News and Events



 

AUTHENTIC, MESSY, UNEXPECTLY FUNNY, AND DEEPLY MOVING



In the July issue of "Christianity Today", film critic Brandon Fibbs awarded the "mesmerizing conversation" in Purple State of Mind four stars (their highest rating). Fibbs called Purple State of Mind "an authentic, messy, unexpectedly funny, and deeply moving plea to push beyond that which divides us."

Read the rave review in its entirety here.

 

BRECKENRIDGE: PURPLE STATE WINS 'BEST SPIRITUAL FILM'



The comedic documentary, Purple State of Mind, was awarded "Best Spiritual Film" at the 2008 Breckenridge Festival of Film in Colorado. Director Craig Detweiler received the prize from film critic Jeffrey Lyons. Detweiler shared the honor with, "My co-director, co-star and co-conspirator, John Marks." He also thanked the producers of Purple State of Mind, "John Priddy, Ed Priddy, and Mark Priddy - the Priddy Brothers!" Detweiler concluded with the hope that audiences will realize, "The concerns that unite are larger than the beliefs that divide us." Having been designated as "The Best of the Fest," Purple State of Mind received a second screening at the Breckenridge Festival of Film.

Read more here.


 

SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT TOUTS THE PURPLE STATE ROADSHOW



Check out a nice plug here in the Santa Barbara Independent for John and Craig's show in Ojai, California. As it turned out, they had people from all walks of belief and disbelief in an audience of about seventy. There were lapsed Baptists, quasi religious scientists, Christian mystics, former Catholics, reformed Jews, Episcopalians, Buddhists and unrepentant skeptics, among others. Madame Blavatsky would have been proud at the sheer eclecticism of the afternoon.

The event, sponsored by the Ojai Film Society, organized by their friends Nomi Morris and John Grant, proved to be their deepest foray into New Age territory. At dinner, after the presentation, there was talk of heart math, kundalini and someone may have even uttered the word chakra.

They didn't get their Pink Moment, that famed instant in the Ojai dusk when the westering sun sets over the water and sends a rose haze up the valley against the sides of the mountains, but they had a Purple Moment, sure enough.

See the article here.


 

PURPLE STATE CHOSEN FOR BRECKENRIDGE FILM FESTIVAL



Purple State of Mind rolls into the picturesque Colorado town of Breckenridge for the 27th annual Breckenridge Film Festival on Friday, June 6th. This will be our Rocky Mountain premiere! How humbling to screen alongside such acclaimed independent films as the 2008 Oscar winning short, FREEHELD. We look forward to connecting with the Breckenridge community!

You can see the entire list of films here.


 

'YET DEEPER SHADES OF PURPLE' by JEFF CHARIS-CARLSON, IOWA CITY PRESS CITIZEN



"more interesting as a cultural phenomenon"
-- Iowa City Press Citizen

As a stand-alone slice of cinematic conversation, "Purple State of Mind" is not as scintillating as "My Dinner with André." But filmmakers and former college roommates John Marks and Craig Detweiler have set themselves an even more ambitious goal than Andre Gregory and Wallace Shawn had: To help bridge the philosophical, ideological, economic and cultural chasms that divide the U.S. into red and blue states (of mind).


Click here to view the article in full


 

IOWA CITY PRESS CITIZEN: PURPLE STATE ROADSHOW COMES TO TOWN



The Iowa City Press Citizen, where Marks covered the education and business beats in 1988 and 1989, has an engaging piece about the Purple State Roadshow. The journalist, Brian Morelli, did a great job of cramming a lot of information into a single article.

Men delve into faith, religion in work
By Brian Morelli
Iowa City Press-Citizen

Read the article here


 

NICK & JOSH & ANNA ON PURPLE STATE OF MIND: THE INTERVIEW



Here's one of the web's most popular podcasts on faith, The Nick & Josh Show, a segment on Purple State of Mind. Craig and John were honored to be asked to chat with Josh and his wife, guest co-host Anna, and the conversation was one of their best.

