Family Theater Productions premieres two dramas in Hollywood screening

Family Theater Productions premiered its two latest dramas, Assumptions and Finding Mary, at a Hollywood screening and reception at Harmony Gold Preview House on March 27 and in broadcasts March 28-30 by several Catholic TV outlets across the country.

The films are the newest episodes in Family Theater Productions' Manifest Mysteries anthology, ten half-hour dramas that connect the Mysteries of the Rosary directly to the dramatic experiences of fictional teen protagonists.

The cast and crew and friends and supporters of Family Theater Productions from the entertainment industry and the Los Angeles area faith community watched and discussed the two new films.

Father Willy Raymond, CSC, National Director of Family Theater Productions and executive producer of the programs, welcomed the audience and shared Family Theater's heritage, Servant of God Father Patrick Peyton, CSC's vision and the Catholic production company's mission and Manifest Mysteries project.

"These dramas are the result of many people sharing their incredible talent and passion.  Many worked very hard for very little and we are extremely grateful.  These were definitely products of much generosity," Father Willy said.

Father Willy introduced Monica Castagnasso, the films' producer and Family Theater's Director of Radio and producer of its Voz Latina radio project, and Tony Sands, the films' director and co-screenwriter, who in turn introduced the cast and crew, including Elli Bazini, sound engineer and music composer for Family Theater Productions' Radio Department, who fulfilled those roles for these TV films. Tony and Monica also conducted a lively question-and-answer session with the audience. Tony is Family Theater's Administrator and a director, screenwriter, published author and a graduate of the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts. He co-wrote the screenplays with his brother, Joseph.  

In Assumptions, a teen-age girl discovers that her mother is pregnant and also has cancer. The girl, Mary (Ryanne Plaisance), must find the faith to cope with the tough decisions ahead. This story relates to The Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven.

Finding Mary is the story of teenager Jessica (Lunden Mihalic), who "has it all" and then discovers that she is adopted. She begins searching for her birth parents. It relates to The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth.

Those Catholic broadcasters participating in the weekend broadcast premiere of Assumptions and Finding Mary are (all times are local):

- Catholic Television, Boston, 2 and 2:30 p.m., Friday, March 28,

- Catholic Television Network -- Detroit, 8 and 8:30 p.m., Sunday, March 30, with repeats at 10 and 10:30 a.m., Monday, March 31; 10:30 and 11 a.m., Thursday, April 3; 7 and 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 4.

- The Catholic Community Television Network, Leesburg, Fla., 3:30 and 4 p.m., Sunday, March 30.

Instructional Television -- Archdiocese of New York will air Assumptions on June 5 and Finding Mary on June 12, both at 7:30 p.m. Other TV outlets that have indicated they will air the program at a date to be determined include Catholic Television of San Antonio; KNXT-TV, Fresno, Calif.; and the Diocese of Raleigh, N.C.

The previous eight Manifest Mysteries episodes and their correlations are: The Visit (The Visitation), The Journey (The Birth of Our Lord), The Search (The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple), The Eggplant Lady (The Agony in the Garden), The Secret of the Horse (The Scourging at the Pillar), Haunted Heart (The Crowning with Thorns), The Hero (The Crucifixion), and Taylor's Wall (The Ascension of Our Lord).
  
To pre-order DVDs of Assumptions and Finding Mary, call 1-800-299-PRAY (7729).

Holy Cross Family Ministries: Family Theater Productions premieres two dramas in Hollywood screening Article ID: 3613