We had considered Lacey Chabert for the role of Chloe but a scheduling conflict eliminated that possibility. As we always do in our films, we had auditions for actresses looking for the 'perfect Chloe' in the mean time. When the timing did not work with Lacey, and we were going to move onto our next 'star' , we had a feeling that to do so would be a mistake, because there was a girl in the auditions who just knocked everyone dead. Her name was Janaya Stephens. Our director, Vic Sarin, and Paul just felt that she was Chloe. Our partners at Namesake Entertainment looked at the tapes and felt the same. Then when Brad Johnson rehearsed with her this weekend he said "This girl may well steal the show!'
Imagine a born-again Christian lying in bed late one night and reading a book called Left Behind. Imagine her waking up her husband and saying 'THIS HAS GOT TO BE A MOVIE! AND, I WANT TO PLAY HATTIE.' Imagine her husband saying, ''What's the name of the book?' and going back to sleep just to find on his desk a few days later an offer for him to play the role of Buck and his wife to play the role of Hattie! Well, according to Kirk Cameron and Chelsea Noble, it took them about fifteen seconds after they finished reading the script to begin thanking the Lord for opening this door of ministry. Actually they said they jumped up and down like little kids!
Paul and I spent Sunday with the Camerons and we both agreed that we have never before had such wonderful Christian fellowship with anyone 'in the business'. Kirk and Chelsea are committed to the Lord and dedicated to reaching the world with the powerful message of our Lord's grace and His soon return. Kirk's first day of shooting is tomorrow.
Clarence Gilyard.is playing Bruce in the film. Clarence is another born- again Christian and just loves the role of Bruce Barnes. The role is about a man who should have known the truth before the rapture, but who is now on fire for the Lord. Clarence told us over dinner the other night that he never felt led back into the world of feature films (since Die Hard and Top Gun) but before we even called him, the Lord let him know that something was coming and he was to do it. When the offer for Left Behind came he said it was the exact confirmation of what the Lord had been telling him! This is one great actor and solid brother in the Lord!
Ah, Nicolae. Who will it be? The truth is that the role has not yet been cast, (We have plenty of time because he does not have scenes for some time yet. (The shooting is a long process). We are in much prayer about this role and are waiting for the Lord to confirm among a number of choices that we have.