Check it out for yourself


 

PURPLE STATE in the RIVERRUN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL



We're thrilled to announce that Purple State of Mind will screen at the 10th Annual River Run International Film Festival on Sunday, April 27th, 2008. River Run is one of the premier film festivals in the Southeastern United States.

Read more


 

PURPLE STATE REVIEW ON GOD'S POLITICS BLOG SPOT


Struggling With a 'Purple State of Mind' - by Becky Garrison

When I got an invite to attend a screening of the documentary, Purple State of Mind, I went in expecting to see a blue state v. red state dialogue/debate with some quest to find political common ground.

Wrong.

Instead, I was treated to an honest and humorous dialogue between Craig Detweiler and John Marks, two former college roommates. The year 1984 wasn't only the name of a famous Orwellian book, but this year also signified Craig's first year in the faith, John's last. After this fateful year, the two men went on their separate faith paths. The film picks upon their conversation some 25 years later.

Read the entire blog entry


 

PURPLE STATE SCREENS IN NYC AND PHILLY


Purple State screens in NYC and Philly

John and Craig continue their tour with sold out screenings in New York and Philadelphia.

Stay up to date with the Purple Road Show and check out the fun pics.

Purple State of Mind Website


 

PURPLE STATE SCREENS TO ENTHUSIASM AT DAVIDSON COLLEGE


February 8, 2008

I have too much to say about last night's event to be able to put it into words just now, but I'm still a bit in happy shock.

We had twice as many people as expected, almost 200 in a hall meant to seat 100, so it was standing room only, with people on the floor. The morning radio show drew at least a dozen folk who came an hour early from Charlotte to get good seats. We had lots of students and lots of people from Lake Forest Church, so a real mix of beliefs and dispositions.

Read John's entire entry.


 

NO DEPRESSION MAGAZINE LAUDS MUSIC IN PURPLE STATE


See what Peter of No Depression Magazine has to say in his February 12th blog entry.

Link directly to the blog entry


 

PURPLE STATE OF MIND ON NPR


Check out the February 7th interview as a duo on this excellent NPR morning show, based in Charlotte. It?s the city?s most popular talk show, by all accounts, and Mike Collins did a great job giving the guys equal time.

Link directly to the article


 

PURPLE STATE OF MIND TO SCREEN

Purple State of Mind to screen "work in progress" at True West Festival

Friday, August 10th, at 2:30 p.m., there will be a special screening of Craig Detweiler and John Marks' directorial debut, Purple State of Mind. This will be held at the Flicks in downtown Boise, as part of the True West Cinema Festival.

To purchase tickets for this work-in-progress showing of Purple State of Mind, and other films featured at the festival, please visit here.


 

HILARY SWANK TO PLAY LEAD IN FILM VERSION OF FANGLAND

Academy Award winner, Hilary Swank has landed the lead role as the heroine being hunted by vampires in the movie version of the John Marks' novel "Fangland." Marks' tale is set at a TV news magazine called "The Hour," where bloodthirsty vampires roam the halls. As a former 60 minute producer himself, Marks spins a provocative tale that looks eerily like the sometimes hellish environment of the famous television news show. Swank's production company optioned the critically acclaimed book which was published by Penguin Press and is available in bookstores now.

 

INFUSE MAGAZINE FEATURES PURPLE STATE'S CRAIG DETWEILLER

Craig Detweiler recently hosted the Biola Media Conference. He talked to Robin Parrish of Infuze Magazine about his upcoming film, Purple State of Mind.

View the Article

 

INFUSE MAGAZINE FEATURES PURPLE STATE'S CRAIG DETWEILLER

Craig Detweiler recently hosted the Biola Media Conference. He talked to Robin Parrish of Infuze Magazine about his upcoming film, Purple State of Mind.

View the Article

 

PURPLE STATE OF MIND TO SCREEN IN LOS ANGELES AND NORTHAMPTON, MA

Purple State of Mind screened on April 19th at 7:00 pm as the keynote film at the Local Filmmakers Evening in Northampton, MA . In addition the film screened in Los Angeles at the Little Theatre located on the Fox lot on April 23 at 7:30 pm.