In a culture where social media and societal pressures shape a young person’s identity more than biblical truths, the new film “Identity Crisis” explores deeper questions of self-worth, faith and divine creation.

The film, directed by Shari Rigby (“October Baby”) and starring Finn Roberts, Maria Canals-Barrera, Scout Lepore, Sophia Lepore and Laura Leigh Turner, follows Madison Montgomery, a brilliant but introverted science student who accidentally creates a clone of herself, causing her world to turn upside down. However, she soon learns that her clone can help her break out of her shell and embrace a different side of her personality.

Canals-Barrera, known for her role as Theresa Russo on the Disney series Wizards of Waverly Place, plays Dr. Angela Harris, a faith-informed scientist who helps her students navigate the concept of identity and its relationship with divine creation.

“One of the things I appreciated about this film is that Dr. Harris logically explains how science complements faith,” the actress told The Christian Post. “She is comfortable asking questions and guiding her students toward the truth without compromise or fear. It was refreshing to play a character who isn’t afraid to explore the big questions.”

A mother herself, Canals-Barrera noted that with the rise of social media, the pressure to conform to unrealistic standards and follow trends, some problematic, is growing.

“I’ve seen what social media can do, especially to young people still finding their way. It can make you feel like you’re not good enough or not living the life you’re supposed to live. ‘Identity Crisis’ encourages young people to define themselves based on their faith and not be swayed by the ever-changing trends,” she said.

Though a family-friendly film, “Identity Crisis” tackles the themes of loneliness and depression, issues that many young people face today. A 2023 Gallup study found that the percentage of U.S. adults who report having been diagnosed with depression at some point in their lifetime has reached 29%, nearly 10 percentage points higher than in 2015.

“There’s a scene in the film where I tell Madison, the lead character, about the simplicity of letting God love us,” Canals-Barrera said. “It sounds so simple, but it’s hard for many to understand that kind of unconditional love, especially if they’ve faced pain or rejection. I hope young people take away the message that they are not alone and that seeking the truth is always worth it.”

“Identity Crisis” doesn’t shy away from discussing the ethical implications of scientific advancements, especially in cloning and genetic engineering.

Canals-Barrera’s character raises essential questions about playing God and the consequences of tampering with human genetics. Her performance in the film earned her a nomination at the Christian International Festival, highlighting the impact of “Identity Crisis.”

“Perfection is subjective, and trying to achieve it can lead to dangerous consequences. The movie explores these ethical questions and reminds us that we are not the authors of right and wrong,” she said.

“It’s a topical issue, and the movie addresses it in a fun and entertaining way without overcomplicating things. It resonates with viewers because it speaks to their experiences and concerns.”

The actress emphasized the importance of seeking the truth, both scientifically and spiritually, in a society increasingly devoid of moral absolutes.

“The beauty of ‘Identity Crisis’ is that it encourages us to ask the big questions and have the courage to seek answers, even if they’re uncomfortable. It’s a message that I believe will resonate with audiences of all ages,” she said.

Rigby, who starred in “Overcomer” and leads the ministry The Women in My World, previously told CP how, after entering Hollywood as a young woman, she soon developed a passion for helping women find their identity and purpose in Christ.

“At first, I came here going, ‘Oh, my gosh, I’m going to be a huge movie star. It’s all about movies, I’m going to be a movie star, I’m going to have massive success,'” she recalled. “I had this whole vision of what it was going to look like. All of a sudden, God was like, ‘No, you’re here for my women. Like, get it in your head, I’m a God of relationship. Go back to your Bible and start looking at when I give my disciples their instructions. I didn’t tell them to go out and get famous and get rich and do those things. I told them to go out and serve my people and tell them that the Kingdom is at hand.’

“That was a point in time where not only was I hoping to pour into women, but they were also pouring into me. So we started to really go through the study of identity and whose we are and who God is and who He says He is and the promises of Him and identifying with how we are built.”

“Identity Crisis” is one of several recent faith-based films tackling the ethics of scientific advances. “Someone Like You,” the latest film from Karen Kingsbury, delves into sensitive topics such as IVF and embryo adoption.

The author told CP she wants to foster a conversation about the broader societal and ethical considerations surrounding IVF practices, advocating for a more regulated approach to the creation of embryos.

