Posted on 07/21/2023 10:09:30 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Angel Studios’ anti-people trafficking movie, “Sound of Freedom,” has earned nearly seven times its original budget after only two weeks at the box office.
Image from the "Sound of Freedom" movie which was released on July 4, 2023. (Courtesy of Angel Studios)
Shedding a light on a dark, shadowy world—especially child sex trafficking—the film’s commercial success comes years after its production, surviving a corporate merger, the COVID-19 pandemic, and reports of several screenings gone awry.
Opening on July 4, “Sound of Freedom” just surpassed $100 million at the box office, $85 million of which came from domestic theaters. It was made on a $14.5 million budget.
People walk by the AMC 34th Street theater in New York on March 5, 2021. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Starring Jim Caviezel (“The Passion of the Christ”) as former Homeland Security Agent and Operation Underground Railroad founder Tim Ballard, the movie is a call-to-action that tells the true story of how hundreds of people were rescued from human trafficking.
It saw an increase of more than 30 percent in audience attendance in its second week, and more than 10,000 verified audience members have contributed to its 100 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
It also continues to compete with mainstream movies with much lighter and more entertainment-focused subject matters and much higher budgets.
But this successful movie might not have ever seen the inside of a theater without the help of food giant Goya Foods.
“Sound of Freedom” had originally been ordered by 20th Century Fox with Mr. Verastagui already on as its producer and supporting role.
But the movie became one of the many Fox projects shelved after the merger with The Walt Disney Company.
“We helped him buy [“Sound of Freedom”] from Disney [and] became executive producers on that,” Mr. Unanue told The Epoch Times in a phone interview. “It just so happened that several years later trying to get it distributed that Angel Studios appeared on the scene.”
Goya did not disclose the amount of money it contributed to the project.
The film was completed before the COVID-19 pandemic. But despite Disney releasing the rights, that theater-closing event would require its producers to wait a little bit longer.
Angel Studios acquired the distribution rights in 2023. He said Angel Studios was “a godsend” in turning around the movie for theatrical release in “just a few months.” Now, he said, they are in talks with Mel Gibson to do a series on human trafficking.
Tied to the completion and distribution of “Sound of Freedom” is the creation of Goya Cares, Mr. Unanue’s own program, which provides support to several nonprofits fighting child and human trafficking.
Working primarily on the homefront, it supports several charities already entrenched in the fight to end trafficking and provide safe houses for victims, such as Catholic Charities and the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC).
It also works with the Monique Burr Foundation to provide lesson plans and educational awareness in schools.
“At the center of Goya Cares is a heart, and our heart reaches out to these victims of child trafficking and children who are suffering from mental illness so that they may have hope to live in a world where their life is valued, their freedom is a reality and their mind is at peace,” Mr. Unanue’s mission statement for the program states.
“They need to be reminded that they are precious gifts from God.”
Read more here...
Bob Unanue is a good guy. I buy Goya canned food all the time.
Goya was pretty loud on our side but then quieted down. I didn’t know if they had a change of ownership, had been cowed by the left, ignored by the press or something else. Good thing to see them back.
Their products are top of the line.
Really like their corned beef when cooking corned beef and cabbage!😁
Good idea.
Oh yes that sounds good, haven’t had that in a while!
I have a weakness for their Dulce Le Leche Wafer Cookies.
I get the impression Goya is more politically calculating than say Chik Fil A.
Those sound good too. Adding to the list 👍
Eduardo Verastegui was a heartthrob Mexican soap opera star. Back when Obama ran for prez, Verastegui made a pro-life short-subject film that was used against Obama.
Some Freepers saw his feature length film BELLA which also had a strong pro-life theme.
So do I. Higher prices than some, but always a premium product. It's nice to know that I am buying from a company with such good ethics. I often buy online by the case. Not just canned - I just unpacked about 25 lbs. of dried navy pea beans, which I use in soups. Canned black beans another favorite. Puree 3-4 cans in the blender with 1 cup heavy cream to make soup. Season to taste.
Si es Goya, tiene que ser bueno.
bttt
i love their ginger beer
the board muzzled him
Verastegui and Unanue - both Basques
Si es Goya, tiene que ser bueno.
==
if its goya, it has to be good
how’s my high school spanish?
Perfect
“Si es Goya, tiene que ser bueno.”
Verdad!
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