At the recent premiere of "One Night With the King" in Westwood, movie producer Matthew Crouch took a few moments to offer thanks.
"You know what I feel like would be an awesome thing to do right now?" Crouch said during a live broadcast of the opening festivities on "Praise the Lord" on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. "To thank my sweet little mom and dad, Paul and Jan Crouch."
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Monday October 30, 2006 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 45 words Type of Material: Correction
Omar Sharif: An article in the Oct. 23 Calendar section about the movie "One Night With the King" said it was the first pairing of Peter O'Toole and Omar Sharif since "Lawrence of Arabia." Both appeared in the 1967 movie "The Night of the Generals."
There's a lot to be thankful for. His televangelist parents have authorized more than $32 million in tax-free donor money for the funding of three of his movies, TBN officials say. In addition, $16 million was given to a ministry that funded "One Night."
The movie, which opened Oct. 13 on about 900 screens, took in $4.3 million at the box office on its first weekend, ninth among films in release. Over this last weekend, it dropped to 14th place, taking in $2.2 million. With sumptuous costumes, location shooting in India and cameos by Peter O'Toole and Omar Sharif -- their first pairing since "Lawrence of Arabia" -- "One Night" tells the biblical story of Esther, who helped save the Jews from extermination in ancient Persia.
Matthew Crouch, 44, could use a box-office hit. Of his first three movies, none has turned a profit, although his 1999 movie, an apocalyptic thriller called "The Omega Code," is credited by some for showing Hollywood the potential of Christian-themed films, leading to such hits as "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and "The Passion of the Christ." Crouch's small, publicly traded company is struggling, having lost nearly $3.7 million last year, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Even so, Crouch's ties to his parents' cash-rich ministry -- which operates the world's largest religious broadcasting company -- may help explain why he never had to take a vow of poverty. He owns a Hollywood Hills mansion. He and his wife, Laurie, have eight vehicles, including a $240,000 Bentley Arnage.
For fun, Matthew Crouch hunts big game with a bow and arrow in Alaska and at a private reserve in Texas and displays his trophies -- stuffed elk, gazelle and ram heads -- on his study wall.
In many ways, Crouch and his company, Gener8Xion Entertainment, are Hollywood anomalies. He hasn't had to look further than his parents -- with their tax-free donor base and worldwide television reach -- to bankroll and market his movies. In other ways, the stereotype of a Hollywood producer fits snugly. Friends and foes describe him, by turns, as charismatic, arrogant, charming, ruthless, visionary and greedy.