“Science has raised questions that only God can answer,” Kingsbury told CP. “We’re in that place; we’re living in it, and it gets more so that way all the time.
Sources:Christian Post

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വാഷിംഗ്ടണ്‍ ഡി‌സി: ഹോളിവുഡിലും സംഗീതരംഗത്തും നേടിയ വിജയങ്ങളേക്കാളും യേശുവിനു വേണ്ടി ജീവിക്കുക മാത്രമാണ് തന്റെ ലക്ഷ്യമെന്ന തുറന്നുപറച്ചിലുമായി ഗ്രാമി അവാര്‍ഡ് ജേതാവായ സിംഗറും, ഹോളിവുഡ് അഭിനേത്രിയുമായ തമേല മന്‍. ‘ഓവര്‍കമര്‍’ എന്ന തന്റെ പുതിയ സംഗീത ആല്‍ബത്തിന്റെ റിലീസിന് മുന്നോടിയായി ‘ക്രിസ്റ്റ്യന്‍ പോസ്റ്റ്‌’നു നല്‍കിയ അഭിമുഖത്തിലാണ് എന്‍.എ.എ.സി.പി അവാര്‍ഡ് ജേതാവും, ഗാനരചയിതാവും, നിര്‍മ്മാതാവും കൂടിയായ തമേല തന്റെ ദൈവവിശ്വാസത്തെക്കുറിച്ച് പരാമര്‍ശം നടത്തിയത്. ആളുകളുടെ കണ്ണുകള്‍ എന്നിലേക്കല്ല, മറിച്ച് ദൈവത്തിലേക്ക് തിരിച്ചുവിടാന്‍ ഞാന്‍ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നു എന്ന് പറഞ്ഞ തമേല മരണം വരെ തന്റെ ശ്രദ്ധാകേന്ദ്രം കര്‍ത്താവായിരിക്കണമെന്നതാണ് തന്റെ ആത്യന്തിക ലക്ഷ്യമെന്നും കൂട്ടിച്ചേര്‍ത്തു.

ഗാനരചനയും, നിര്‍മ്മാതാവും എന്ന നിലയില്‍ ‘ഓവര്‍കമര്‍’ ആദ്യ സംരഭമാണോയെന്ന ചോദ്യത്തിന്, മുട്ടിന്‍മേലുള്ള ഇരട്ട സര്‍ജറിക്ക് ഉള്‍പ്പെടെ കഴിഞ്ഞ 6 വര്‍ഷത്തെ തന്റെ ജീവിതത്തിലെ ഒരുപാട് കാര്യങ്ങളുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ടതാണ് ഈ ആല്‍ബമെന്നും, കര്‍ത്താവുമായുള്ള ബന്ധവും അടുപ്പവും, പ്രാര്‍ത്ഥനയും വഴിയുള്ള അതിജീവനവും തന്റെ ജീവിത യാത്രയുടെ ഭാഗമാണെന്നും അവര്‍ പറഞ്ഞു. ആളുകള്‍ ദൈവത്തിനു വേണ്ടി പാടുമ്പോഴുള്ള ആത്മാര്‍ത്ഥതയും, അഭിനിവേശവും കുറേക്കഴിയുമ്പോള്‍ നഷ്ടപ്പെടുകയാണ് പതിവെങ്കിലും ദൈവ വിശ്വാസം എങ്ങനെ നിലനിര്‍ത്തുവാന്‍ കഴിയുന്നുവെന്ന ചോദ്യത്തിനും വിശ്വാസത്തെ നെഞ്ചോട് ചേര്‍ത്തു താരം മറുപടി നല്‍കി. ഭൗമീകപിതാവില്‍ നിന്നുമല്ല തനിക്കിത് ലഭിച്ചത്. അതിനാല്‍ സ്വര്‍ഗ്ഗീയപിതാവിനെ കുറച്ചുകാട്ടുവാന്‍ താന്‍ ഇഷ്ടപ്പെടുന്നില്ല. കഴിഞ്ഞ 33 വര്‍ഷമായി തന്റെ ഉള്ളിലെ തീ അണയാതെ കാത്തു സൂക്ഷിക്കുന്നതിന് വേണ്ടി താന്‍ ദൈവത്തോട് പ്രാര്‍ത്ഥിക്കുകയാണെന്നും തമേല പറഞ്ഞു.

