‘Widow’s Might’ challenges government tax burden

Young cast of “The Widow’s Might”

An independent film launching Monday in 94 U.S. cities is more than just entertainment, its teenaged makers say.

“The Widow’s Might”, debuting across the Midwest and South as part of Carmike Cinemas and Dalton Pictures’ Independent Film Series, is a feature-length musical comedy produced by 19-year-old John Moore and his friend David Heustis, 18.

Already, it has been honored with the largest cash prize in the country, $101,000, at this year’s San Antonio Independent Christian Film Series.

In a fist-punching, flame-erupting, song-singing style, it addresses headon the burden that the government has become for Americans.

A trailer for the production is embedded here:

Preview from John Moore on Vimeo

It tells of two aspiring filmmakers who dream of winning a national competition. They are inspired by the story of an elderly widow facing the loss of her home due to escalating property taxes, and they take action on her behalf.

Geoff Botkin, veteran film producer and film festival judge, called it a milestone in Christian filmmaking.

“‘Widow’s Might’ is a groundbreaking film, even though it is a first feature film from a teenaged director. It is one of the most original high-concept features in recent film history. The story is innovative in ways that can inspire the next generation of filmmakers, many of whom are looking for ways to break out of tired cinematic clichés,” he said.

“This film attempted and achieved a wholesome family message, illustrating the difficult-to-capture functional family environment,” he said.

Moore said he and his buddy, Heustis, perhaps “were a little overambitious.”

Action scene of “The Widow’s Might”

“To write, direct, act, produce, and even sing in our first feature film, shot on an experimental camera, seems completely crazy,” he said.

Moore told WND the goal was both a message and entertainment.

He said before the project got started, his mom suggested the subject of a widow having to deal with the pressures of rising taxes.

His response at the time? “That never happens.”

But within days he was listening to the tragic local story in Texas of a widow who lost her home because she couldn’t manage the tax burden on her property assessed by the government.

The production collected financial support from Moore’s parents and a network of family and friends.

Then came a chance contact from Dalton Pictures, where officials were searching for high-quality independent projects to advance.

The teens submitted their work and figured that was the end of it.

“He calls back and says, ‘Man, the agenda of this film is worth getting out there,'” Moore said.

The project is scheduled to be in the theaters for only a week, and DVD release isn’t expected for several months, so viewers should line up early.

Heustis and Moore started working on videos in 2003 then relocated to Texas in 2005 and began to expand their sights.

In 2006, they created the award-winning documentary “A Lifetime of Childlike Faith,” which tells the story of one man’s journey toward his dream of sharing the gospel with people around the world. Ten thousand copies were distributed.

Their 2007 work “Heartstrings” won a Best Young Filmmakers Award in San Antonio, and then last year they launched work on “The Widow’s Might.”

Their efforts were guided by cinematographer James Burgess and director Charles Lake.

 

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