Thursday, November 20, 2014

The Acts of the Apostle Thaddeus: New Assyrian Heritage movie in Development




Stephen Andrew Missick is producing an Assyrian heritage movie. The movie “The Acts of the Apostle Thaddeus” is about the Apostle Thaddeus, known among Assyrian Christians as Mar Addai, and the founding of the Assyrian Church of the East. The movie will be based on ancient Assyrian Christian literature, namely “The Doctrine of Addai” and “The Acts of the Apostle Mari.” It is also based on other ancient sources, such as the writings of the early church historian Eusebius.

The production crew will include three Assyrian Americans and at least seven Assyrian Americans will be cast in major roles. This will enable these Assyrian Americans to learn about the art of film-making and perhaps launch their careers in either film production or acting.

Mr. Missick said, “Lorenzo Lamas has shown an interest in playing the Apostle Thaddeus and has given me a “letter of interest” in playing the role of Thaddeus. The movie will be filmed at the Alamo Village movie set in Brackettville, Texas. The Assyrian American actors and production crew will work with Lorenzo Lamas, who gave me the impression that he is a friendly and approachable person. He can most likely tell them about the ins and outs of the television and movie-making industry. Being involved in this project may enable the Assyrian Americans who are involved in it to launch their careers in film-making. This project has enormous potential to benefit the global Assyrian community.”

He said, “This movie could also create cultural awareness, among the Assyrian community about their own culture and can also create awareness about the Assyrian Christian heritage outside of the Assyrian community. I believe this is especially important at this time when the Assyrians are facing terrible challenges and face the threat of genocide in their ancestral homeland. “

He believes that this film project has important educational, literary and cultural value. Missick said, “It also has important ecumenical value in that it can bring Christians of diverse denominational backgrounds together on the core message of Jesus and his Apostles. It is my intention to tell this story in a sincere and reverent manner.”

The film also has the potential to be profitable. Recent Biblical productions, such as “The Bible: The Epic Miniseries,” “The Son of God, “ and “Noah,” has been successful, as well as faith-based films such as “God’s Not Dead” and “Heaven is for Real.” There are also upcoming Biblical epics such as “Exodus: God’s and Kings” and “A.D.: After the Bible.” However, this project is unique in that the story of Thaddeus and the founding of the Assyrian Church has never before been told in film.

If the funds are raised, we intend to begin shooting around March 15-20.

The production company is “Walker Cable Productions” of Conroe, Texas. WalkerCable have completed several movies, mostly westerns and action movies.

Mr. Missick has been able to procure costumes and props for this film that were used on screen in Spartacus, Alexander, Rome, and Dwayne Johnson’s Hercules.

Missick says, “We are working to raise $120,000 for the film. Once we have raised the money we will go into pre-production and begin auditioning actors. I intend to film most of the major roles of the film with Assyrian Americans.”

The film producer, Stephen Andrew Missick, is the author of three papers on the history of the Assyrian Church of the East that are published in the Journal of Assyrian Academic Studies (www.jaas.org).  He is an army chaplain and a doctoral student at Houston Graduate School of Theology. His doctoral thesis/project is entitled “FACILITATING INTERACTION BETWEEN THE ARAMAIC ASSYRIAN CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY AND EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS FOR ENHANCED UNDERSTANDING AND INTER-FAITH DIALOGUE, SPIRITUAL RENEWAL, AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE” in which he will work to create awareness about the humanitarian crisis among American churches and attempt to provide aide to needy Assyrian Christian refugees.
To support the project see:

or contact
Stephen A. Missick

PO Box 882
Shepherd Texas 77371

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