[5]Georgene Rice, Wednesday, Jan 21nd, interview with George Escobar, founder of Advent Film Group, who scripted, directed and co-produced the film, Come What May.
GEORGENE: The award-winning movie, Come What May screened in Portland on the 35th anniversary year of the Roe v. Wade decision. Its release this spring will make an important contribution to the pro-life community because it is designed to show what role each of us can play in addressing this issue. What inspired you to produce a pro-life movie that deals with the issue in this way?
ESCOBAR: We wanted to make a film people could care about and to be sure young people would be involved in all aspects of the production, which is our mission at Advent Film Group. The movie needed to be for a new generation that may not know much about Roe v. Wade or the whole issue of abortion. We wanted to hit the issue head on, show how Roe v. Wade can be overturned and let young people be at the forefront of the fight.
GEORGENE: The movie represents a battle of world views and begins in a single household but has impact beyond that household.
ESCOBAR: Caleb, the young man who is the main character is a new Christian, as is his father who led him to Christ. His mother is not and it is tearing apart their close knit family. She is a feminist Constitutional attorney who had raised her son to be an intellectual and legal mind like hers. He has chosen to go to a conservative, Christian college where he joins the speech debate team. They go before the National Moot Court Championship to overturn Roe v. Wade. At the same time, his mother is going before the U.S. Supreme court, representing a court case which defends the other side. The movie intercut between the two presentations.
GEORGENE: It is such a compelling picture. These two individuals coming from the same loving family whose world views are dramatically altered—he through his faith in Christ, she directed by her feminism. They each logically think through these issues but come to different conclusions.
GEORGENE: How did you arrive at this format? This is a very clever and compelling way to present the topic.
ESCOBAR: There is an important underlying theme in the movie. Patrick Henry College, where Caleb went to school, is an actual institution with very strong Christian students. It is a unique institution for learning, and they are a national powerhouse in collegiate debate. Back in 2001, the students had an opportunity to win the National Moot Court championship. They chose not to on a separate issue, choosing principle over compromise. In the movie, Caleb is not a perfect individual. He struggles because he wants to win. He must make a choice—come what may.