*Note: A “cross post” is a post that is on both Modestia and CFS. The Rumor Has It thread is a Catholic entertainment news thread I started last Lent. If you would like to read more past posts of this thread, go to my CFS archives.
Celebrities
The sole purpose of this thread is to relay positive
Catholic entertainment news. 
With all of these celebrities having babies out of wedlock in the last six months, I think it’s important that I salute those Catholics in the industry who are expanding their families in a God-fearing manner.
With that intro, I thought I would make this the baby edition of the Rumor has it thread:
I heard through the grapevine that “Bella” producer Leo Severino and his wife gave birth to a baby girl in July. I have another friend ready to give birth in a few weeks (I’m praying I make it back to LA by the time the baby gets here), and now we wait on the Willits baby #5 due in January.
Ali Landry and Alejandro Monteverde’s daughter Estela’s first birthday was covered in the August issue of Hola Magazine (pictured above). Actor Eduardo Verastegui is Estela’s godfather.
Congrats to all, and hooray for Catholic babies!
Did you know that one of the two executive producers of LOST is a practicing Catholic?
In an interview on the radio program “Personally Speaking with Monsignor Jim Lisante,” [Carlton] Cuse said, “The issue of faith and reason is really central to the lives of all people who are religious and grappling with a desire to find meaning in their lives. It felt like some of those larger issues would be relevant to a show which sort of examines the nature of existence the way Lost does.”
Though he doesn’t have any interest in proselytizing, Cuse knows how to skillfully weave spiritual elements into the show’s stories and characters. He said, “I think it’s about not putting things upfront. If there are religious issues in the show, they’re buried in the background of a show that’s essentially sort of an action-adventure-drama. Source
Eduardo Verastegui recently made a trip to Puebla, Mexico with a group of volunteers from his foundation Mantle of Guadalupe that “has the dual mission of providing assistance to minor pregnant women while promoting adoption; and better shelter conditions for impoverished families in underserved regions.” There’s plenty of pics here . I noticed a guy with a Sony camera in some of the pictures, and I’m wondering if there’s going to be some sort of documentary published about the foundation?
TV/Film News
Great news everyone: Transformers starlet Megan Fox is going to play Mother Teresa in an adaption about her life. Check out one of the promo posters:
Ahaha, just kidding! She’s not even wearing the right habit! That poster is a promo for one of Fox’s new comedies that is doomed to bomb at the box office. I know it’s going to bomb because after I saw this fake trailer for the fake MT movie which one guy called “atheist porn”, I’m sure there is nothing funny about the movie…
More great news that involves two words and a number: Lethal Weapon 5! I’m not even joking. Rumor has it that both Mel Gibson and Danny Glover have signed on to the project that will probably begin production next year (?)…allegedly the script is “fantastic” though I’m wondering what kind of action movie is going to be produced when Danny Glover just turned 62 last month…I’m just sayin…
Former NFL player Danny Abramowicz has created a sports-themed men’s show to premiere on EWTN August 31st…dude shows aren’t really my thing but I’ll probably check out the first episode….
Are there Catholic themes in the latest X Files blockbuster? A CFS reader pointed me to a review that claims the film is anti-Catholic, but Fr. Peter Malone seems to think there is merit to the film…tomorrow I am going to go see The Dark Night, but the X-Files is next on my list and I will be sure to write a review of it, probably next week…
And speaking of alleged anti-Catholicism, it appears that people aren’t very happy with the new Brideshead film…I’ve never seen or read Brideshead, but a number of Catholics have come out against it. Barbara Nicolosi said the integrity of the book was “eviscerated” in the latest adaption…this movie is also on my list of ones to see ASAP…
Right now I’m reading “Left to Tell,” a book by Immaculée Ilibagiza about her surviving the Rwandan genocide. I’ve mentioned before that Passion of the Christ producer and LMU alum Steve Mcveetey was maybe(?) talking about doing an adaptation of the book, but I also just learned that there was a
documentary made on Imaculee too.
A movie about St. Thomas premiered in India on July 3rd…
An Act One Alumnus’ new movie “This is My Body” screened in Hollywood a few weeks ago.
Might there be a new Fatima movie in the works?
Origin Entertainment is working to bring the story of the apparitions of the Mother of God at Fatima Portugal to the big screen. The story was made into a movie once before in the 1950’s, but recent events, like the assassination attempt on John Paul II, the revelation of the 3rd secret, and the recently published recollections of Sr. Lucia are all good reasons to tell a more complete version of the story today. Also, today’s CGI can render events like the miracle of the sun and the vision of hell much more impressively.
Catholic Media
My newest project “Pilgrims,” a World Youth Day mini-series, will have its web premiere September 1st. You can see the teaser here . The official trailer will be out next week.
The Hands & Feet Show is undergoing some major changes. Jose, G, and the ladies save Aneesa are no longer a part of the crew for various reasons. Javier and Aneesa will be teaming up with their parish priest Fr. Roberto to overhaul the old show and create new content. It’s sad news yes, but let’s pray for the crew and encourage them in their new direction. The newest episode of the 2.0 version of the show premiered earlier this week…
It looks like Lisa Hendey of the Catholic Mom Moments blog and podcast has ventured into video. You can watch “Catholic Book Chat with Lisa” here.
And finally, have I got big podcast news for you! The Rosary Army has officially hit satellite radio…Sirius Satellite Radio. Greg and Jennifer Willits of the Rosary Army and SQPN apostolates will have a three hour show on Sirius Satellite Radio five days a week. For the time being they will continue to podcast in addition to the show, though it looks like the second season of “That Catholic Show” is going on hiatus.
I was so happy when I heard this news, because it means that the Holy Spirit truly is working within those of us involved in Catholic Media to bring the Gospel to others.
If you would like something included in the next Rumor Has It thread, email me.
Pax Christi, Rebecca.
*Note: The original version of this article had a blurb about singer Jaci Valesquez who was incorrectly referred to in my news source as a Catholic singer. Because the purpose of this thread is to relay exclusively Catholic entertainment news, I took the piece about Jaci out.
