Some stories are too good to leave on the stage.

For decades, live performances have found second lives on the big screen. Sometimes that means adapting a successful play into a feature film. Other times, it's as simple as filming the performance itself, giving people who couldn't attend in person a chance to experience it.

Filmmakers like Tyler Perry have turned popular stage productions into feature films. At the same time, major recording artists have brought their sold-out concert tours to movie theaters, reaching millions of additional fans.

And this week, another production is making the leap.

Christian entertainment company Sight & Sound is bringing its biblical stage production JOSHUA—Live! to movie theaters nationwide for a limited run. It's the latest expansion for a company that's grown beyond its theaters into streaming and filmmaking.

For creators, a successful stage production can be more than a finished show. It's a chance to test a story, build an audience, and see what resonates before bringing it to the screen.

And sometimes, that success becomes the starting point for something much bigger. What starts as a single production can lead to new films, an entire production company, and eventually opportunities for other storytellers to bring their own visions to life.

— Ian Max Eyre, Editor-in-Chief

The first film from Tyler Perry and DeVon Franklin's faith-based partnership with Netflix offers a modern take on the Book of Ruth. After leaving her music career behind in Atlanta, Ruth moves to rural Tennessee to start fresh. There, she develops a close bond with Naomi, a widowed woman, and forms an unexpected connection with a local vineyard owner. It's a story about starting over, finding love, and learning to trust God when life takes an unexpected turn.

WHERE TO WATCH →

Filmed before a live audience, Sight & Sound's JOSHUA—Live! follows Joshua as he takes over leadership of the Israelites after Moses and guides them toward the Promised Land. With dwindling supplies, approaching armies, and the fortified city of Jericho standing in their way, Joshua must learn to trust God's plan. With elaborate sets, stirring music, and dramatic performances, the production hits the big screen beginning October 30.

WHERE TO WATCH →

Tyler Perry knows what it takes to build an audience. His touring stage plays became successful movies, helping him build one of the country's largest independent production studios.

Today, Tyler Perry Studios has grown beyond producing Perry's own films. He's also using the business and relationships he's built to make movies with other filmmakers.

One example is his partnership with producer DeVon Franklin.

The two had been friends for more than 15 years when Perry approached Franklin about making faith-based films together. Franklin had already produced hits like Miracles from Heaven and Breakthrough, and both saw an opportunity to combine their experience and reach new audiences.

In 2024, they announced a multi-picture partnership with Netflix.

Their first project grew out of something surprisingly simple: Franklin's Bible study.

He'd been reading the Book of Ruth and was struck by its themes of service, loyalty, and love. When the two began discussing ideas, Franklin suggested a modern adaptation. Perry liked it, and Franklin worked with screenwriters Michael Elliot and Cory Tynan to develop the script.

The resulting film, Ruth & Boaz, premiered on Netflix last September.

The partnership also brought together two audiences that didn't necessarily overlap. In an interview with Kevin Goetz, Franklin explained that his films traditionally appealed to a more explicitly faith-based audience, while Perry had built a following across different kinds of entertainment.

For Perry and Franklin, it's an opportunity to build on what each has accomplished and bring more faith-based stories to the screen.

The results are in! 75% of you voted for “A great story” in last week’s poll: What matters most when a movie doesn't have a big budget?

Sight & Sound has spent decades bringing biblical stories to life on stage. The company began taking those productions to movie theaters in 2017 with JONAH, followed by MOSES and NOAH.

Then came an unexpected opportunity.

When the pandemic closed theaters in 2020, Sight & Sound found another way to share its work. It partnered with Christian television network TBN to broadcast a recorded performance of JESUS over Easter weekend. The broadcast drew nearly 3 million viewers.

That response showed just how far Sight & Sound's productions could reach beyond its theaters. Later that year, the company launched Sight & Sound TV, its own streaming platform.

Here's how its approach applies to the P.R.O.V.E. Method™:

The takeaway? Before moving on to your next project, consider what else you could do with the one you've already made. A recorded performance, limited theatrical release, or streaming partnership might introduce your work to people who would otherwise never see it.

_{*Plumb News is not affiliated with “Sight & Sound” and does not receive compensation for featuring it. We’re just highlighting it because we believe projects like this deserve support.}

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” – 1 Corinthians 3:6 (ESV)

Paul was addressing divisions within the early church, reminding believers that neither he nor Apollos could take credit for what God was accomplishing. Each had a role to play, but the growth ultimately came from Him.

The same is often true of filmmaking. Someone has the initial idea. Others help develop it, bring it to life, or find the people who need to experience it.

We see that in Tyler Perry and DeVon Franklin’s partnership, as well as Sight & Sound’s efforts to reach new audiences. Different people bring different gifts to the work.

Paul’s words remind us that we don’t have to carry everything ourselves. Sometimes our part is to plant the seed. Other times, it’s to help something already growing reach its potential. Whatever role God has given us, we’re called to do our part faithfully and trust Him with the outcome.

Until next time,

THE PLUMB NEWS TEAM