Why Kevin Sorbo Stands for Faith in Hollywood: ‘Changing People’s Lives’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Actors Kevin Sorbo and Ricky Schroder recently discussed how they are fighting the destructive ideologies that Hollywood typically promotes with pro-American and faith-filled content.
“Everybody’s getting programmed out there by what they listen to, what they watch, what they hear, and so we need to sort of turn around the programming,” Schroder told podcast host Andrew Klavan.
The actor recently started the Reel American Heroes nonprofit. It honors our nation by presenting films, documentaries, television series public service announcements of courage; stories about our veterans, active soldiers, first responders, Gold Star families, as well as past and present heroic figures. Our goal is to inspire, raise awareness, entertain, and educate.”
“I started this nonprofit because the diversity equity and inclusion guidelines at the Academy,” Schroder explained. “A few years ago they changed the guidelines so that you couldn’t be eligible for the best picture category for the Oscar if you didn’t have LGBTQ + characters [and] themes of your story.”
“It really offended me, and I decided Hollywood had fallen at that point, and I needed to…I still want to tell stories and still work and do stuff,” he added.
Sorbo noted the real consequences that come from standing for his values in the entertainment industry.
“Being a Christian and a conservative is like being a double leper in Hollywood, but you know I just, I’m doing what I can to get it out there,” he said. “I had two movies in theaters last year, but you know they weren’t out there very long because they didn’t have a big following… we don’t have the big advertising budget…but they’re wonderful movies, wonderful stories.”
Despite the setbacks, Sorbo shared how rewarding it is to do what he loves in a way that honors God.
“I’m not making the big bucks I made back in the day, but I don’t care. I’m doing stuff that it’s changing people’s lives…I get people every day saying, ‘I became a Christian because your movies,’” he said.
Sorbo started Sorbo Studios to “breathe traditional values and uplifting content back into the fabric of American culture.”
“I formed Sorbo Studios because I thought: I love the industry. I love the creative process. I love working people on both sides of the camera,” he said. “I’ve shot over 60 movies since I left Hollywood. Not all of them are good. About a dozen of them absolutely suck. But I’ve been very busy doing that.”
The studio’s most recent release was MIRACLE IN EAST TEXAS.
Movieguide® reported:
Kevin Sorbo’s latest movie, MIRACLE IN EAST TEXAS, is “a message to the big studios” about what viewers want.
“This is one of those rare films that combines comedy, drama, a little romance, and real-life events and we have been thrilled with the film festival awards we have already received,” Sorbo said of the movie. “As independent filmmakers we understand and continue to create trusted entertainment for the entire family. This is a message to the big studios on what families really want.”
The actor told The Stream that he was drawn to the script’s humor as well as the fact that it was based on a true story.
“I was laughing at the characters,” Sorbo said. “The true story behind it all was amazing to me!”
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