Director David Nixon Touts Latest Film at Valencia

By Gabrielle Dillard

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Operating under the slogan "Hope is Contagious", Valencia Community College's journalism department hosted Orlando movie director David Nixon at a press conference on Thursday. The successful director of hit films "Facing the Giants" and "Fireproof" was there to talk about his latest movie, "Letters to God".

The film is based on a true story about a 7-year-old boy named Tyler Doherty who, after being stricken with brain cancer, begins to write letters to his creator.

"This story isn't overwhelming at all," said Nixon on the tone of the film "It's heartwarming rather than overwhelming."

All of Nixon's movies thus far have been faith-based films targeting a formerly neglected Christian movie audience. After the success of Mel Gibson's epic film "Passion of the Christ", Nixon was approached by an Albany, Georgia church called Sherwood that was looking to get into the movie business.

"They called me up and said 'We can't pay you, but we can house you and feed you!" Nixon said.

But that was enough for Nixon who then gathered a few seasoned movie technicians and made his way up to Albany. Together, the two films Nixon made in collaboration with the church went on to earn over $10 million world-wide. Their amazing success prompted Sony Pictures, their distributor, to ask Nixon to direct three more faith-based films.

"Letters to God" is the first of Nixon's three films for Sony and will hopefully be his most successful film to date.

"It costs so much to make movies," said Nixon. "I wanted to put that money into something that really matters."

"Letters to God" is currently being shown at select churchs and fundraiser events. It is set to open officially in theaters on April 9th, 2010.