Rick Santorum is the new CEO of a Christian film company

"Dallas can become the Hollywood of the faith-and-family movie market," Santorum said of his new venture

Published June 24, 2013 8:54PM (EDT)

Social conservative, columnist at mainstay birther website World Net Daily, and failed presidential candidate Rick Santorum has announced that he's got a new title to add to the list: Movie mogul.

Santorum announced over the weekend that he's been named the new CEO of the Dallas-based EchoLight Studios, "the first movie company to produce, finance, market and distribute faith-based, family films across all releasing platforms," according to a press release.

"This is the right place and right time, and I've jumped in with both feet," Santorum said on Fox News's "Huckabee". "I often say that culture is upstream from politics, and I know entertainment also can be strength and light for people who want to be uplifted and reinforced in their values." He continued: "Dallas can become the Hollywood of the faith-and-family movie market. And the keys are great content and economic success using money from all over to build out the industry and distribute an authentic product truthful to the faith in people's lives."

The company is producing its first feature, called "The Redemption of Henry Myers," slated for release this fall. As The Atlantic Wire points out, EchoLight describes the film's plot thusly: "Henry begins to question the choices he's made in his life. Just when things begin to make sense again, it's all ripped away from him when his old partners show up. Will he seek the revenge he desires or finally find his Redemption?"

Here is the trailer:

This is not Santorum's first foray (or attempted foray) into the movie biz. As Buzzfeed reported back in February of 2012, long before he was a candidate in the Republican primary, Santorum had other ideas:

In a recently removed 2010 video on the Vimeo channel of ExpressRiders.org, Santorum pitched potential investors on a full-length feature film on the Iranian nuclear threat.

“I’m getting into the movie business,” Santorum said, “this is a movie that needs to be made.”


By Jillian Rayfield

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com.

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2012 Elections Christianity Dallas Republicans Rick Santorum Social Conservatives Video