സംഗീതത്തിലെ വിജയത്തിലല്ല മറിച്ച് ദൈവത്തിലാണ് തന്റെ ശ്രദ്ധയെന്നും അത് കൂടുതല്‍ ആളുകളിലേക്ക് എത്തിക്കുന്നതിനെ കുറിച്ചാണ് താന്‍ ചിന്തിക്കുന്നതെന്നും കാര്യങ്ങള്‍ നല്ലരീതിയില്‍ തന്നെ പോകുന്നതിനായി താന്‍ നിരന്തരം ദൈവത്തെ വിളിച്ചപേക്ഷിക്കാറുണ്ടെന്നും അവര്‍ കൂട്ടിച്ചേര്‍ത്തു. ദൈവം തന്നെ തിരഞ്ഞെടുത്തതില്‍ നന്ദിയുള്ളവളാണ്’ എന്ന് പറഞ്ഞുകൊണ്ടാണ് തമേല തന്റെ അഭിമുഖം അവസാനിപ്പിച്ചത്. ഗോസ്പല്‍ സിംഗര്‍ എന്നതിന് പുറമേ ടൈലര്‍ പെറീയുടെ ‘അസിസ്റ്റഡ് ലിവിംഗ്’, ‘മദിയ പ്ലെയ്സ്’ തുടങ്ങിയ സിനിമകളിലേയും, ‘മീറ്റ്‌ ദി ബ്രൌണ്‍സ്’ എന്ന ഹിറ്റ്‌ ടി.വി പരമ്പരയിലേയും മികച്ച അഭിനയത്തിന്റെ പേരില്‍ അറിയപ്പെടുന്ന അഭിനേത്രി കൂടിയാണ് തമേല.
കടപ്പാട് :പ്രവാചക ശബ്ദം

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Dude Perfect — the five-man crew focused on “giving back, spreading joy, and glorifying Jesus Christ,” according to their website — just earned a whopping $100 million cash infusion.

The five dudes behind the viral YouTube account, Coby Cotton, Cory Cotton, Garrett Hilbert, Cody Jones, and Tyler Toney, have garnered international attention over the years for their trick-shot videos and winsome content.

The more than $100 million investment from Highmount Capital marks Dude Perfect’s first external influx of cash, Axios reported, noting the guys, who met as roommates at Texas A&M University and began posting content to YouTube in 2009, have invested their revenue directly into their own expansion. The company stated this year, though, that total profits are expected to exceed $50 million, doubling their revenue from 2022, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Speaking to Axios, Coby Cotton said the group plans to use the money to build out a management team, expand its staff, and bring a CEO on board. Additionally, the Christian guys are planning an international tour and are looking into translating their videos into other languages.

And about a year and half ago, the Dude Perfect cofounders released a plan to build a $100 million trick-shot theme park in the Dallas-Forth Worth area.

“The mission of Dude Perfect is to serve families with the most trusted entertainment on earth,” Coby Cotton told D Magazine. “By partnering with Highmount Capital, we hope to pour gas on the fire and take the Dude Perfect fun that families have witnessed on screens these past 15 years and turn it into real life products and memory-making experiences they can actually touch and feel for themselves.”

David Hawkins, chief investment officer and general partner for Highmount Capital, said his own three sons, ages 5, 8, and 10, are “super fans” of Dude Perfect. As a father, he said he is a fan of their content, too, because he knows he can trust it is family friendly.

“The most valuable thing we’ve done these last 15 years is build trust with families and then … build trust with the brands,” Coby Cotton said.

The cofounder of Highmount Capital, Jason Illian, sees the kind of content Dude Perfect creates as the future of entertainment.

He told The Hollywood Reporter, “When you talk to teenagers and kids and people that watch the Dudes, they’re all being influenced, and three out of four kids said they want to be an influencer and a creator, so I don’t think they’re gonna call this the ‘creator economy’ in the near future, they’re just gonna call it media, because that’s really what it is, and the Dudes are at the front end of that.”

“We thought a significant investment made sense just because, when you look at all the things that they have in front of them, working with sports teams, and retailers, and opportunities for events, we want to make sure there’s enough capital there to do it really well,” he added.
Sources:faithwire

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