Family-based movie firm in funding talks

Contact: Timothy Gillespie, Paths Apart Productions, 877-235-4999, timothy@pathsapartproductions.com

EL SOBRANTE, Calif., Oct. 4 /Christian Newswire/ -- Paths Apart Productions (www.PathsApartProductions.com) president Karen L. Aasand announced today that the upstart film production company designed to produce faith and family-based films has added two major industry veterans to its board of advisors. The key additions bring the board total to five and substantially increasing the collective experience and knowledge of the firm.

"Both Paul Cohen and Brian Fox bring vast experience in the industry, from two very different and essential vantage points," says Aasand. "This adds measurably to our knowledge-base and has already had an effect in our discussions with funders."

Paul Cohen is well-known for acquiring and marketing a wide range of successful films, often recognized as cinematic gems and contemporary classics. These include Abel Ferrara's Bad Lieutenant starring Harvey Keitel, Mephisto, the 1981 Academy Award-winner for Best Foreign Language Film, and My Brilliant Career, The Chosen starring Maximilian Schell, and Luchino Visconti's The Innocent. (see Paul Cohen bio)

From a one-man advertising and graphic arts company in 1977, Brian D. Fox built - and recently sold - one of the pre-eminent entertainment advertising agencies in the industry. At B.D. Fox & Friends Advertising, Brian and staff created indelible print campaigns for several film classics including E.T., Batman and The Matrix, as well as the international Harry Potter campaign. (see Brian D. Fox bio)

The board of advisors also includes industry veteran Ken Wales (Amazing Grace, The Party, Pink Panther, Cagney & Lacey), Derry Connolly (John Paul the Great Catholic University New Media), and Joe Buenavista (Bernstein Global Wealth Management). (see bios)

Paths Apart is headed by principals Aasand, Fred Kuehnert (Buddy Holly Story, That's Black Entertainment) and Rich Asher, a chief financial officer specializing in industry start-ups. Aasand, Kuehnert and Asher have recently been engaged in a series of meetings with the principals of equity capital firms and private investors to describe and explain the unique nature of Path Apart's strategy of funding a "portfolio" of smaller, carefully-produced, faith and family-based films.

The movies, produced with several factors ensuring economies of scale, will be designed to bypass the risky and expensive path of theatrical release and will be distributed direct-to-DVD and television.

The consumer market for faith-based goods and products is one of the most rapidly growing market segments and shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. "Two hundred eighteen million Americans -- 77% of the U.S. population -- identify themselves as Christians," adds Aasand, "It is a $4.2 billion market – and growing steadily."

"Our focus is on stories that share a message of the power of faith and its effects on our lives," says Aasand. The diversity of religious affiliations of the advisory board lends authenticity and sincerity to their mission of producing compelling true life stories about how God brings healing unity and wholeness to mankind, she adds. "This," Aasand adds, "is so important in an age of rancorous divisiveness in culture, religion and politics heard and seen all too frequently in the media."

"Hollywood is just beginning to grasp the fact that the appetite of the "faith and family" audience has barely been tapped," says the website for the Dove Foundation, the influential pro-family entertainment group. "We think our strategy and strong team of principals and advisors, plus the increased interest shown recently by funders," says Aasand, "points to some very positive times for the company in the coming months."