Saving Melanie, a Christian drama, is now
available on DVD.The message of
this film is forgiveness, trust, and testing. Most Christian films end with
someone being saved, but this one takes the story from the salvation. It shows that just because you are saved
that everything does not magically become perfect. The story of this movie is touching, but the story behind the
scenes is inspirational.
The Story
A young single mom, Melanie (Melissa Serrano), is excited about
accepting Christ as her Savior.She is very eager to go out and evangelize everyone she meets.Her angry and alcoholic neighbor,
Jonathon (Brian Renner), becomes her target.He tells her that she is not ready because she has not
passed the 'Job test'. However; he seems to be in the middle of his own 'Job
test' and is failing.When
Melanie’s ex-boyfriend shows up, her faith will be tested intensely.She also learns that God can use the
bad choices and situations from our past to help others.
Behind the scenes
Saving Melanie is the first Christian feature film for producer Jose L. Cruz.He has made several short films in the
past before he became a Christian.After watching The Passion of the Christ, Cruz decided to accept Christ
and make Christian movies that would touch others like that film touched him. He was also inspired by Sherwood Church (Flywheel, Facing the Giants, and Fireproof). The story of Saving Melanie came about from a conversation
Cruz had with his pastor about why people leave their faith.The first draft of the film was written
in just a couple of weeks.At that
time he did not realize that his own faith would be tested.He would go through a divorce,
depression, and was at risk of losing his faith.After many prayers, he felt the answer was to proceed with
the film and stay strong in his faith.As the characters in the film went through their tests and overcame them,
so would the life of the producer.Cruz says, "The film was his spiritual therapy."He is looking forward to making more
Christian features.
Have you passed the 'Job test'?It is pretty easy to trust God when things are good, but what happens
when bad times hit?This film
demonstrates the difficulties that can happen to even those who are saved.Scripture tells us that Job was a
blameless and upright man that feared God.God allowed Satan to test Job, but he could not take his
life.Job lost everything: his
children, his flocks, his servants, and was afflicted with painful sores
covering his body.Job 1:22 In
all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.Job
stayed faithful to God and in the end he was given back everything lost and
even more.As Christians, even
though we may go through tests, we are to put our trust in God.He can bring us all the way through
every test.You can find out more
and purchase the film at www.savingmelanie.com.
Dana
Chaffin is a Christian freelance writer who has published many articles on
sites like: faithwriters.com, christianmediaalliance.com, and
extantmagazine.com. Passionate about Christian film, her desire is to get the
word out about Christian movies to as many people as possible. Email cajd34@yahoo.com
