The making of a faith-based feature film.

Edward Fudge grows up in a small Alabama town, the son of a preacher and Christian publisher. The death of a friend leaves Edward with questions about how God deals with the “unsaved.” He is haunted by the fear his friend is burning in hell. Against firm opposition, Edward holds to the overriding principle he has learned from his father: “If the Bible says it, it’s true, even if the whole world is against it.”

Hell and Mr Fudge’s Pat Arrabito will present screenings of the film in Melbourne, Sydney, Cooranbong and Brisbane.

Hell and Mr Fudge is a period, faith-based feature film that tells Edward’s story. Executive producer Pat Arrabito is touring Australia to present a series of screenings, one of which is at Avondale College of Higher Education.

You’ve contributed to the dialogue about what lies beyond—eternal life or torment—because it affects our opinion of God. So why is the film theology “lite”?
Edward hooked us. His story has all the important elements—loss, love, suffering and triumph. The strength of his convictions, and his intellectual honesty, marks him, in our eyes, as a real hero.

How did Edward feel about you telling his story?
Initially, it came as a surprise to him that anyone would be interested. But he shared his journey willingly. We included Edward in the planning and writing, and he spent several days on set. He cried the first time he watched the film.

What about those who’ve never heard of Edward Fudge? What responses are you receiving from them?
A friend with whom I’d had many discussions called me immediately after watching the film in our local theatre. She said, “It was John 3:16, at the end—that did it for me.” One of the most gratifying responses has come from a reviewer who has a master’s degree in theology. They wrote about having to do more reading and studying because the film raised potentially faith-changing issues.

Hell and Mr Fudge, presented by Manifest Creative Arts Festival and Adventist Book Centres. Australian premiere screenings:

Melbourne
March 15, 2014, 6 pm and 8.30 pm, Lilydale Seventh-day Adventist Church, Freewill offering.

Sydney
March 19, 2014, 7 pm, Fox Valley Seventh-day Adventist Community Church, Freewill offering.

Cooranbong
March 20, 2014, 8.30 pm, Ladies Chapel, Avondale College of Higher Education.

Brisbane
March 22, 2014, 7 pm, Springwood Seventh-day Adventist Church, Freewill offering.

Brenton Stacey

Author

Brenton Stacey

Brenton is Avondale University’s Public Relations and Philanthropy Officer. He brings to the role experience as a communicator in publishing, media relations, public relations, radio and television, mostly within the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific and its entities.