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Click here to watch trailer: http://youtube.com/watch?v=SvBovQ6Hczc
"The greater the anointing, the greater the accusation..."
Aimee awaits the ocean of Heaven's embrace to wash over her in the new feature "Sister Aimee: The Aimee Semple McPherson Story." For information on the worldwide release of the film, visit:
http://www.maverick-spirit.com/filmdetail.php?ProductID=684
Thank you for visiting. For information or questions about the film, email richard_rossi@lycos.com
GET THE SCRIPT
There are a limited number of screenplays of the film, autographed by the director, so you can read word for word the critically acclaimed script. The scripts have become collector's items due to the worldwide cult following for the film. Send a suggested minimum donation of $35.99 or more to Eternal Grace, 5030 Whitsett Avenue, Suite One, North Hollywood, CA 91607 for the complete written screenplay while supplies last.
ASM is the movie about the female faith healer that was heralded at European film festival exhibition of the rough cut. Our film is just-finished and hitting festivals currently and stars Mimi Michaels, Rance Howard, Kiera Chaplin, Richard Rossi, Carl Ballantine, Teres Byrne, Charles Hoyes, Chad Nadolski, Michael Minor and a stellar cast.
Rance Howard delivers a strong performance as Aimee's father, Mimi Michaels is riveting in her Oscar-worthy portrayal of Aimee, and the whole film is well-acted with a cast who are masters of their craft. We pray the film inspires you in your calling and is a reminder of God's unconditional love and grace.
The film explores the pain behind the glamour of the most famous preacher of the 1920's. We seek to explore the humanity of a passionate and driven woman, much like the rigorous honesty of the Bible stories of heroes of the faith. The movie does not canonize or condemn Sister McPherson, it compassionately explores a healer who struggles to heal herself.
ABOUT THE FILM: A WORD FROM THE DIRECTOR
My name is Richard Rossi, writer and director of The Aimee Semple McPherson Story. I was inspired stylistically by European filmmakers like Fellini and Bergman. Bergman's close-ups of the hands and faces of the two women in "Persona" gave me a sense of their inner lonliness. I wanted to make our film character-driven, because I knew our movie would not be the epic with a cast of ten thousand extras, but rather an intimate character study, an honest exploration of the pain behind a spiritual healer.
I was inspired by guerilla filmmakers of varying ability for their determination to get their movie made with no budget, from Kevin Smith to Robert Rodriguez to Ed Wood. God was with us. We took a leap, and the net miraculously appeared again and again and again. A woman shows up with food for the entire cast because "God told me to provide craft services as a gift to you." One particular day when I had no film or money but showed up on set by faith, someone else delivered me film because "I was praying and the Spirit said, "Richard needs film.'"
The way shooting started was Associate Producer Jeff Griffith showed up at my house and said, "Get in the van, We're going to a camera store to buy cameras. The condition is, we start shooting today."
"But Jeff, I don't even have anything planned with locations or actors."
"Do you want the cameras?"
I already had one consumer camcorder, and Jeff purchased himself a couple more so we could shoot with three cameras, like the old Lucy TV show.
Fortunately, my actor friend Joe Gonzalez was home, had a 1920's fedora, and supported my creative impulses before, appearing in two of my stage plays at Stella Adler Theatre. We shot from an aerial view of Joe (what Scorcese calls the "priest's view shot") sitting at a desk narrating about Aimee's 1926 disappearance. The hastily assembled shot remains in the film.
Our lighting was not a $1200 Lowell three light kit, but $48 worth of Home Depot lights and stands that we reconfigured to be radio equipment later in the movie.
I'm often asked why I wanted to make the film. I believe "The truth shall set you free." The truth is that people with spiritual gifts, can often heal everyone but themselves. Aimee McPherson prayed for the healing of over 300,000 people. But she had two failed marriages, a breakdown, died of an overdose, and was not on speaking terms with her mother and daughter at the end of her life.
I worked as a minister meeting the needs of hundreds of others, but secretly I knew the depths of depression and despair. The higher I was exalted on a pedestal, the more isolated I became. The crippling mantle of religious leadership does not allow one to be human. By God's grace, and through my family and friends, I have turned my life around.
This movie came out of brokenness. Had I not been broken, I could not have made this film. Sister McPherson's story is a story of total grace, just like mine, and grace is what gives us sinners hope. As I made this story of a wounded healer, I received healing for my own wounds. I told my story by telling Sister Aimee's story.
This movie is part of my amends for trying to fix the world without fixing myself. The film asks a question: Who heals the healer?
ROSSI'S NEXT PROJECTS
STICK MAN
Richard Rossi is nearing completion on his first novel, entitled "Stick Man," the story of an imaginative boy tormented by night terrors of a demonic monster named Stick Man, who he tries to overcome through faith, art, and the power of his first love, a girl he calls Angel.
CLEMENTE
Director Richard Rossi's childhood hero was Roberto Clemente, the right fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates who possessed a cannon arm and eagle eye. He died laying down his life on a mission of mercy to bring food and supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
We are in pre-production on our unauthorized biographical film about the legendary hall of fame athlete. "Anyone who has seen the Great One play, remembers the grace, the regal magic of his basket catches, his throws from the outfield wall to home plate and his unothodox batting style," Rossi says. "He exemplifies the scripture, "Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
For more information, e-mail clementemovie@aol.com
AZUSA STREET: THE MOTION PICTURE.......CATCH THE FIRE!!!
As seen in Hollywood Reporter and Variety, independent filmmaker Richard Rossi will helm the film version of the Azusa Street revival in 1906 Los Angeles, just in time for the centennial celebration of the birth of Pentecostalism.
"William Seymour is the father of the Pentecostal movement," Rossi added. "Due to the racial prejudice of the Jim Crow era, his role was not fully recognized, and our film will right that injustice."
The movie is a prequel to "Aimee Semple McPherson," because Sister Aimee's evangelist husband Robert Semple came out of the Azusa Street movement.
Part of the preparation for the project involved Rossi, Griffith, and other crew members visiting the Bonnie Brae house where the legendary prayer meetings took place. The humble 1906 prayer meeting catalyzed a spiritual fire that spread worldwide.
To be on the insider notification list to see the film early before the general public, email azusastreetmovie@yahoo.com Regular updates will be posted on the film's official website at www.azusastreetmovie.com
SUPPORT FILM ARTS
We are raising the remaining monies for production of Clemente and Azusa Street. Contribute today to make a difference by helping make these movies. Support the arts. Make a tax deductible donation payable to "ETERNAL GRACE" and mail to: Eternal Grace, Attention: Richard Rossi Azusa Project, 5030 Whitsett Ave, Suite One, North Hollywood, CA 91607 Or donate by email by simply going to PayPal.com, and send donation to the email richard_rossi@lycos.com
Check out the reviews and other pages of the site, and happy film making!
This is the official website of the feature film "Aimee Semple McPherson."
