Jenn Gotzon Chandler believes there is a spiritual revolution taking place in Hollywood.
The actress, a Christian who stars in the new film “My Daddy is in Heaven,” told MRCTV that the increasing success of faith-based movies hints that there is a heavenly spirit at work in Tinseltown.
“I am a woman of faith,” says Chandler, “and the way I look at it is that God has put a call on media to tell stories that can truly bring the human condition to the screen - help evangelize the soul. He is raising up filmmakers across the region and he is compelling people to strive towards excellence.”
Christian films are increasingly making money and finding audiences. Of the top grossing Christian films of all time, six have been released within the last four years. They include “God’s Not Dead,” “Heaven is for Real,” “War Room” and “Miracles from Heaven.” More mainstream actors like Jennifer Garner are doing Christian films as the scripts and production values of them improve.
“We have seen great growth and it's exciting to be a part of that wave,” Chandler says. “If you go to Hallmark you see good wholesome storylines. People want to be uplifted. Messages that have faith is what we're starting to see....The faith-based movies of the old are now being transformed into the new.”
“My Daddy is in Heaven” is based on the book “My Daddy is in Heaven with Jesus” by Rebecca Crownover, whose husband unexpectedly died in an accident when the couple had a young daughter. Crownover had to fight through grief, anger and the loss of faith to finally come to peace with God.
“We really are excited that this movie becomes part of the conversation for those dealing with loss and with grief and trying to find healing, and understand about heaven and to find hope," Chandler says. "We tried to also find so many moments for comedy and entertainment because that’s what a movie is about, to make us laugh and entertain us even even while we are planting seeds in the heart that will bear fruit later.”
Chandler has experience both in Christian films and mainstream Hollywood. Her breakout role was playing Patricia Nixon in Ron Howard’s 2009 film "Frost/Nixon." She starred in the mystery-drama "Doonby" opposite John Schneider, in the comedy-drama "God's Country" opposite Daniel Hugh Kelly, and in the top grossing faith-based comedy "Love Different." She is married to actor Jim E. Chandler.
When asked about being a Christian actress in the wake of the Hollywood sexual harassment scandals, Chandler emphasizes that women need to see their worth as “masterpieces” created by God.
“I believe that each individual is responsible for their own choices. As a woman, if you feel compelled to be making yourself look glamorous or wear clothing that highlights aspects of your body that is designed to attract the male species, and then the male species is attracted to you and is responding to you based on how you are presenting yourself, and now you’re accusing that male for his behavior? I take a look at it and it begins with the individual.”
She goes on: “The woman needs to realize [where] her worth and her identity is really truly based - that she is a magnificent masterpiece made by God, beautifully and wonderfully made in the image of God, and that is truth. Her worth is not based on man’s approval of her. “
Chandler also describes “the lie” that women are told through magazines media that they need a certain type of “beauty to be loved and accepted.” “Your love is not based on your beauty,” she says. "Love is based on how God truly sees us. He created each of us with a unique personality, attitude and character…When sexual harassment comes into the picture, I personally believe the woman has not been able to a create a strong foundation that she can stand on knowing her worth and her value.”