-From John Priddy

I started my week with one of my favorite rituals: reading blogs by Craig Detweiler and John Marks at the Purple State of Mind site . 

Craig Detweiler and John Marks

Each week, their combined blogs create such a high volume of Web traffic, even Arianna Huffington should be jealous. The blogs are smart, well-written, maddening, endearing … and deeply personal. I recommend them.

I am not unbiased here — I know both guys well, and Priddy Brothers partnered with them in the making of their “little film that could.” I am confident that many might accuse me of just … well … “gushing.” And maybe I am.

 “A Purple State of Mind” – a dialogue about friendship and faith — was released two years ago. The highly-acclaimed film has been shown at many festivals and innumerable non-theatrical and community screenings. At the same time Marks has written two best-selling books (“Fangland” and “Reasons to Believe”), and Detweiler has penned a film companion book (“A Purple State of Mind”) — largely in response to Christians who requested a further explanation for his on-screen responses to Marks’ questions.

To date, Christians have been the biggest critics of Detweiler’s comments in the film; secular viewers have taken aim at Marks. But concurrently — and more importantly — we Americans have weathered both a sea change in our government and an economic disaster, and we are now entering a long-overdue time of self-reflection, humility and re-prioritizing. That’s partly why I believe “A Purple State of Mind” is more relevant than ever.

The film screened this past week at the Tallahassee Film Festival and we were excited when the Tallahassee Democrat called it “profound and provocative”, but my biggest smile came after Detweiler received a late-night voicemail confirming that the film had won the prestigious Audience Award. I always feel that, despite the numerous kudos given out at film festivals the audience award is the most important because it proves that the people “out there” not only love and appreciate a film, but they had a great time discussing it too.

What’s more, when a film that has been screening for two years wins an audience award, it’s because its themes — the abiding importance of deep conversation and long-term relationships — are both compelling and enduring.

I was at Windrider at Sundance three years ago, when Detweiler told me that Marks, an old friend, had called and asked to interview him for an upcoming book, “Reasons to Believe.” That interview started the two men on a journey: expanding their personal reunion and conversations into a film about their lives, their relationship, and the things that divide them — namely, Christianity.

The guys are a little older now; a bit wiser. Both are strongly opinionated. But, as is so often the case, love trumps ideology, and hard work brings results. I believe these two guys are not only purple, but golden too.

Well done, my friends!

Reviews of “A Purple State of Mind”:

“Irreverent, accusatory, supportive, blunt, profound.”– “The Charlotte Observer”

“‘A Purple State of Mind’ chronicles ongoing spiritual and philosophical debates, appealing to believers and non-believers for some provocative dialog.” – “NPR”

“An important model … an earnest attempt to model the bridging of American Cultural extremes to foster a larger conversation.” – “The Valley Advocate”

“A cultural phenomenon … more ambitious than ‘My Dinner with Andre’” – “The Iowa City Press-Citizen”

“Snappily produced … Spectacular music and crisp editing that captures the friends’ vulnerability and humor.” – “The Christian Century”

Watch the Purple State of Mind trailer and check out the following links.

John’s Blog Link

http://john.purplestateofmind.com/?p=382

Purple State of Mind Official Site

http://www.purplestateofmind.com/home.php

Priddy Brother’s Entertainment

http://www.priddybrothers.com/news_events/film_updates.cfm