‘Finding You’ Makes it to the Big Screen

Winning isn’t everything. In fact, sometimes, second place can be just as good.

In 2019, Brian Baugh placed second in MOVIEGUIDE®’s Kairos Pro Prize for established screenwriters for his script entitled “There You’ll  Find Me,” a romantic drama set in Ireland.

In May 2021, Roadside Attractions, a Los Angeles-based production company, released “Finding You” in theaters, based on Mr. Baugh’s script.

“The film did very well at the box office,” said Ted Baehr, founder and CEO of MOVIEGUIDE®, a Christian guide to movies that reaches 43 million people. “It’s a very loving story.”

Drawn from a Jenny B. Jones book published in 2011, “Finding You” stars Rose Reid as a musician studying abroad in Ireland who meets a film megastar played by Jedidiah Goodacre, who is shooting his latest medieval fantasy movie.

With theaters reeling from the effects of COVID-19, “Finding You” still found a theater audience, garnering nearly $1 million in its opening weekend and $2.8 million overall in U.S. domestic receipts, plus another $573,000 internationally.

At the movie review site rottentomatoes.com, the film received a 91 percent rating from the Verified Audience, although critics were less kind, giving it a combined 53 percent rating, with top critics giving it only a 33 percent rating.

The difference illustrates a frequent gap between audiences and critics when it comes to family-friendly movies. The public loves them; critics gravitate to constant thematic innovation and often reward dark, angst-ridden films instead.

For the past few years, Timothy Partners, which manages the Timothy Plan family of mutual funds and ETFs, has sponsored the Kairos Awards for established screenwriters and newcomers.

“We’re very happy with MOVIEGUIDE®’s work. Ted encourages production of wholesome, biblically sound film and TV content,” says Timothy Plan founder and President Art Ally. “At the same time, his ministry shines a light into Hollywood’s dark shadows. He warns Christian audiences about questionable content. There is nothing quite like MOVIEGUIDE®.”

Mr. Baehr explains how “Finding You” snagged the second place Kairos award.

“We have top studio heads read the finalist 10,” he says. “Some big ones chose his script as No. 1, but we do a combination, and come up with a plurality. He came in second overall.

“The Kairos Prize is a significant encouragement for professionals and to first-time screenwriters who want to make Hollywood movies. And it is shocking and surprising that, thanks to the Timothy Plan, that many of the winners and runners-up have reached the big screen and reached the movie audience.”

Timothy Partners has long supported MOVIEGUIDE®, and will sponsor the upcoming Kairos Awards for 2022. Timothy also sponsors MOVIEGUIDE®’s Stephen M. Ally Internship, named after Timothy’s late vice president and COO, who tragically passed away in 2019.

“We have interns that end up having places in the industry,” Mr. Baehr says. “One became head of CGI (computer-generated imagery) at a major studio.”

On Feb. 18, 2022, MOVIEGUIDE® will hold its 30^th annual Gala, where actors and films will be named for the Teddy Baehr Awards, Christendom’s version of the Oscar.  Kairos winners are part of it. The ceremony is slated to be screened on the Reelz Channel.

“Finding You,” is now streaming on iTunes.  Be forewarned, however, about an Amazon Prime offering by the same name; it’s an LGBTQ-themed production.

Here’s a summary of Roadside Attractions’ “Finding You” from MOVIEGUIDE®’s review:

“FINDING YOU is a romantic drama. When Finley doesn’t do well in her violin audition, she decides to visit Ireland for inspiration. On the plane, Finley sits next to Beckett, a Hollywood heartthrob who’s shooting a movie in the same small Irish town she’s visiting. Finley judges Beckett as having a big ego. When she gets to the Bed and Breakfast where she’s staying, she finds Beckett’s also staying there. Meanwhile, Finley finds an old sketchbook where her late brother drew a local cross he found. Finley longs to find the cross and the peace her brother had before he died.

“FINDING YOU is a fun, wholesome movie. The storyline is a typical romance, and the acting isn’t award-winning, but the movie’s enjoyable. FINDING YOU has a strong Christian worldview about loving and helping others, forgiveness, finding peace in the Cross of Christ, and seeking purpose and meaning in life beyond fame and fortune. FINDING YOU shows a wholesome romantic relationship media-wise viewers will enjoy. MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for younger children because of light, brief foul language and a bar scene.”