Patriotic Feature Film for Youth addresses Terrorism

The characters in "Bloodhounds, Inc.," the popular inspirational based book series for youth by best-selling author Bill Myers, will come alive in a full-length motion picture for the traditional family values market, announced producer Marcia Silen, who owns the non- publishing rights to the "Bloodhounds, Inc." series. The film is scheduled to begin shooting by the beginning of next year.

In 2002 Silen successfully produced an award-winning DVD series adapted from "Bloodhounds, Inc.," starring Richard Thomas, best known for his signature role as "John Boy" in the perennially syndicated TV series "The Waltons." The five-part DVD series is still in release.

In the DVD series and film, Thomas plays the owner operator/DJ of a cross-over Christian-mainstream inspirational-based music radio station, who is raising his two kids as a widowed single parent. His son and daughter, played by Craig Hauer and Kendra Thomas -- the real-life daughter of Richard Thomas -- run their own detective agency when they're not attending middle school.

After producing the 5 episodes, and after 9-11, Marcia then felt that we should raise the level of consciousness of our children, because we live in a different world altogether now
We felt that if we combine our faith, with knowledge and continue to entertain, the message will be more receptive. That was our moment of seeing the bigger picture. Hence the concept was born. Bloodhounds the Movie, Young Citizen Patriots, a test of Faith and Bravery Part 1 One important core theme of the movie deals with the issue of radical extremists having hijacked a legitimate religion. The recent speech by the President was specifically aimed at bringing the whole world to notice in this regard and only emphasizes the increasing urgency of this matter in how it now affects us all, regardless of faith or creed or nation. On this subject, the Free Muslim Coalition Against Terrorism is working closely with us on Bloodhounds to help educate youth through the powerful medium of film. From the children’s point of view, besides fun entertainment, the goal is education and awareness: to defuse a radical, violent ideology, yet still respect and understand a person’s faith. Bloodhounds could not be more perfectly timed. So, let’s wake up and act now.


In the film, tentatively titled "Bloodhounds, Inc. -- The Movie: Young Citizen Patriots," the brother and sister detective team are now in high school and the harmless hi-jinks they encountered in the DVD series have now transformed into a sinister terrorist plot to detonate a nuclear device. With the aid of the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, the teen sleuths race against time to save their hometown, Midvale,USA.
"We began the project with our eyes open that the film's content might be controversial. The idea of broaching domestic terrorism in a youth-oriented, faith-based picture is unprecedented, however the subject is too important to ignore. We felt kids were ready to address the issue in a meaningful way," said Silen.

The film will be produced from an original screenplay by Silen, based on the characters created by Myers. Besides the human characters, the series and film include two other "Bloodhounds, Inc." signature characters: "Slobs," the detective agency's canine mascot and "J.E.R.E.M.I.A.H.," a cyber-assistant with attitude.

As part of the storyline, a music concert is held in the kids' hometown, promoted by their DJ father. That plot device offers the potential for cameo and performances by Christian and mainstream rock bands and other musicians, and Silen is currently negotiating with several recording artists and labels including Randy Travis and INO Records, the Christian music label that is partnered with Epic Records.

A portion of the income from the film and from a planned real-life mixture of mainstream and faith- based music concert to be held in conjunction with the release of the film, will go toward a nonprofit foundation Global Edutainment Partners Inc. formed by Silen in 2004. The core mission statement of the Foundation is to encourage American youth to learn more about the Middle Eastern cultures -- religion, language, history and people. Educational materials, scholarships and symposia are part of the vision to raise public awareness.

"Kids in America are woefully unprepared to deal with the realities of today's world. Most know very little about the cultures that are promulgating terrorism," says Silen. "We have the opportunity to make a difference by equipping our kids with the knowledge they'll need as tomorrow's leaders. At the same time, understanding the culture of our perceived enemies is the first step to opening new channels of communication that might eventually diffuse the hatred that leads to terrorist acts."

A 20-year veteran of the film industry, Silen was co-founder of Cineworld Pictures, an independent distributor of genre pictures where she coordinated the release of more than 350 features. In 2001 she formed Global Kid Vid and Film Factory, Inc., to produce children "edutainment" programming.
Source: Marcia Silen