FEATURES
Tall Girl: Battling Stereotypes & Labels
By Kelli Gillespie
The pageant queen, the foreign exchange student, the tall girl, the funny guy… labels aren’t given just in high school, and they definitely shouldn’t define you. Could your insecurity really be your superpower? Candid conversation with Sabrina Carpenter, Luke Eisner, Ava Michelle and Griffin Gluck for their new Netlflix film, Tall Girl where we sat…
Tall Girl Cast: Bullying and Insecurities
By Kelli Gillespie
It’s not easy being a teen and in the new film from Netflix, we see high school through the lens of a Tall Girl. Six-foot-one Jodi to be specific, played by Ava Michelle. Disney darling Sabrina Carpenter plays her sister, Luke Eisner is the handsome foreign exchange student, and Griffin Gluck brings all the laughs.…
Falling Inn Love with Christina Milian & Adam Demos
By Kelli Gillespie
Actress-Singer Christina Milian stars alongside Aussie Adam Demos in the Netflix romantic comedy Falling Inn Love. It’s about a girl who is an executive living in San Francisco and she wins an Inn in New Zealand. She ditches the city life to renovate the property with the help of a handsome contractor. The duo talks…
How Family Impacts Work: Amanda Seyfried and Milo Ventimiglia
By Kelli Gillespie
This is Us star Milo Ventimiglia and Amanda Seyfried star in The Art of Racing in the Rain, based on the bestselling book that spent more than three years on the list. We talked with them about their families and the impact on their careers. Risen Magazine: Amanda, how has having a daughter and a family…
Kevin Costner, Patrick Dempsey, Milo Ventimiglia & Amanda Seyfried “The Art of Racing in the Rain”
By Kelli Gillespie
The book spent 156 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list and now The Art of Racing in the Rain is a feature film. It took almost a decade to be made as producer Patrick Dempsey relates racing lessons to the movie industry and the similar structure. Oscar winner Kevin Costner voices the dog…
Director Simon Curtis on Working with Dogs and Racing Life Lessons
By Kelli Gillespie
In the film The Art of Racing in the Rain, the story is told through the perspective of Enzo, the wise family dog. He’s voiced by Academy Award winning actor Kevin Costner. While all his dialogue was recorded in post production, the very real Butler and Parker were on set for every frame of the…
Protect the Pride Campaign & The Lion King FREE Activity Packet
By Kelli Gillespie
In celebration of the release of Disney’s The Lion King, the upcoming groundbreaking feature film helmed by Jon Favreau in theaters July 19th, The Walt Disney Company is proud to announce a global conservation campaign to raise awareness and support the dwindling lion population across Africa. Since Disney’s The Lion King was first released in theaters 25 years…
Alfre Woodard Takes Her Kids to The Lion King Premiere, Plus What They Learn From Each Other
By Kelli Gillespie
Alfre Woodard’s family joined her on the red carpet for the premiere of The Lion King. Woodard voices Sarabi and we talked about the themes of the film including the impact parents have on their kids. She share what her kids have learned from her… but also what she learns from them.
Oscar Nominated Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor on Harnessing the Sinister Side of Scar, Plus Shakespeare
By Kelli Gillespie
He was nominated for an Oscar for his performance in 12 Years A Slave, now Chiwetel Ejiofor is harnessing the sinister side of Scar in the all new The Lion King movie, in theatres Friday. He shares how a high school audition, and his discovering of Shakespeare (wink wink) were keys to wanting to spend…
“The Lion King” Director Jon Favreau on His Safari & Stepping into His Destiny
By Kelli Gillespie
You know Jon Favreau as an actor and maybe even more so as a director with huge hits ranging from Elf to Iron Man, The Jungle Book to Chef, his latest Disney film is an all new Lion King and it was a family safari that made him want to commit to the project. Like…
What Does it Mean to Be a Man? Biblically Battling the Destruction of Masculinity Promise Keepers President Ken Harrison
By Paul Richardson
What does it mean to be a man? Masculinity is under fire and with the continual skew of gender roles, the is a greater need for a revival in understanding the role of men and their purpose in life. Promise Keepers, once the largest movement of men in the history of the church filling major…
Nicholas Hoult is J.R.R. Tolkien: Talks Early Years and Love for Language
By Kelli Gillespie
Nicholas Hoult plays J.R.R. Tolkien in the new film “Tolkien.” We talked about his early years and how not many know he was an orphan and started a secret society. It was his fellowship with friends and his future wife that helped to inspire works such as “The Hobbit” and “the Lord of the Rings.”…
Lily Collins: Talks “Tolkien,” Passions and Playing Piano
By Kelli Gillespie
Lily Collins plays Edith Tolkien, the wife of J.R.R. Tolkien in the new FOX Searchlight film “Tolkien.” Edith was an inspiration to Tolkien writers and even inspired Elvish princess, Lúthien. We talked about when Collins developed her passion for performing as well as her musical.
