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While the Left Behind books have made millions and topped bestseller lists for years, the first two movies based on the popular series—Left Behind and Left Behind II: Tribulation Force—have quietly slipped in under the radar screen. Neither film was a hit in theaters, but both had moderate success in video sales—enough to keep the franchise alive and to commit to a third film, Left Behind: World at War, which opens nationwide this Friday.

Peter Lalonde

Note that the previous sentence did not say "opens in theaters nationwide," because Cloud Ten Pictures, which produces the movies, is taking a radically different approach to this film's distribution: They're releasing it to churches, where it will show on more than 3,200 screens on opening weekend. (As a comparison, The Fog, last week's No. 1 film at the box office, showed on 2972 screens.) The film will then be available on DVD the next week, on October 25.

World at War, a self-described "End-Time Political Thriller," is based on the last part of the book Tribulation Force, by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. Academy Award winner Louis Gossett Jr., playing the role of President Gerald Fitzhugh, joins the returning cast of Kirk Cameron, Brad Johnson, Chelsea Noble and Gordon Currie for this latest film.

Peter Lalonde, CEO of Cloud Ten Pictures and producer of the Left Behind films, promises this will be the best one yet, partly because of a much larger budget—thanks to Sony Pictures, which is distributing the film. In this e-mail interview with Christianity Today Movies, Lalonde discusses his love of film, the history of the Left Behind movies, the strategy to roll it out to churches, and his hopes for a nice "box office counted in souls."

I've heard that your experience of seeing The Prodigal in 1983 changed your life. What did you learn about the power of film that day?

Peter Lalonde: I was broke. I loved films and this one was free! I had never really been in a church, but I went with a friend. The movie was interesting and challenging, but it was really the pastor's ten-minute message afterward that sent a thunderbolt through my heart. I did not go forward [to accept Christ] that night, but I was drawn back. And again. On the third Sunday, I got saved.

I guess I learned that film is great outreach tool. It can be entertaining while also sharing a worldview. Combine that with a pastor, or anyone in the spirit at the right time, and the results can be life-changing.

Is that the reason you are now involved in making movies?

Lalonde: No, I never set out to make movies. Ultimately I entered the ministry as a writer, speaker and even TV host. I just fell into filmmaking and marvel at how the Lord brings things full circle.

Why is your studio called Cloud Ten Pictures?

Lalonde: The world dreams of living on Cloud Nine. As believers we are automatically on Cloud Ten, even though it does not always feel that way.

What exactly is your role as producer?

Lalonde: There is great line in the movie Get Shorty where John Travolta says, "I don't think a producer has to know much." When Paul [Lalonde, Peter's brother and the co-producer of the movies] and I first started, that was sure true. We know a bit more now, thankfully. I can even point to which guy is the gaffer and which is the grip. I'm still not exactly sure what they do …

Basically, the producer is Captain of the Ship. You need to find the story, craft it with writers, choose the director, choose the top line crew and then baby it along set by step.

What has been the most satisfying part of making these movies? What has been the most frustrating or discouraging part?

Lalonde: Satisfaction? Those whose life has changed in the way mine was. Frustration? Producing is nothing but problem solving, and it is very tiring and frustrating. But the end result washes it all way.

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Left Behind: World at War	Printer view