Contact: Carol Edwards or Tammy Wallace, RR Communications, 310-860-7592, contact@rippleeffectmanagement.com
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 12, 2014 /Christian Newswire/ -- The epic, big-budget Christian movie, 'Freedom,' from Producer Tim Chey, opens next week in over 100 theaters throughout Australia and New Zealand. The film looks at two stories, one of them on the early life of John Newton, the former slave trader who wrote 'Amazing Grace.'
"It was a long journey to get here," says Chey, "but happy it's finally hitting theaters."
The highly-anticipated film is also slated to open in theaters throughout the U.S. in early 2015.
Chey relates very well to John Newton's own life as a young rogue who forever changed.
"John Newton's life patterns mine in so many ways," says Tim Chey. "He found Christ in a storm and his life changed forever."
It took Chey eight years to research and write the script and nine years to bring the project to the big screen. The film has the 4th highest budget for a Christian film after 'Passion of the Christ.'
"I was thrilled when Cuba Gooding, Jr. signed on," says Chey. "He was my first choice. He read the script and said, 'I'm in.'"
Chey's friend, Dean Cundey ('Jurassic Park,' 'Back to the Future') also shot the movie. "The entire movie's terrific look is because of one person: my friend Dean. He did a phenomenal job."
Chey traveled from Fiji to Mississippi to Nova Scotia scouting locations. He chose Connecticut because of the natural beauty and Mystic Seaport.
"I picked Connecticut because of the tremendous historical significance," says Chey. "We also filmed on the Amistad ship with Dean in a helicopter covering some truly epic moments."
Chey also finished producing and directing another epic film 'David and Goliath' in Africa and London. The ambitious film opens in theaters nationwide in April 2015.
'Freedom' Writer/Producer Tim Chey Cinematographer: Dean Cundey Associate Producers: Anna Sims, Christopher Purdy
Starring Cuba Gooding, Jr., Sharon Leal, William Sadler
For Media contacts: Carol Edwards or Tammy Wallace RR Communications contact@rippleeffectmanagement.com
