinctiveness stand out. The moment you begin to exchange what makes you different for what makes you ordinary because you want to fit in, you give away that which God wants to use to elevate you and take you to somewhere extraordinary.” If this were an audible sermon, Franklin could “drop the mic” at the end of that sentence because ultimately that’s his core message.

The words in this book paint a rich and vivid picture of how Franklin made it from his humble beginnings in Oakland (located in Northern California) to the seat of his destiny in Hollywood (located in Southern California). His life story is inspiring, the content of this book is encouraging and the message is meaningful. The readers will appreciate the clear roadmap he shares that shows in great detail, how to navigate the workplace so that you can be a success without losing your faith. His tone is kind yet firm. His style is solid, uplifting and motivational. The editing is flawless and the author’s heart for helping people while pointing them to God is beautiful.

It’s admirable how the author made it clear that he is not the person to tell you how to live your life. While he supports everything in this book with solid evidence and Scripture, he also constantly reminds the reader to get right with God and trust Him to reveal His purpose for your life. The reader can infer that the author knows that no matter how successful he is in this life and no matter how many words of wisdom he has to share from his own life experience, there is someone higher up the ladder than he and that someone is God. The author makes it clear that only God can guide you to your destiny. He knows that this book, while some may say was inspired by God, is not the most authoritative source on how to live your life. He makes it clear that God’s Word (The Holy Bible) is the best guide to your destiny and to succeed in life you must know the Bible and its Author (God, whose Holy Spirit inspired people to write it).

Kudos to the author for allowing his light as a follower of Jesus Christ to not only shine brightly in Hollywood, but through this book, impact the world. His transparent message will resonate with readers and encourage people to seek God’s plan and purpose for their life story.

It’s truly a beautiful message that deserves a five-star rating and a top place on your to-be-read book pile!

* I (Alexis A. Goring), voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book that I received from the author’s publicist. My opinions are my own.

A sermon that will change your life

Watch live streaming video from the1channel at livestream.com

BOOK REVIEW: DeVon Franklin, Produced by Faith

Produced by Faith: Enjoy Real Success Without Losing Your True Self. DeVon Franklin, Howard Books, a Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc., New York, 2011, 245 pages, US$14.99. Reviewed by Alexis A. Goring of Columbus, Montana.

DeVon Franklin’s life is a testimony to Proverbs 3:5, 6. And his book is a blueprint to prove that he was “produced by faith.”

“When I thought about the movie business, and I thought about the Academy Awards and the Oscars, it dawned on me that the absolute top prize given out is for Best Picture, and whoever produced the movie is who wins the trophy for Best Picture,” says Franklin. “So I thought about my life, and at the end of my life I would want it to say, ‘produced by faith.’ ”

Franklin, who is also an Adventist preacher, started in the movie business more than a decade ago. He has since worked his way up to vice president of production for Columbia Pictures. He has produced movies such asJumping the Broom, Pursuit of Happyness, Seven Pounds, and The Karate Kid.

“What I have discovered is that there is no more powerful force in the universe than our faith. And if we embrace it, it will actually lead us well beyond anything we can imagine,” he says.

Produced by Faith is divided into two sections, entitled (appropriately) development and production. Franklin delivers on his promise to give readers insight into how faith can help in any career, even in a place where most Adventists dare not go, Hollywood. “Owning your faith, not hiding it, not being ashamed of it, has been the thing that has allowed me to find success,” he says.

Franklin develops and makes films on a daily basis. In his book Franklin challenges readers to look at their life as a movie produced by their faith in God. He teaches readers to discover purpose in life, or in movie terms, “the big idea.” Then he shows readers how to allow God to write their scripts while taking notes and living according to God’s direction and will.

Produced by Faith isn’t all glitz and glamour; Franklin keeps it real, promising that we will go through what he calls “development hell.” But that’s part of the process; you don’t have a good story without conflict.

“Every great story is all about the highs and lows,” he says. “The conflict in the story is what makes the story good. Same with our life—because we don’t have the luxury of being able to look at our life from a script point of view where we can turn the page and see what’s going to happen next.”

After God has taught us valuable life lessons, built our characters, and restored us into whom He’s called us to be, our movie (life) is ready for production. This is the part of the story, Franklin believes, in which our wildest dreams come true and we see that the struggle was worth it.

DeVon Franklin says "Get Perspective"

Food for thought: "We serve a God who most certainly can move mountains. But sometimes the greater revelations of God are discovered when He doesn’t move the mountain. Instead, He takes our hand and helps us climb up and over impossibilities one step at a time." -- Lysa TerKeurst's Facebook status (12/5/2012). "How does this resonate with you?"

On an UPnote: "Sometimes when things are falling apart, they may actually be falling into place." -- Author Unknown. 

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."-- Deuteronomy 31:6 (New International Version).

A WORD for YOU :)

Have you ever heard a word that spoke to you? I mean a word that completely touched on EVERY SINGLE ONE of your issues that you've gone through or thoughts you've pondered lately? I just experienced that today when I watched "The Other Side of Victory" sermon by DeVon Franklin, Senior Vice President of Production for Columbia Pictures, author and preacher. A-mazing! Truly a God-appointment for me! And by "God-appointment" I mean I knew within the first 5 minutes of this Vimeo recording that THIS is the MESSAGE God wants me to hear for the season of life I'm experiencing at this time.

SO powerful is this preaching all based off a Bible passage (Matthew 9:27-33) and so diverse is DeVon's take on tying in practical reality with this Bible story of the two blind men who were healed by Jesus that I KNOW you will be BLESSED when you watch it!

So without further ado, this is for YOU! :)

Devon Franklin - The other side of Victory from Touré Roberts on Vimeo.

An interview by OPRAH you will WANT to see!

Dear friends,

Here's an interview by OPRAH you will NOT want to miss! :)

Adventist preacher/producer DeVon Franklin, vice president of production for Columbia Pictures and author of the book Produced by Faith will be featured on Oprah's show Super Soul Sunday on Sunday morning, June 17, at 11:00 a.m.

Check your TV guide for local listings!

Here's a preview to the story...

First Look: DeVon Franklin on Faith and Hollywood
Read more: http://www.oprah.com/own-supersoulsunday/blogs/First-Look-DeVon-Franklin-on-Faith-and-Hollywood#ixzz1xhbimrVR

Remember to watch it on Sunday, you will be blessed! And those of you who have heard DeVon preach/be interviewed about his faith, book and career KNOW what I'm talking about, right? :)

God bless you!

Love,

Alexis

Produced by Faith (book promo)