Tolkien’s Secret Society — Cast Behind the TCBS
By Kelli Gillespie
Tolkien had a secret society named the TCBS — Tea Club, Barrovian Society — where he’d meet with friends to fellowship and talk about their passions while bouncing work off each other too. In the new film “Tolkien,” Patrick Gibson, Tom Glynn-Carney & Anthony Boyle are the actors that portray the group of guys. www.RisenMagazine.com
John Perkins
By Kelli Gillespie
Minister, Civil Rights Activist and Author: Meet John Perkins John Perkins has been recognized as one of the leading evangelical voices to come out of the Civil Rights movement. He has served on or advised five of the U.S. Presidents on their Presidential Tasks Forces and has sixteen honorary doctorate degrees from schools. He is…
VIDEOS
INK WELL
Talking Faith with Melissa Joan Hart
By Mei Ling Starkey
It’s pretty fair to say that people in show business have the acumen to go-with-the-flow. Script changes, scene set-ups and personality disputes are often part of the territory. So when Risen called Melissa Joan Hart for their preset interview in 2016, she graciously kept the appointment in spite of the snow day she was in the midst…
Renewed Hope After a Miscarriage with Julia and Ryan Sadler
By Mei Ling Starkey
Renewed hope. Whether we are going through a physical ailment, financial crisis or just having a hard day, it is a universal message and one that Julia and Ryan Sadler are very familiar with. After facing the heartbreak of three miscarriages, the Sadlers needed hope. Exhausted physically and feeling the emotional and physical drain of…
On Faith with Brandon Micheal Hall
By Mei Ling Starkey
Our faith is shaped by a variety of factors ranging from our upbringing to things we have experienced along the way. They can either draw us closer in our relationship with God or cause us to question the faith that once seemed so strong. Brandon Micheal Hall is one who knows this faith conflict well.…
Understanding Your Calling with Philip and Holly Wagner
By Mei Ling Starkey
Phillip and Holly Wagner are the founding and leading pastors of the Oasis Church in Los Angeles. They’ve written books on dating, love, and mending marriages. They’ve founded a non-profit water organization, survived cancer, and recognize the importance of supporting the gifts of your spouse. While Oasis Church has grown and recently moved to new location on…
Sandi Patty Bringing A Voice to the Voiceless
By Mei Ling Starkey
She has been dubbed, “The Voice,” and rightfully so. Sandi Patty has released over thirty albums and is the most awarded female vocalist in contemporary Christian music history. Over the past thirty years, she has won forty Dove Awards, five Grammy awards, four Billboard Music Awards, had three platinum records, five gold records, and sold…
Standing Beautiful with Chloe Howard
By Mei Ling Starkey
Born with a debilitating foot deformity and undergoing her first surgery at a mere six months old, Chloe Howard has a courageous story about embracing physical differences. She went on to have five major surgeries by the time she was fifteen, but her parents kept reminding her she was beautifully and wonderfully made. It wasn’t…
Anna Buffini: Reserve Champion in the Under 25 Grand Prix National
By Kelli Gillespie
Anna Buffini was crowned the Brentina Cup champion in 2016 with her now-retired mount Sunday Boy, as well as the reserve championship with Wilton II the same year. She was more than happy to return with Wilton II, her 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Jazz—Olympia, Contango) after he had been out of training for a period…
Pricilla Shirer Stars in Overcomer
By Kelli Gillespie
Author, speaker and actress Priscilla Shirer stars in the new film Overcomer alongside Alex Kendrick. This inspiring family film dares to leave you filled with hope and asks the question: what do you allow to define you? Synopsis: Life changes overnight for coach John Harrison when his high school basketball team’s state championship dreams are…
Phil Robertson Podcast Tops the Faith Charts
By Kelli Gillespie
After only 17 episodes, Phil Robertson’s podcast Unashamed reached #1 on iTunes in the faith category. Joined by his sons Al and Jase, the Duck Commander boldly proclaims his Christian values along with comical anecdotes and life lessons. Unashamed like his hit reality television show Duck Dynasty, holds a commitment to truth and humor while…
Hawaiian Wedding Bliss for The Rock
By Kelli Gillespie
Congratulations to Dwayne Johnson and his bride Lauren Hashian! We’re thrilled for the couple who wed after twelve years together and two beautiful daughters. The ceremony may have been a secret but the wrestler-turned-actor was thrilled to share a couple pictures with his more than 150 million followers…. simply stating the date, location and blessed!…
How Family Impacts Work: Amanda Seyfried and Milo Ventimiglia
By Kelli Gillespie
This is Us star Milo Ventimiglia and Amanda Seyfried star in The Art of Racing in the Rain, based on the bestselling book that spent more than three years on the list. We talked with them about their families and the impact on their careers. Risen Magazine: Amanda, how has having a daughter and a family…
Race Driving and Dog Casting: Q5 with Director Simon Curtis
By Kelli Gillespie
Risen Magazine: The book spent three and half years on the New York Times bestseller list. When did you read it and what stands out to you? Simon Curtis: It just struck me as a very good book when I first read it seven years ago. Now, even more than ever, it feels like the…
Kevin Costner, Patrick Dempsey, Milo Ventimiglia & Amanda Seyfried “The Art of Racing in the Rain”
By Kelli Gillespie
The book spent 156 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list and now The Art of Racing in the Rain is a feature film. It took almost a decade to be made as producer Patrick Dempsey relates racing lessons to the movie industry and the similar structure. Oscar winner Kevin Costner voices the dog…
Director Simon Curtis on Working with Dogs and Racing Life Lessons
By Kelli Gillespie
In the film The Art of Racing in the Rain, the story is told through the perspective of Enzo, the wise family dog. He’s voiced by Academy Award winning actor Kevin Costner. While all his dialogue was recorded in post production, the very real Butler and Parker were on set for every frame of the…
Summer Fun with Mandy Arioto
By Mei Ling Starkey
Summer is the perfect time to have fun. For some it can be a much needed break from deadlines, projects and the daily grind of school or work. For others it can be a great time to reconnect with friends and family visiting on vacation. Whether it is the neighborhood block party, a day at…