Gener8Xion Entertainment’s latest theatrical release, “The Cross—The Arthur Blessitt Story”, is a true account of one of the most unique individuals to walk the face of the earth. For the past forty years Arthur Blessitt has done something no one else has—carry a twelve-foot wooden cross through 315 nations, territories and island groups—or in other words, every inhabited place in the world.
“I wanted to explore exactly what it is that drives a man like this,” said director Matthew Crouch, who produced the film along with Richard J. Cook and Stephan Blinn. “The guy’s in the Guinness Book of World Records! Is he just a nut? A crazed fanatic? Or something else? Maybe some Old Testament prophet come back to walk the earth!”
“Some people laugh when they see me carrying the cross down the street,” reminisces Arthur in the opening of the film. “They yell out, ‘Hey, you’re a nut!’” To which he jovially responds, “At least I’m screwed on the right bolt!”
“The Cross” is produced and distributed by Gener8Xion Entertainment. Over the years, the company has won the acclaim of critics and audiences alike with its grassroots-marketed, box office hits, which range from 1999’s #1 independent release, “The Omega Code,” to the most recent “One Night With The King,” a lavish epic which included performances by screen legends Peter O’Toole and Omar Sharif.
Blessitt has carried the cross through 52 war zones, met with presidents and peasants, been greeted by hundreds of thousands in jam-packed squares and spent countless months walking alone down deserted highways – all the while never wavering in his self-professed mission of sharing the love of Jesus with everyone he meets.
“All too often religion has caused the cross to become a symbol of conflict around the world,” says Arthur, “but it’s part of my life’s mission and hopefully the mission of this film to reinterpret the meaning of the cross for people so they can see that the cross is not something that’s against them, it’s the ultimate symbol that says God loves you no matter what.”
Blessitt says the reality that he’s still alive today—having survived wars, firing squads, beatings and deadly jungles—along with the fact that he and his cross have gained access to some of civilization’s most unreachable places, is proof that the world is open to his message. One case in point—in 1982, Blessitt marched alone through five fighting armies into West Beirut to pray with Yasser Arafat. The incident was captured live by CNN’s Peter Arnett.
Now 68, Blessitt first came to notoriety back in the sixties when he was known as “The Minister of Sunset Strip.” There, he regularly fed and witnessed to hippies, Hell’s Angels and Black Panthers during some of Hollywood’s most radical days. In December of 1969, he felt God calling him to take the giant cross down from the wall of his “Jesus” coffeehouse—a hippie hangout called “His Place”—and carry it on foot across the country. Not even a brain aneurysm two weeks before he was to begin his journey held him back.
Producer Stephan Blinn notes, “Even if you’re someone who couldn’t care less about church, religion, Christianity, whatever, here’s a guy who’s just full-on gone for it! He’s been through some of the most mind- blowing stuff and no matter who you are you’re just sitting there in awe going, no freakin’ way he just said that!”
“I always find myself inspired by people driven to lead extreme lives,” says Crouch. “Whether they’re climbing Mount Everest, investing all they have into the world’s next great company or giving it all away to care for destitute orphans in India. Arthur is just such a person. Besides, who wouldn’t want to make a film that can be summed up as ‘Survivor Man’ meets ‘Blue Planet!’”
In addition to the March 27th release of “The Cross,” Arthur’s book of the same name is currently available, published through Authentic Media.
Gener8Xion Entertainment, Inc. is a film and television production and distribution studio engaged invarious projects focused on life-affirming, family entertainment. TBN is a frequent partner in the production and/or promotion of Gener8Xion projects.
For more information and/or a phone interview with Arthur Blessitt or Producer/Director Matthew Crouch, please contact Dea Shandera at 310-475-2816 or e-mail deashandera@yahoo.com, or log onto http://thecrossfilm.com.
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