“THE CELESTINE PROPHECY MOVIE” DEBUTS AT CHINESE THEATRE MAY 2

Hollywood’s Master Storytellers to host the Los Angeles big screen debut of the international best-seller

April 11, 2006 (Hollywood, CA) On May 2, Hollywood’s Master Storytellers will host the Los Angeles theatrical debut of the highly anticipated film, THE CELESTINE PROPHECY MOVIE at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatres Complex, it was announced today by Gordon Meyer, the creator, host and an executive producer of the prestigious program. Tickets may be purchased at the Chinese Theatre box office and online via www.HollywoodsMasterStorytellers.com, hosted by FilmStew.com.

“James Redfield’s novel has inspired millions of people worldwide,” Meyer said. “Audiences have been anticipating this film ever since the book itself was published. We are very excited to host the first theatrical presentation of THE CELESTINE PROPHECY MOVIE in Los Angeles.”

Redfield, who shares screenwriting credit for the film with producer Barnet Bain and Dan Gordon, will be joined by Bain, executive producer Salle Merrill Redfield, director Armand Mastrorianni and the film’s star, Matthew Settle for a live discussion following the film.

“The novel has a huge following and the passion people have for it is phenomenal,” said Nadine Hamdan, head of marketing for Hollywood’s Master Storytellers and one of the series’ executive producers. “Even before we made any formal announcements, we’ve been fielding countless emails and phone calls about our presentation of THE CELESTINE PROPHECY MOVIE. This may prove to be one of our biggest shows ever.”

Using an approach that is part adventure tale, part parable, the film tells the story of John Woodson (Mathew Settle). Through a mysterious set of coincidences, he finds himself on an adventure to Peru in search of ancient scrolls, known as the Celestine Prophecy. Resistant at first, skeptical and unsure, John finds that every step he takes, each person he encounters leads him to a new understanding enabling him to uncover his own destiny.

The story of the novel’s success is legendary. James and Salle Merrill Redfield decided to self-publish “The Celestine Prophecy,” giving out free copies of the novel to book sellers all over the southeast. Within a few months, enthusiastic word of mouth led to over 100,000 copies being sold, at which point Warner Books acquired the publishing rights to Redfield’s novel that Publisher’s Weekly described as “a cross between RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK and Moses’ trek up Mt. Sinai.”

Since then, “The Celestine Prophecy” spent over three years at the top of the New York Times best-sellers list, has been translated into over 40 languages and continues to be a top seller worldwide with more than 14 million copies in print.

In a decision that in many ways parallels the original publication of the novel, Redfield decided, rather than sell the screen rights to his novel to an established production company or studio, he’d make the film himself. “We’d gotten offers from some of the biggest names in Hollywood for the screen rights,” the author explains. “But we wanted this film to come into being in accordance with the vision that the story seeks to describe and knew the best way to achieve that would be for us to make it ourselves.”

Redfield teamed with producers Barnet Bain (WHAT DREAMS MAY COME), Terry Collis (TOMBSTONE) and Beverly Camhe (JUNIOR, THE BELIEVERS) to assemble a world-class cast and crew to bring the celebrated novel to the screen, including director Armand Mastroianni (TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL), Oscar® nominated production designer James Schoppe (RETURN OF THE JEDI), and cast members Matthew Settle (U-571), Thomas Kretschmann (KING KONG), Sarah Wayne Callies (PRISON BREAK), Annabeth Gish (THE WEST WING, MYSTIC PIZZA) and Emmy® Award winning actor Hector Elizondo (CHICAGO HOPE).

The Hollywood’s Master Storytellers presentation of THE CELESTINE PROPHECY MOVIE, featuring a live discussion with author/screenwriter James Redfield, producer/screenwriter Barnet Bain, executive producer Salle Merrill Redfield, director Armand Mastroianni and actor Matthew Settle takes place on Tuesday, May 2 at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatres Complex, located in the Hollywood & Highland complex.

Hollywood’s Master Storytellers events are presented on the first, third and fifth Tuesdays of each month. Tickets for Hollywood’s Master Storytellers are available at the Chinese Theatres’ box office and online at MovieTickets.com. Direct links to online ticket sales can also be found at www.HollywoodsMasterStorytellers.com, hosted by FilmStew.com.

Hollywood’s Master Storytellers, which is open to the public, provides audiences with the opportunity to meet some of Hollywood’s best Storytellers, telling the always-fascinating “Great Stories Behind the Great Stories™” and is a production of HOLLYWOOD’S MASTER STORYTELLERS ENTERTAINMENT.

Since its launch in January 2003, Hollywood’s Master Storytellers has been host to such luminaries as Academy Award® winning writer/director James Cameron, actor/producer Drew Barrymore, three-time Academy Award® winning writer/director Oliver Stone, director Richard Donner, actor/producer/director George Clooney and Paul Haggis, the Academy Award® winning writer/director of the 2005 Best Picture winner CRASH. Hollywood’s Master Storytellers broadcasts select programs to motion picture theatres around the country via the nation’s leading exhibitors. More information is available at www.HollywoodsMasterStorytellers.com, hosted by FilmStew.com.

I saw this with my mom (she made me go ). It was ok...but I thought it ended up getting corny. Plus I thought it was based on a true story and found out it wasnt after (hadnt read the book or anything).

the movie itself looked kinda...homemade through most of it as well.

But hey, that nurse girl from Prison Break was on it.