Disney's Narnia blockbuster Film

[Owen Spencer-Thomas]

The following article may be of interest to parishes.  It was only three
days ago that we were remembering the 42nd anniversary of the death of C S
Lewis.
Owen

For Christian church leaders, Disney's "Narnia" blockbuster film could be
the ideal way to pack the pews.
Evangelical publishers have sent out special packs to churches, Methodists
prepared themed sermons and one Anglican church is giving out free tickets
to single parents for "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the
Wardrobe".
For Walt Disney Co. the film based on the C.S. Lewis classic offers a chance
to recover at the box office after its latest quarterly losses.
For churches, the movie being given its world premiere in London on December
7 is a golden opportunity to tap into mainstream culture and popularise
religion.
The evangelical publishing company Christian Publishing and Outreach (CPO),
which distributes material to 20,000 churches, approached Disney and was
granted permission to use two images from the film for its "Narnia" packs.
"A lot of churches have been ordering and will be staging their own events.
We have seen very big demand across the range," said Russ Bravo, development
director for CPO which is providing posters, DVDs, invitation cards and
folders.
"We have a what-to-do guide, outlines that give ministers ideas on how to
deliver sermons, material for Sunday schools," he said.
The book tells the tale of four children who step through a wardrobe into
the magical world of Narnia for a classic good-versus-evil clash between a
wicked witch and the god-like lion Aslan.
"There are clear Christian parallels you can draw from the storyline," Bravo
said.
NICHE MARKET
Christians are now recognised by Hollywood as a valuable niche market after
Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" was a surprise $600 million (349
million pounds) worldwide hit.
"The Passion really surprised Hollywood. Everyone thought it would bomb.
What they didn't realise was that there is an audience for a film with a
Christian message," said John Buckeridge, editor of Christianity Magazine.
"Disney recognises the marketplace. In Hollywood, money talks," said
Buckeridge, whose magazine ran a cover story on how churches could link into
Narnia's release to promote a Christian message.
"This could be as successful as 'The Passion of the Christ' in triggering
dialogue. There is a Christian parable in there," he told Reuters.
Manchester Cathedral staged a Narnia day, the Methodist organisation
MethodistChildren wrote a special Narnia service and Church of Scotland
moderator David Lacy said it was common sense to seize the opportunity.
"The Church would be daft not to capitalise on any benefits it can get out
of it," Lacy said.
St Luke's, an Anglican church in Maidstone, hit on a winning formula and
gained much media coverage when distributing free tickets to Gibson's
controversial version of the crucifixion.
Now they are to repeat the offer with Narnia.
"We are giving away 10,000 pounds worth of tickets to single-parent families
in and around the area," said a spokesman for the church. "It's a Christmas
gift from the church to families that may not be able to afford to go to the
cinema.






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Owen Spencer-Thomas
52 Windsor Road
Cambridge
CB4 3JN

01223 358448

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